South Jersey Magazine - Burlington - Issue #1 (April 2019)

zoom_in

SJM_DEPT_AUTISM_0419_Profile ( Dept . ) 3 / 28 / 19 4 : 59 PM Page 1 impact TO THE Contributing LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE HELPING THOSE WITH AUTISM LIVE INDEPENDENT , Community FULFILLING LIVES . BY JULIE SHANNON JEVS Independence loria Jensen always hoped her son , Luke , would take over her Audubon Network helps gift shop when it was time for her to retire . When reality set in that Luke , individuals like G Zachary Stroik who has autism , wasn’t able to take the responsibilities of running a busi - find employment at partnering ness , Jensen changed her plans to focus more on providing care for him companies like Penn Jersey Signs and other individuals in the special needs community . Chris Grande , a member of JEVS Independence Network in Collingswood , works at Wawa Luke’s Place Group Outing games , bowling and dances take place a few find good quality programs . Unfortunately According to the Centers for Disease Con - times a month , and Jensen says soon they there are not enough and there are waiting trol and Prevention ( CDC ) , one in 34 children will start to accept people for day programs lists everywhere . Parents are searching and in New Jersey have autism — the highest rate where they will go to restaurants , movies , looking for wonderful opportunities but there ofautism in the nation . Those with the disorder museums and parks . The goal for the organi - are few and far between . ” have challenges with social skills , speech and zation is to have these individuals included JEVS Human Services , an organization some cannot communicate verbally . It takes with the community . that focuses on individuals with physical , a toll on the individual and their families , but “ They don’t get that opportunity , ” Jensen developmental and emotional challenges , there are organizations in South Jersey that says . “ We help facilitate that , where they are operatesa unique independent living program are dedicated to improving the lives of those not inCollingswood for young adults — JEVS Inde - with autism . feeling so different ; where they feel like pendence Network . They provide not just Jensenknew there were many who needed theyare part of the community . All are welcome housing , but employment support — helping help and assistance because her shop was a and all are accepted . They feel that they aren’t these individuals find gainful employment . “ go - to ” for several parents , stopping in not different and they are just like anyone else “ We help people learn workplace com - just to purchase items from her store , but to when they come to our events . ” munication , build independent living skills ask her questions about her experience . Jensen says the work is crucial because and participate in meaningful ways in their “ They’d come in for advice because they other services and programs in a school community , ” says Jill Gromen , director of knew I had a son with autism , ” Jensen says . setting that have been provided to these operations , NJ & Independence Network “ They would ask questions about services individuals since a young age stop at age Services at JEVS Human Services . andwhat to do and 21 . The transition is not an easy one and different diagnoses . They’d Gromen says the age range is 22 - 31 comes with a lot of questions and uncertainty and say , ‘ I need help . ’ I decided to continue for parents . more than half have autism . For just about [ working in that space ] and do some work in “ The school [ system ] says when you are all of them , this is their first time living away the special needs community . This is how 21 , we’re done — now figure it out , ” Jensen from the comforts of home and their parents , Luke’s Place evolved . ” says . “ Parents ask , ‘ What do I do ? Where can but Gromen says parents tell her this program Luke’s Place is a nonprofit organization they participate in sports ? ’ You always think is just as meaningful for them because they that provides young adults ages 21 and over you’re prepared ; you think you’re ready for it , don’t have to worry about not being there with special needs in Camden and Gloucester but all of a sudden , 21 is here and with their children . counties services and social experiences to it’s , ‘ What “ From a community - based level , seeing help live fulfilling and purposeful lives . Group happens now ? ’ I don’t want him to sit down their sons and daughters build relationships evening outings such as Philadelphia 76ers all day . We have to keep moving along and SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 16 issue 1 SouthJerseyMagazine.com 62 |

view text

zoom_in

SJM_DEPT_AUTISM_0419_Profile ( Dept . ) 3 / 28 / 19 4 : 12 PM Page 2 and friendships with other people , really get involved and get to be part of a com - munity and have jobs and a purpose — it’s a reason to get up in the morning , ” she says . “ Having a meaningful life is what’s most important . ” What’s also important is celebrating each individual’s accomplishments . “ How proud they are with their job or the next step in their career , walking to a friend’s house without it being com - pletely organized by a parent or someone else ; there are so many other accom - plishments , too , ” Gromen explains . “ It’s the little things that are the big things . Being able to do laundry on their own , being able to shop for their favorite meal and prepare that , joining a com - munity chorus in Collingswood . ” Anne Marie Bauman’s son Paul has autism and lives in Collingswood with his older brother , wife and child . She has comfort knowing he’s in a safe community with his family and has put steps in place to make sure he suc - ceeded at transitioning from school to adulthood , and succeeds transitioning again down the road when the family’s situation will change . “ We want them to participate as much as possible in society , but someone like my son has a pretty narrow set of interests , ” she says . “ Social interaction is very difficult for him , so what we’ve done in our family instead is try to build what he needs around him — finding a job that’s meaningful , sharing the apart - ment with his older brother . I’m already working on part of the second transition because I’m going to die one day . When he moves into a living situation when I die , it’s not going to be the bottom of his world is going to fall out . We worry so much about getting them into school , making sure they get a good education and learn skills and then we forget about the next 50 years . ” Bauman owns Penn Jersey Signs in Oaklyn and is one of the local businesses that employs individuals from JEVS Inde - pendence Network . She says she was happy to hire Zachary Stroik and calls him an asset to the business . “ The interesting thing is , it really helps us to have him there — he’s the missing piece of the equation , ” Bauman says about Stroik . “ He has a great work ethic , he’s teachable , and he’s a cheerful and positive person . ” “ In the past , these opportunities didn’t exist , ” Gromen says . “ Families were told years ago , the best thing to do was to institutionalize their children . Now they have options to live a full life . It’s sort of crashing through past expectations and SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 16 issue 1 SouthJerseyMagazine.com | 63

view text

input

view_module

keyboard_arrow_left

keyboard_arrow_right