Jobs for people with autism: A New Leaf nurtures people,*plants

[Geordie]

There has been more than plants growing over at A New Leaf in Broken Arrow.

In the past year, the agency that provides residential and vocational programs to nurture people with developmental disabilities has added 12 new clients, opened a new retail store and launched a program to help combat high rates of unemployment in adults with autism.

"It's been a really great year for us," said executive director Mary Ogle.

The new retail store, 2405 S. Elm Place in Broken Arrow, employs the agency's clients who run cash registers and sell plants grown in A New Leaf's nursery that also employs clients.

The agency sells all types of bedding plants for flower or vegetable gardens.

"The more someone with a disability is integrated into the community, the more independent they will become," Ogle said. "By opening that store, it was an opportunity for us to give our clients more opportunities to be engaged with the public."

The agency has been helping clients for 33 years. Last year was the first time Ogle has seen clients learn how to use cash registers.

"To have someone with an intellectual disability run a cash register is unbelievable," she said. "If I can train my clients to use the registers and understand customer service, then they can go and get a job with a competitive wage in the community."

Ogle hopes to be able to find employment opportunities in the community for clients who have experience working in the garden center, something she says is much needed.

The agency grew from 80 clients to 92 last year. However, only 1,000 of the 24,000 adults with developmental disabilities in the Tulsa area are employed.

"If you're an adult with autism and you graduate high school, your unemployment rate is 90 percent," Ogle said. "We as a country have to do something about that, and we at New Leaf are doing something about that."

To help combat that issue, the agency launched Autism Works, a program that provides high school students with autism social and communication skills so they can enter college or the workforce after graduation.

Students with autism are paired with people without autism, and they work together twice a week for 11 weeks. So far 25 students have gone through the program, and Ogle hopes to reach 40 by the end of the year.

"We've got to get these kids working ... because obviously they can make a significant contribution to our country," Ogle said.

The Autism Works program is funded in part by a venture grant from the Tulsa Area United Way.

"A New Leaf has experience in developing employment skills among adults with autism," said Mark R. Graham, president and CEO of the Tulsa Area United Way. "When we were made aware of the need to develop similar skills among high school students, we quickly agreed to support A New Leaf's efforts."

Jobs for people with autism: A New Leaf nurtures people, plants | Tulsa World

 

[Epicurean Pariah]

My job history is more varied than most but at about 40 I had a long talk with myself, determined who I was, what I wanted, what I did not want, what I had and thus what I could do.
I settled for lapidary, gem cutting. I could work with sweating supervisors, sitting down in AC environment, listing to music drinking single malt, starting and stopping when I wanted, anyplace in the world and make a decent living in comfort. I have taught this skill to others including a NT 8 yo and to a Parkinson's patient.
I think it is a excellent choice for anyone, but Aspers in particular.
Any one interested?