GRANTS SUPPORT WORK SKILLS TRAINING

Robin L. Davies-Small, director of  Yes She Can Inc., recently announced that two new grants from the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC), including a $150,000 annual grant for three consecutive years to expand its mentorship program, and The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism, which has provided a $12,500 Impact Grant, to support work skills training, have been awarded to the organization. 

The new program creates a process for providing mentors from local businesses to support and mentor young adults with autism.  Young women who have communications and social challenges, have very little interaction with neuro-typical peers in the workplace. Almost all of the direction and coaching they receive is from family and clinical professionals and comes with a “disability lens.” The mentorship program will provide women with autism an opportunity to be supported by neurotypical people in the community that are not paid staff or family members. 

The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism, based in Framingham, Massachusetts, awards grants annually through a competitive application and review process.