For many of the young adults we work with, family support and public school programs provide a crucial foundation. Yet, like anyone else, they long to achieve greater independence and make meaningful contributions to their community. Employment serves as a powerful pathway to reaching these aspirations.
UAS strives to provide opportunities for young adults to take their first steps toward employment through structured volunteer internship programs. These programs go beyond teaching basic job skills like task performance, following instructions, and receiving feedback. They create a supportive environment where participants can build the social and communication skills necessary to thrive both in the workplace and in life.
None of this would be possible without our incredible community partners, who open their doors to help our students grow. Through these internships, young adults not only develop the skills they need to land their first job, but they're also gaining the confidence and self-worth that come from contributing to their communities.
Check out the impact we're making with our volunteer internship partners to help young adults with autism and related disabilities gain greater independence and thrive.
GUEST HOUSE
Guest House is a non-profit organization that provides temporary accommodation to medical patients, their families, and military veterans in Chicago. As a valuable volunteer internship partner, Jan Kroeschell, Manager of Volunteers and Programming, shares the impact our students are making for this organization.
"Here at Guest House, we are grateful for the UAS Internship Program. The students who come twice a month on a Thursday morning bring enthusiasm and joy into our Jane Reich Community Room. They prepare delicious desserts that are included in our weekly dinners that we offer those staying at Guest House."
MARILLAC ST. VINCENT FAMILY SERVICES
Marillac St. Vincent Family Services is meeting the needs of those in the community by fighting poverty – and one way they're accomplishing this is through
a food pantry set up as a grocery store. With this recent partnership, Marillac has offered volunteer internships that allow our students to both serve thecommunity while building essential job skills.
Thanks to Marillac staff members like Volunteer Specialist, Bob Joynt, our students are receiving extensive, hands-on training. And Bob appreciates the work and effort they put in each week.
"Working along side other volunteers each Thursday, we depend on the students to prepare the store for the Friday distribution by stocking shelves, moving items through the warehouse and filling the display refrigerators and freezers. What started as a training opportunity for the students has become an integral part of our Pantry operations."
OUR LADY OF THE HOLY FAMILY
While some of our UAS students aren't eligible for competitive employment, we strive to teach and promote autonomy and independence with life skills in a variety of environments.
Our Lady of the Holy Family is a local community parish that is providing a safe space to do just that. This volunteer internship enables students to practice a variety of different functional home
skills – sweeping, dusting, mopping, or cleaning a bathroom and kitchen – while also working on valuable job skills such as sustaining attention on a work task, following directions from a supervisor, working as a team, and practicing a positive attitude.
Partner with UAS and help pave the way for growth and self-sufficiency for young adults with autism and related disabilities.
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