I personally think that trying anything new is strange, foreign, exciting, and pushes us to the limits of our comfort zone. The lessons we teach at SEEDs speak to anyone and everyone, and even though we practice it in many ways, the actual moment when we physically are expected to immerse ourselves into the NEW experience, and REALLY DO IT, is many times asking a lot out of students. This is when time and time again we are privileged to watch the students take the leaps and experience the vast challenges as individuals and as a team rallying and cheering each other onto victory. Confidence is built, chances are taken and changes are abundant. With autism, so many social encounters are met with fear, awkwardness, intimidation, resistance and unawareness, so it is our job to help them experience the language, words, environment, and feel comfortable with the moments that they will need to try that new thing.
This last month we have had the pleasure to watch so many of our participants try new experiences, step out of their comfort zone, lead with pride, and also land some new jobs.
The summer programs and camps allow for the year long students to work alongside the staff and be assistants, actually helping plan the activities and then teach the younger students. This is a tradition here, and those who helped assist last year, are finding jobs in community as they pass the torch to newer year round participants this summer.
This months newsletter shares their successes.
Speaking of successes- we are proud to announce that we are running our Screen Printing Department, and the students are doing a great job with these new skills. Trying new things, and expanding their experiences continues to let them see they are capable of tremendous growth and maturity, and the discomfort may not be as pronounced for the next new time.
Mary Ann LaRoche
Executive Director / SEEDs for Autism
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Developing Job Skills is a vital part of our program at SEEDs for Autism. Last month, our Social Skills instructor( Danny) took a group of excited job seekers to the Coast to Coast Career Fair at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites at the Phoenix Airport. During the event, our participants utilized the skills they learned at SEEDs as they maintained eye contact, demonstrated professionalism and used their communication skills to engage with potential employers at the job fair.
JUSTIN M.
I made eye contact and listened to people. I have experience with job skills. I showed a positive attitude during the job fair and I wasn't nervous at all.
HANNAH W.
My experience at the job fair was so cool and fun. I kept eye contact to all the people at the tables who told me about their companies and work. I gave them handshakes and I was polite to them, too. I was focused and brave when I talked to people at the job fair. My attitude was good and I got out of my comfort zone. The job fair was really good. I need to work on my volume next time.
Brian D. and Ethan demonstrate professionalism at the Coast to Coast Career Fair
Hannah, Anna and Sydney: A trio of confident job-seekers
Justin M. greets potential employers with a smile!
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Everyone has been made for some particular work, and
the desire for that work has been put in every heart."
- Rumi
At SEEDs for autism, we provide a comprehensive job development program built specifically for those on the autism spectrum. Through role plays, hands-on training and real-life experiences, we work closely with our participants to develop the necessary skills to find employment and prepare to enter the workforce. We celebrate as SEEDs participants find meaningful work and demonstrate to their employers, co-workers and the community that they are capable, dependable, enthusiastic and productive! We asked some of our participants to share their job experiences with us.
JAKE M.
I am working for the Arizona Diamondbacks selling 50/50 raffle tickets. It’s a great job because I get to interact with fans on a regular basis. Because I work at all of the games I see a lot of the same people because they have season tickets and go to all of the games too. There’s a season-ticket holder named Stan and he scores the game using a scorecard as the game happens.
My Boss’s name is Tara and she does a good job.
I have good co-workers and we get along well. There’s a girl named Alex and she always sends positive vibes. There’s a guy named Chuck and he always tests my baseball knowledge and he and I have conversations about our favorite players. Also there’s a guy named Allen who gave me tips on how to sell more raffle tickets and we have a friendly competition to see who can sell the most in a game. It’s always close.
Working this job also allows me to practice my communication skills.
This job helps get me get connected. This is important if I choose to apply for other jobs on the team because I now have name recognition and references.
BRIAN D.
For my job at Fry’s I have been trained to put the items in the bags at checkout. First I ask the customers if they want plastic or paper. I also clean the glass doors near the food items so they won’t get germs on them. When customers ask for help looking for items I help them find the right aisle they are in. I have been practicing putting carts away inside and outside at Fry’s and I look both ways when I'm crossing. When we finish work we have to sign out and go home so our parents or transportation can pick us up.
CHARLES
Hello, my name is Charles and I’m here to talk a bit about my new job as a Cart Retriever at Walmart. I retrieve carts from all around the Walmart parking lot and I make an effort to bring in more than one cart at a time. I make sure that the carts are re-parked and organized and I also hand out the carts to customers in need.
CHRIS M.
I just started a new job at Marshalls recently down on Ahwatukee. What I was doing there was mostly in the back flattening out clothes that I pull out of bags for others to put on the racks for customers. I’ve been doing this for a week and 2 days - 4 hours each day from 8:30 to 12:30. I hope to continue my time at Marshalls on a good note so that one day I could officially be hired there.
ANNA
Recently I got a job at my local Fry's. What that means is starting Thursday I will have my first day at work. To get this job I had two interviews. The first interview was on the phone, I get somewhat scared talking to someone I don't know on the phone. However, I knew I needed to try my best despite being on the phone and the interview went well. The other interview was face to face. The Manager asked me questions such as when did I do something nice for a person. I answered that I help my dad with cleaning. Before the interview I watched my future co-workers and how they were doing their job. It’s being a courtesy clerk which means bagging groceries and helping take groceries to people's cars. It looked easy which made me more confident and now I think I can do the job as I have more confidence.
JOSE
I once had a job at the baseball stadium. I worked in a stand where hot dogs, pretzels, beverages and other things were sold. I loved being in the back of the house where I would wash people’s dishes. A lot of the customers liked to eat hot dogs and soda so I gave them those items. I felt good being there. It was a good experience and it helped me become more responsible for myself because I knew I had an important job to do.
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We are so excited to introduce our new Screen Printing Department at SEEDs for Autism!
With guidance from our talented instructors Ron and Kathryn, SEEDs participants embrace this popular printing technique for creating t-shirts, tote bags and a variety of other exciting products. Utilizing their creativity, attention to detail and focus, the talented adults at SEEDs for Autism are ready to fulfill orders for small businesses, special events and so much more!
For pricing and ordering information please contact us at info@seedsforautism.org
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At SEEDs for Autism, we recognize poetry as a powerful form of communication. Writing poetry encourages creativity and self-expression. Poetry helps us grow emotionally and intellectually as we examine our thoughts and feelings in a symbolic way. Through graphic design and powerful words, Justin M. explores a range of complex emotions as seen through the window of his senses.
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"Helping others is the way we help ourselves."
- Oprah Winfrey
It is a rewarding and fulfilling experience to know that you have made a difference in someone's life. Helping others boosts our self-esteem, provides a sense of belonging and inspires positive behaviors that ripple throughout the world around us. At SEEDs for Autism we encourage our participants to be aware of their surroundings and to recognize when others need assistance or support. We asked our participants to share their experiences of times when they helped another person.
JUSTIN M.
An old man dropped his cane on the ground while walking to his car so I picked his cane off the ground and guided him to his car. It made me feel so proud.
CHRIS M.
I sometimes help certain people who are in need with getting things accomplished, such as a peer who’s trying to figure out how to get to Google Docs in the Newsletter Department or a customer who needs to find the right item to buy. Once I manage to help them out with what they need, I’d feel satisfied and/or proud for what I’m doing for each person, whether they be a peer or customer.
Would you be willing to aid others who need help with something? Whenever you see someone in need, go for it and be proud.
DANIEL N.
Hello my name is Daniel and I’m going to be writing about a time when I helped my mom out with the heavy items that were in her car. I felt honored to be doing the heavy lifting because my mom has trouble with heavy items. I assisted her by offloading the heavy items into their proper places: dog food goes into the pantry, Caveman bars go into the pantry, perishable goods and oils go in the cabinet. I was proud to be helpful.
CAMILLE
At a painting workshop at SEEDs, when people were having trouble with their painting, I helped them choose colors, paint brushes and made sure they had the materials they needed like clean water. I used encouraging words to say that they are doing a good job. It made me feel confident and good to help everyone make beautiful paintings.
BRIANNA
On the first Sunday of July, as I was working at my job at the local Sprouts store, a street musician walked into the store parking lot and began playing his accordion as I was gathering the shopping carts. He played very well even though I could not really stop to appreciate his music. I then gave him my loose pocket change and gifted him with a can of Sprouts brand sparkling water.
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At SEEDs for Autism our summer program is designed specifically for teens and young adults on the autism spectrum. Summer participants enjoy a wide range of age appropriate activities while engaging with peers in a structured, supportive environment. We are so proud of our SEEDs participants who have volunteered to work alongside staff during these sessions. Their positive attitudes and eagerness to help made summer at SEEDs a wonderful experience for all!
SONJA
Here at Seeds we began our summer camps and I was one of the helpers along side the staff. Each week we do different activities such as doing exercises to get the body ready for the day and crafts for the students to take home. The outside activities consisted of practicing dance moves, playing with basketballs, soccer balls, and cooling ourselves off with spray bottles filled with water. The crafts were made from a variety of art supplies we have at Seeds. I felt excited to be able to help more at Seeds and take on more responsibility. I look forward to more summer camp fun!
JOSE
I got to assist the campers in our Seeds summer program. At this program I worked with our summer campers in the different stations. They really needed a person that was confident and social. I liked supporting them. They were really nice; all of them! It made me happy seeing the campers and showing them how to do things because at Seeds it is always important to learn new skills and see the happy faces in this environment. The Seeds for Autism summer program was a great program for me to help out in and I like watching the summer campers learning, making friends with each other and exploring creativity in the projects we did.
Special thanks to all of our staff, volunteers and SEEDs participants who helped make our Summer Camp a great experience for all!
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“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.”
-John Lennon
Happiness has a tremendous effect on our emotional and physical well-being! It strengthens our immune system, makes us more productive and it is what makes life such a wonderful experience! We asked SEEDs participants share their thoughts on what makes them happy.
CHRIS M.
It’s pretty difficult to know what I’m happy about, but if there is one thing that makes me happy the most, it would have to be caring parents and friends who will respect and understand me whenever I’m uncomfortable or depressed. Even when I do get upset with somebody else for bothering me, overall I feel relieved to have people who care about how I feel. Sometimes, parents and friends who care is the best thing that makes me smile. Do you have people who care about you?
BRIANNA
What makes me happy is my family and pets because they’re fun to be around, sweet, and even put a smile on my face!
BRIAN D.
I was happy to see my special friends from elementary, junior high or high school over at MCC. We talked together for the break to ask how we were doing. We really miss each other when we are away. For now we had to say goodbye to each other but we can talk to each other soon.
FRANCES
There are many things that make me happy I will tell you all. My interest in trains especially Amtrak,Southern Pacfic, Santa Fe and Union Pacfic. One other thing is my interest in model planes. I am really into the detail of each plane. They are from a company named Daron Skymarks. Seeing family and friends makes me happy. Texting people and watching Jeopardy at night with my parents. Meeting up with old Friends and listening to 90s and 80s music to jam out to.
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Contact us at admin@seedsforautism.org if you would like to hold your very own trunk show where you can invite your friends to purchase SEEDs products, have refreshments, and meet some of the artists. |
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