Walmart Foundation Awards $25,000 to Support Adults with Autism
Raleigh, NC (PRWEB) August 20, 2015 -- The Walmart Foundation has awarded a $25,000 grant to the Autism Society of North Carolina to continue to expand its employment support program.
The Autism Society of North Carolina (ASNC), the leading statewide resource organization in North Carolina serving people across the autism spectrum throughout their lifespans, helps individuals with autism find, keep, and thrive in jobs. Employment supports coordinators work with adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as they explore their interests and skills. They train individuals in interviewing, creating a resume, and networking. Once in a job, adults with ASD can receive support in learning the skills required and how to interact with co-workers and supervisors.
ASNC believes meaningful employment is a key part of a fulfilling life, and it has been estimated that about 80 percent of adults with ASD are unemployed or underemployed.
The Walmart Foundation’s $25,000 grant will help expand the program to Charlotte, as well as continue it in the Triangle, Triad, and Fayetteville regions. With the Foundation’s grant of $50,000 last year, ASNC’s Employment Supports Department served about 100 adults with ASD through work-readiness evaluations, JobTIPS training, job search, on-the-job training, ongoing job supports, and monthly support group meetings. More than 40 adults with autism obtained jobs across the state.
A portion of this year’s grant from the Walmart Foundation will be used for mobile workstations. The laptops with Internet access and software including Microsoft Word will enable employment support professionals to meet with individuals anywhere to help them apply for jobs, work on resumes, and communicate with potential employers.
“The Autism Society of North Carolina is an important organization to the Walmart Foundation because of the support and services they provide for the autism community,” said Brooke Mueller, Public Affairs and Government Relations Director, Walmart. “The Walmart Foundation is pleased to support such a wonderful organization and help adults with autism find and train for meaningful employment in North Carolina.”
Background:
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life. As many as 1 in 58 children may be diagnosed with ASD in North Carolina, according to a prevalence study by the CDC of 8-year-old schoolchildren.
• For more than 45 years, the Autism Society of North Carolina has worked to address areas of need and expand services for the autism community in North Carolina. ASNC works to directly improve the lives of individuals affected by autism, by providing advocacy, education, and services. Additional information is available by calling 1-800-442-2762 or by visiting http://www.autismsociety-nc.org.
David Laxton, Autism Society of North Carolina, http://www.autismsociety-nc.org, 919-865-5063, [email protected]
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