Madison House Autism Foundation Inc

JOB TRAINING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM - MADISON HOUSE AUTISM FOUNDATION WILL IMPLEMENT JOB READINESS AND SKILLS TRAINING, EQUINE-ASSISTED SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES SPECIFICALLY FOR ADULTS WITH AUTISM AND OTHER INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (A/I/DD) WHO NEED SUPPORT IN JOB-READINESS, SKILLS-TRAINING, AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION. LEVERAGING ITS MADISON FIELDS FARM AND COMMUNITY CAMPUS AS A MULTI-USE EVENT AND TRAINING SPACE, THE PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE TARGETED TRAINING IN SOFT SKILLS SUCH AS TEAMWORK, COMMUNICATION, FLEXIBILITY WITH TASKS, PROBLEM-SOLVING, AND SELF-MANAGEMENT. JOB SKILLS TRAINING WILL INCLUDE ANIMAL CARE, LANDSCAPING, GARDENING, AND SOAPMAKING, WITH TWO NEW COMPONENTS ADDED IN FURNITURE REFINISHING AND WOODWORKING, AND HOSPITALITY. THREE COHORTS OF ADULTS WITH A/I/DD WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE TRAINING PROGRAM OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. IN ADDITION TO JOB TRAINING, THE PROGRAM WILL OFFER THERAPEUTIC RIDING AND EQUINE THERAPY, AS WELL AS VOLUNTEER AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS. THIS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN OUTLINES THE ONE-YEAR STRATEGY TO OPERATIONALIZE THE JOB TRAINING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM.