Developing job skills is a vital part of our program at SEEDs for Autism. Our dedicated staff work closely with our participants to help them create resumes, fill out job applications and prepare for interviews through a series of role plays. These talented individuals are capable, employable and excited to become a valued part of the work force! Please join us in congratulating Talia on her new job at The Mellow Mushroom!
This article was featured in an issue of the SEEDs for Autism Newsletter. If you would like to subscribe and hear more stories from SEEDs participants, please visit our website. Thank you!
Developing job skills is a vital part of our program at SEEDs for Autism. Our dedicated staff work closely with our participants to help them create resumes, fill out job applications and prepare for interviews through a series of role plays. These talented individuals are capable, employable and excited to become a valued part of the work force! Please join us in congratulating Talia on her new job at The Mellow Mushroom!
TALIA I got a new job at the Mellow Mushroom. Danny (Social Skills Instructor) helped me practice interview skills. He helped me make a resume. My job is unloading the dishwasher and putting away the dishes on Sunday and Monday. I’m feeling excited and scared and I feel very proud.
This article was featured in an issue of the SEEDs for Autism Newsletter. If you would like to subscribe and hear more stories from SEEDs participants, please visit our website. Thank you!
Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out. Robert Collier
Achieving success provides a great sense of accomplishment, fulfillment and well-being. At SEEDs for Autism, we recognize that even the smallest step in the right direction is PROGRESS and every small success helps develop the confidence needed to take on larger tasks, and achieve bigger goals. In this article, we asked SEEDs participants to reflect on their lives and share their personal definition of success.
FRANCIS My definition of success is doing your best. One thing I was successful at was doing my homework in my college classes. It made feel me feel very good.
JUSTIN M My definition of success is finding a Job. I will be successful when I graduate from college. I was successful at making earrings. It made me feel good. I can help others by teaching them how to make their own earrings.
CHRIS M. What is the definition of success? Oh boy, that’s a pretty hard question to try and answer. Well, when I think of success, I would think it’s a difficult goal to get to, but it’s not impossible to achieve if you work hard enough. Take celebrities, for example. They had to start somewhere like we do. We all have various backgrounds, but we’ll get to the top of our goals when we try our best. My personal goal back in my school years was to graduate. It was a pretty tough road to get to where I am now, but I finally graduated in the summer of 2010. If I can do it, you can do it. Here is my advice for those trying to be successful. If you find yourself having problems achieving your personal goals, just ask your friends and family to help you out of these problems and, eventually, you’ll succeed. It’ll make you feel relieved after all that hard work. Remember, it can be difficult, but not impossible.
SONJA My definition of success is achieving something you never thought you could do and going out into the world to do it. You feel good about your life and where it’s going. I was playing my video game and there was a tough boss and after a few tries I did it. It made me feel great to do it. Never give up and if there are set backs it’s okay.
SYDNEY L. My definition of success is working hard to get the job done. I feel successful when I’ve finished the task I was given. I was successful at relearning how to ride a bike. The first time, I was given a bike that was too big for me and I had a hard time controlling it and I ended up crashing into a wall. But I didn’t give up and kept going. The next time I rode a bike, it was a lot easier to do because the bike was smaller and easier to use. I was just so excited to refresh my bike riding skills. My advice is don’t give up, keep going and you will be successful at your job, like I was at riding a bike.
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This article was featured in an issue of the SEEDs for Autism Newsletter. If you would like to subscribe and hear more stories from SEEDs participants, please visit our website. Thank you!
At SEEDs for Autism, one of the creative ways we practice social skills is by conducting interviews. Participants make eye contact, utilize active listening and focus on the speaker to gain information. In response to an online writing assignment, SEEDs participants practiced their skills at home by interviewing members of their family.
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This article was featured in an issue of the SEEDs for Autism Newsletter. If you would like to subscribe and hear more stories from SEEDs participants, please visit our website. Thank you!
For those on the autism spectrum, social interactions and new experiences are often a source of struggle. At SEEDs for Autism, we utilize Role Play as a powerful tool for social skill development. This effective technique enables participants to become familiar with different types of situations and empowers them with language and actions to appropriately participate in real life situations. Here, SEEDs participants engaged in a series of job interview Role Plays to help them prepare for entering the workforce. We asked them to share what they learned.
Playing the role of the “Hiring Manager” Chris greets Francis as he arrives for his interview.
DEVONTE The best way to prepare for a job interview is to take a shower, make sure that you have a clean appearance, and are dressed in professional attire. Then, you should make sure you feel motivated to do well during the interview. Have a mock interview with someone you know and ask them to give you constructive criticism about your performance. Make sure you eat before you have the interview, so you don’t have an empty stomach, and then brush your teeth. After that, think about the questions that you might be asked and have a list of reasonable answers ready. Double check everything to make sure that you are one-hundred percent ready, then head out for the interview.
Body language is important because it tells the interviewer whether you are interested in getting the job or not. If you have a positive and professional posture then it tells them that you are excited to be there and genuinely want to get the job. Likewise, if you have poor posture then it tells them that you just don’t care about getting the job and would rather not be there. If your body language tells them that you don’t want the job, then they simply won’t give it to you. However, if your body says that you want the job, then you are much more likely to be given it.
DUSTIN Take a shower, comb your hair and brush your teeth and wear clean clothes like a nice shirt and nice pants for a job interview. It is important to have a positive attitude, stand up straight, look at the person who is talking, have a good handshake and smile. These show that you want the job.
After a successful job interview, Chris and Angel shake hands.
ANGEL I learned that you have to be prepared for the interview and be professional. What I do is take a deep breath and think positive. During the job interview, I focus on staying calm, clear the mind and be polite, honest and respectful.
BRIAN T Positive attitude is the most important thing when you get a job. You don’t want to use a bad attitude cause you won’t get a job or earn money with a bad attitude.
Brian T demonstrates the importance of attitude during a job interview with his example of what NOT to do.
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This article was featured in an issue of the SEEDs for Autism Newsletter. If you would like to subscribe and hear more stories from SEEDs participants, please visit our website. Thank you!
“Customer service is not a department, it’s everyone’s job.”
-Ken Blanchard
At SEEDs for Autism, one of the most unique aspects of our program is providing real life opportunities for participants to turn the skills they learn into ACTION! During our annual Art Jam, SEEDs participants will be conducting tours, assisting customers and providing instruction to the community through a series of exciting workshops. We asked some of our participants to share their thoughts on how they provide excellent customer service.
CHRIS M. During my time working at SEEDS for Autism, I started learning to check out items for customers who buy them. They were purchasing each item and I helped with scanning the item to see how much it costs, letting the customer know how much the item costs and then I took the payment using a square reader.
All that time, I was acting in a positive and professional mood, asking the customer questions about the payment, doing the job with a smile and asking for assistance when I needed help.
I felt like I did a nice job on my first time as a cashier at SEEDS and think I can get a paid job at a store one day thanks to what I’ve learned at SEEDS For Autism. SONJA Customer Service is important because it shows you care about the customer and want them to come back to buy more of your product. A good example of customer service is when I did an event over the weekend with SEEDs. I said hello to customers and told them about our products and what we do to help the autism community.
JESSICA I deal with customers on a daily basis, and how to provide a good customer experience is to greet them with a smile and say have a good day.
NATHAN B. Customer service is important because it lets customers know that they matter and that purchasing our stuff is appreciated. A good example of giving good customer service is by greeting people and asking if they need help with anything. Another example would be to help them out with whatever their needs are. That is why customer service is important.
JAKE P. 5 Ways to Give Good Customer Service: 1 Look at the customer. 2 Smile. 3 Be friendly. 4 Be Helpful. 5 Be flexible.
A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.
-Franklin D. Roosevelt
When met with new experiences, it is often a struggle to overcome obstacles and improve – but this is how we GROW! At SEEDs for Autism we encourage and empower our participants to face challenges and develop the inner strength to persist and keep trying. We asked some of our participants to write about a time when they struggled with something new – and what they did to improve.
DANIEL N.
There was a time when I struggled with weight training so I worked hard to gain physical strength. I trained with lighter weights then as I got stronger I dialed up the resistance to build muscle in the back which are the most critical muscles for bench press. I won my weight division in both bench and dead lift.
NATHAN B
There was a time where I struggled at Fry’s which is where I work. When I first got hired at Fry’s I was very nervous and I had no I idea what to do really. I struggled in the beginning. I would bag the wrong things together, I would not do a very good job on carts by only doing a few at a time, and one time I accidentally hit a customers a car with one of the shopping carts. Let’s just say my early times at Fry’s were a struggle. But I didn’t give up and over time I got better and better at Fry’s to eventually thriving at Fry’s. That is how I struggled with something new and overcame that obstacle.
MICHAEL S
I struggled with math in High School. To improve I slowed down my answers. I worked out the problem first. Then I got better at math.
ISAIAH
I struggle sometimes when I work on something hard like moving heavy objects. Now when I lift heavy boxes or heavy packages I prove to be mature because I don’t use bad language and yelling and screaming.
At SEEDs for Autism, our mission is to provide opportunities for those on the autism spectrum to engage with the community, develop job skills and reach their goals of finding employment! To help cultivate these important relationships and connections, SEEDs is now offering team building clinics for corporations, local businesses and the general public. Our team building clinics provide autism awareness education and engage dialog to discuss challenges and potential employment opportunities for our autism population. Built into these inspirational and educational clinics are mindfulness and collaboration with problem solving activities and creative projects.
Last month, we held our first Healthy Balance and Stress Management Workshop for the Life Care Center of Scottsdale. This team building clinic was co-facilitated by SEEDs participants Jake and Keri who were asked to share their experiences with us.
JAKE
On January 11th I helped lead a corporate workshop at Seeds for Autism. Corporate workshops are going to be a new feature for Seeds this year. The purpose of these workshops will be establishing team building. Friday’s workshop included activities led by Seeds staff that included yoga, tea tasting, figuring out how to keep a good state of mind, and making therapeutic zen packs. I co-led a student led tour of the facility and provided a student testimony. I think these workshops will be great for companies and corporations to get a better understanding of adults on the Autism Spectrum and how to effectively communicate with those individuals in a work environment.
KERI
Last month at Seeds we had aFind Your Corporate Zen Workshop for the Life Care Center of Scottsdale. We tasted three types of tea that we make at Seeds. Also, we did chair yoga and made a therapeutic Zen Pack. I helped with sewing. Then we had lunch from Mad Greens. I was a little anxious at the beginning, then not so anxious at the end. I’m looking forward to being part of more corporate events.
“Such an amazing experience to learn and participate in. It makes me want to come be a part of the classes and gives me a new perspective on how to approach my patients with patience.” Testimonial from Workshop Participant
The team LOVED their experience and has talked about how the insights gained from the session will help them in their approach with not only their patients, but also team-mates. They also talked about how amazing the campus is as well as your team. They were so impressed with it!
All workshops include autism awareness, a facility tour, refreshments and a “make and take” project. If you are interested in booking a Find Your Corporate Zen Workshop for your team, co-workers, family or friends please contact admin@seedsforautism.org
Thanks to a generous grant from Thunderbird Charities, our Media Lab is the latest addition to the curriculum at SEEDs for Autism. This exciting department focuses on developing and practicing social skills through the use of technology and new media formats such as video production, animation and computer arts. Staying current with new innovations in communication and information, participants will utilize computers, cameras and video to share their stories, connect with others and document all the exciting things happening at SEEDs for Autism.
Scott (instructor) provides insight on the art of film-making
JAKE M.
Doing something new can be frightening. In some cases though, doing new things can be awesome if it pertains to something you’re passionate about. Seeds for Autism has added a new department called the Media Lab. Students like me get to learn about framing shots and how to operate video cameras. We also get to learn how to setup stories. I’ve always been a big movie fan. However, the purpose of the Seeds media lab is to record videos promoting Seeds products. I’m good with promoting Seeds. I feel the media lab will be great for me because it allows me to pursue my interest in video and production and it will allow me the opportunity to make more people aware about Seeds and what we do.
The Arizona summer is coming to an end and that means it’s time to start planting! To celebrate the start of gardening season, we have selected our beautifully made GARDENING APRONS as our featured product for the month. Sturdy construction with reinforced seams, these practical and stylish aprons have deep pockets for carrying gloves, garden tools and for keeping your phone handy while you work. The short style of our gardening aprons allows for lots of bending and crouching as you pull weeds, plant seeds and create a beautiful display of plants, vegetables or flowers. These hand-crafted aprons are available online and make a perfect gift for the gardener in your life!
SPECIAL ONLINE OFFER
In honor of planting time, we are offering a special discount on our gardening aprons. Just enter the code SEP18 when you make your purchase online and receive $5 off these delightful gardening aprons made with love by the participants at SEEDs for Autism!
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