IGNITE is a program of the Autism Society of North Carolina, with founding support from the Evernham Family-Racing for a Reason Foundation. Spring 2018 • Volume 5, Issue 1
IGNITE is a unique ‘peer-to-peer’ community center for young adults with high-functioning autism (HFA) or Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) offering activities, skills training, and educational workshops that foster social, financial, educational, and employment independence for its members. More importantly, IGNITE offers a social environment where members can connect with others and experience a sense of community.
For more information:
Mindy Govan, IGNITE Director 704-897-8982 mgovan@autismsociety-nc.org www.ignite-davidson.org www.autismsociety-nc.org You can donate to IGNITE online or send a check made out to the Autism Society of North Carolina: IGNITE • 209 Delburg St., Suite 134 Davidson, NC 28036
Hidden Barriers in the Workplace By Mindy Govan, IGNITE Director
Many individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are very good at the work tasks they have been hired to do. They are very dependable, showing up for work as expected, and they rarely take days off. But to be successful in the workplace, individuals on the spectrum must overcome hidden barriers. Let’s begin with job duties. When someone is hired, they usually are given a broad description of their duties, but so often, the specific duties are not included. Think about it: Does your job description adequately describe what you actually do day to day? In addition, some duties are unspoken but expected, such as answering the phone and checking email. It would help individuals on the spectrum to have all of the expectations and duties spelled out clearly, organized, and prioritized. Job duties also can be fluid and change based on situations and need. For individuals with ASD, it can be difficult to incorporate new tasks and duties into their routine. Unexpected change can cause frustration. Individuals on the spectrum can struggle to build a new routine, causing a significant decrease in productivity, or they may appear insubordinate when they do not adapt to the changes. Employers can support their workers with ASD by helping them to establish new routines if needed and by being patient and understanding that this is difficult for the employee. If your job tasks change and you are feeling confused, you just ask for help, right? But asking for help is a complicated skill. Let’s look at all that is required. First, you must recognize that you need help. Then you must understand that other people have different skill sets and someone might have the skill or knowledge that you are lacking. Next you must be able to put into words the need that you have AND you must be able to present these words to a person who might be able to help you. “What do I say and when do I say it?” If a breakdown occurs during one of these steps, the whole process can fail. (Continued on page 2)
Member Spotlight: Ryan Devine
Ryan Devine has been a member of IGNITE since the summer of 2015. After high school, Ryan took classes at Central Piedmont Community College but struggled to adjust to the academic demands. Ryan learned of IGNITE though his mother. He wanted to join IGNITE to meet new people, make new friends, and try new things. “IGNITE allows me to be around people with the similar interests,” Ryan said. His favorite groups are movie night, trivia, and a variety of Saturday activities in the community. We have always known Ryan to be a hard worker. When he first joined IGNITE, he was working part-time at a local dry cleaner and at Harris Teeter. Ryan worked at Harris Teeter for six years as a bagger. His duties included cleaning, bagging groceries, and collecting carts. Although he enjoyed working at Harris Teeter, he knew he couldn’t work part-time forever. He began looking for full-time jobs with benefits that would pay the bills. Homewood Suites in Davidson had previously reached out to IGNITE in hopes of finding the perfect employee for the houseman position. Staff met with Homewood Suites to review
Ray J’s Reviews Check out IGNITE member Ray J Evernham’s movie reviews online: www.facebook.com/pg/rayjsreview
‘Rampage’ exceeded my expectations greatly!! It’s a highly thrilling, entertaining, sometimes surprisingly funny, and exciting monster movie on an extremely large scale I highly recommend seeing this movie on the biggest screen possible! Without giving spoilers, I loved the ending too, very heartwarming and funny I give this movie 5 out of 5 stars
all the components of the job and to discuss how to best support an IGNITE member as an employee. Ryan seemed to be a good possible match. IGNITE helped Ryan through the application and interview process, and Ryan went with IGNITE staff to Homewood Suites to shadow the available position. Staff helped him to organize the tasks and understand the job expectations. Ryan really enjoyed it and all involved decided it would be a good fit. Ryan is now employed full-time with benefits and loves his job! We are so happy for Ryan! He is still able to come to IGNITE for occasional movie nights and weekend activities in the community, which he really enjoys. Ryan also tries to come to Champions Sports Performance for exercise group when he is off work.
(Hidden Barriers cont.) Asking for help also can be complicated by potential social implications or negative thoughts such as: “If I ask for help, does that imply that I am not competent?” “Will my supervisor think I am stupid?” However, if help is needed and not sought, performance often deteriorates. Individuals on the spectrum benefit from support in learning these skills so that they can ask for help. Breaks can pose several challenges for workers on the spectrum. According to the Department of Labor, breaks are dictated by hours worked. How do you know when you are supposed to take your break? Some work environments make it easy to know, but in many others, it’s a judgment call based on the demands of the job. Individuals with strong set routines may want to take a break at the exact same time every day (or a break based on time, not need), which can negatively affect productivity if they are in the middle of a project. Others might not know when they can take a break and end up not taking them at all. Breaks also require good timemanagement skills. What can you do in the time frame you are given? Like the list of job tasks, a clear set of rules about breaks would benefit workers with ASD. In the break room and elsewhere, social conversations are an everyday occurrence in most workplaces. Appropriate social skills and conversation skills are required. These are both areas of weakness for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and can cause a significant amount of stress. Additionally, the break room can cause a sensory overload with all of the smells and sounds. An individual with autism may comment aloud about the unpleasant smells or sounds as a matter of fact but may be interpreted as rude. Autism training for co-workers can increase their understanding and acceptance of the differences in the way workers on the spectrum communicate. Individuals on the spectrum have much to offer employers. With a little training, support, and understanding, they can succeed and become valued workers. Here at IGNITE, we are working with members on all phases of employment from getting to keeping a job. We are also working with employers to understand autism and the supports needed to create a successful placement for both employee and employer.
PG 2– IGNITE NEWS • Spring 2018
What’s Happening at IGNITE? This spring, IGNITE has been fortunate to have several parent and community leaders volunteer to bring their knowledge and expertise to enhance the level of programs offered at IGNITE.
5K Training
Nick, a member’s parent, saw that IGNITE was going to start a “couch to 5K” training program for IGNITE members for the health and wellness program and for participation in the Family Fun Puzzle Run in Huntersville. Nick met us at the Davidson College track every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to help train our members on the proper techniques to increase speed and endurance to get ready for the Puzzle Run! It sure paid off, as we had many members place in their age groups! Congratulations to Paul Nestor for placing 8th overall and 1st in his age group, and to Jillian Thompson, Rachel Dempsey, and Morgan Barnes for placing 3rd in their respective age groups!
Social Communication
Martha, a member’s parent, is a retired speech language pathologist who worked for Cabarrus County Schools. At a parent meeting, she heard we were looking for someone to teach pragmatics, social “chitchat,” and “small talk.” As Martha worked to recruit a volunteer, she realized that she would really enjoy teaching the group. Martha brings a lot of energy to her teaching and has an understanding of the communication difficulties that the IGNITE members face every day.
Special Olympics Bowling
Janet recently moved to North Carolina with her job at MSC Industrial Supply Co. She heard about the AmeriCarna LIVE car show and became a volunteer. The experience inspired her to learn more about IGNITE and donate her time to the program. Janet shared that she had volunteered for several years in the Special Olympics bowling programs. Little did she know, IGNITE was already in the process of setting up a bowling team but needed a coach. What a match! Janet has worked with the members and staff to develop a successful Special Olympics bowling program that practices weekly in Mooresville.
IGNITE NEWS • Spring 2018 – PG 3
Cornelius Community Gardens
IGNITE offers two levels of cooking groups each week, and we thought it would be a great idea to start growing some of our own food to use in the classes. We started researching community gardens and making phone calls. As luck would have it, one phone call led to a wonderful relationship with Ellen at Cornelius Community Gardens. When she heard about who we are and what we do, she volunteered to come teach basic gardening to the members each week until it became warm enough for us to actually begin going out to the gardens. IGNITE has two garden beds, and with Ellen’s support, we are introducing many members to gardening and hope to be harvesting our vegetables soon. We are excited that the IGNITE members are benefiting from the talents of many parents and community professionals, and we hope to continue to grow in this area. We already have two other parents already lined up to donate their time and expertise. Tom, a federal police officer (and much more) will offer a community and personal safety training to the members this summer. And Doris, a community yoga instructor, will offer weekly yoga classes at IGNITE. If you are interested in volunteering your area of expertise to the IGNITE members, please contact us.
AmeriCarna LIVE Car Show 2017
The fifth annual AmeriCarna LIVE Car Show in Davidson on Saturday, Nov. 25, raised more than $150,000 to benefit IGNITE. The beautiful weather and amazing variety of cars brought more than 4,000 people to the show, making it a record-breaking year! They were treated to a record 600+ cars, including entries from current and former NASCAR drivers Ryan Newman, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Daniel Suarez, Joey Logano, and Rusty Wallace; team owner Rick Hendrick; car clubs; and proud collectors. Thank you to host Ray Evernham and the two generous sponsors, MSC Industrial Supply Co. and Ingersoll Rand, which each donated $15,000!
Comic illustrated by Makenna Pell PG 4– IGNITE NEWS • Spring 2018
Donor Spotlight:
Barnes Family
Morgan Barnes has been a member of IGNITE since it opened, and his parents have been faithful supporters of IGNITE, both financially and with their involvement. “Morgan has had a great variety of social opportunities and outings that have enriched his life tremendously,” said his parents, Ann Lee and Robin Barnes. “But beyond these, he has benefitted and learned from the many classes and groups, as well as individual attention from staff members. IGNITE has been both fun and educational for him.” Morgan is taking classes online with Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, and he would like to pursue a career in theater. He attends the weekly Champions exercise group with other IGNITE members and has also become a member at Champions Sports Performance, where he participates in rigorous workout classes three times a week. This spring, Morgan was a part of the couch to 5K program and then placed third in his age group in the Family Fun Puzzle Run in Huntersville. When Morgan joined IGNITE, his parents, who had felt isolated, were surprised to discover families who had gone through experiences similar to theirs. They were happy to find support not only for him but also for themselves. “IGNITE is a community that involves the entire family; there are picnics and potluck get-togethers as well as parent meetings,” they said. “Before IGNITE, we had no way of connecting with them.” The Barneses said they have been very impressed with IGNITE’s caring and professional staff, who see the program as a mission, not just a job. “The staff members seek to know participants individually — their strengths and weaknesses — to identify ways to help them move forward. And the staff is always available and eager to discuss concerns honestly and professionally.”
They said that in addition to recognizing the value of IGNITE and its caring staff, they were inspired to provide financial support by Ray Evernham, with his enthusiasm and leadership, and other parents, who also donate to and support the program. IGNITE “is very well-managed; money will be well and judiciously spent, not wasted.” They said they would encourage anyone to become involved with IGNITE, either as a program participant or a donor. “We could not recommend IGNITE highly enough to young people with an ASD. Here they will find social connections, help with a wide variety of issues and guidance for their future. “The attitude of IGNITE members themselves speaks volumes about the program— they support and care for one another,” they said. “IGNITE participants, who have so often experienced crippling social isolation, are truly grateful. They appreciate, and do not take for granted, the wonderful and creative opportunities it provides. “IGNITE has been nothing short of a blessing to Morgan and to us.”
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom pre-screening proceeds to benefit IGNITE
Thursday, June 21
Doors open at 6 p.m. and movie starts at 7 p.m. Our Town Cinemas in Davidson $25/ticket (includes any size popcorn and drink)
https://jurassicworld2.eventbrite.com IGNITE NEWS • Spring 2018 – PG 5