Presentation to Greenburgh NY Town Board

May 28, 2014

Employment Status for People With Autism

What one social enterprise is doing to create opportunities

Marjorie Madfis, President, Yes She Can Inc.Lesli Cattan, Westchester County Dept of Community Mental Health

Agenda

● Autism employment rates

● Implications

● Autism in the workplace

● Westchester County

● Who employs people with autism

● Autism employment entrepreneurs

● Yes She Can Inc

● Girl AGain

79% Unemployment rate for young adults with Autism

Full-Time Employment (ages 21-25)

So What?

● Then...... 8 years following High School only 53% of adults have worked for pay (Shattuck, 2012)

● UnN rates for autism higher than other disabilities because of difficult time navigating work due to unique cognitive, communication and behavioral challenges (Zager, 2014)

● Adult care and lost productivity from UnN of individuals with Autism cost money

● Cost of caring for an adult with autism who is not working is over $2 Million over their adult life (Autism Society, 2011)

No Work? The Family Experience

What happens when young adults with autism leave the supportive environment of school after age 21?

● Emotional turmoil for individual

– typical peers have jobs, friends, marry, have children, etc.

– depression, anxiety and emotional disorders

– Social isolation

● Burden for parents

– Parent(s) struggle to locate meaningful activities during the day

– financial burden for family

– Working parents cannot be at home to provide supervision

Autism in the workplace

Autism in the workplace

The Autism Advantage● Attention to detail

● Commitment to rules

● Consistency

● Ability to sustain quality in repetitive tasks

● Solving puzzles

● Commitment to completing a task

● Honesty

● Loyalty

Autism in Westchester● Total County population = 949,000 ● Children < 18 yrs = 215,000

● Incidence of autism diagnosed in children 8 years old or under (CDC)● 1998 = 1:500 children ● 2010 = 1:68 children

● Approx 3000 children under 18 with ASD (extrapolation)

● Approx 5000 - 9000 adults over 18 with ASD (extrapolation*)

* based on CDC incidence for years prior to 1998 and estimate of 1% of adult population

Westchester County Autism Advisory Council

Council advises County Department of Community Mental Health

Members include parents of children and adults with autism, professionals, social service agencies, educators, attorneys, and psychologists.

Mission:● Educate the Westchester community about resources to assist them

in coping with the multifaceted and complicated issues that are an inherent part of autism.

● The committee works towards the development of unmet needs via

collaboration, education and advocacy on behalf of families living with autism in Westchester County.

Westchester County Autism Advisory Council

Employment Mission

● Develop employment (paid and internship) opportunities within Westchester County department

● Promote employment opportunities within the Westchester business community

● Support development of social entrepreneurial business opportunities that employ persons with autism and other developmental disabilities

Who Employs People with Autism● Large enterprises:

Innovators

– Walgreens

– Regeneron

– NY Medical College

● Large enterprises: Successful implementers

● Friendly

● Penny Saver

● ShopRite

● H&R Block● Small and Medium Businesses

– Cherry Lawn Farms

– Rowan Documents

● Why?

– Initially: personal connection with autism

– Now: recognizing advantages

Autism Employment EntrepreneursWho are the entrepreneurs● Parents of adult children with autism

– Need to create the opportunity● Social service agencies

– shift from sheltered workshops

– day habilitation centers do not serve need

Business models● for profit

● non-profit

● benefit corporations

Yes She Can Inc.Local Autism Employment Entrepreneur

● Incorporated Nov 2013, Non-profit in New York State● By Marjorie Madfis

● 30 year career as a marketing executive● past 17 years at IBM● expertise in digital and social media marketing● MBA● Parent of a girl with autism – now 18 years old

● Mission: develop job skills and employment opportunities for young women with autism

● prepare to enter competitive job market● incubator and laboratory

● Plan: Portfolio of businesses● First venture: Girl AGain

● web: http://YesSheCanInc.org

● Resale boutique for gently used American Girl dolls, clothes, furniture, accessories, crafts and books

● Team: passion and expertise in American Girl brand– 8 workers with ASD

– 6+ “typical” volunteers

– Psychologist

● Learn transferable skills:– Merchandise preparation

– Research for competitive pricing

– Collaboration and decision making

– Inventory management

– Merchandising and Marketing

– Sales and transactions

–

Girl AGain 157 South Central Avenue Hartsdale NYHarmon Plaza, inside Sweet Heaven Spa

125 SF

Impact● Girl AGain time line

– Workshops began October 2013● skill assessment, training, prepare merchandise

– Opened store February 2014 with 6 month sublease● Workers with ASD = 10

– in high school = 5 (one through school district)

– with SSI = 3

– no support = 2● Volunteers (NT) = 7

● Psychologist support = 2

● Volunteers helping in marketing, legal and accounting

Community Awareness and Customer Generation

● Social Media and web sites

● Radio interview: Paul Feiner - local attention

● Feature articles: Today.com - national coverage

● Events (FREE!)

– Author reading and book signing - March

27 girls plus parents

– Doll hair workshop - April● 50 girls plus parents

– T-shirt designing – May● 29 girls plus parents

Growth Potential for Girl AGain● Increase jobs

– need larger retail space: retail space and events● low cost / no cost - landlord advantage?● central location like Hartsdale● public transportation● appeals to moms and 8 year old girls

– Increase inventory: need donations

● 501c3 status– grants

– fund raising

– ProBono Partnership

Empty store on south corner

Harmon

Sweet Heaven Spa

157 South Central Ave Hartsdale

Thank You

Marjorie MadfisPresident, Yes She Can Inc.914-428-1258Marjorie@YesSheCanIcn.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/GirlAgainBoutique