{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413315", "NJ.com article on new adult autism school Smith helped with fed grant'This N.J. college is launching an academy for adults with autism'", "2024-08-08", "2024", "2024-08", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "MIDDLETOWN, NJ , Aug 8, 2024\n\nNJ. com Everything New Jersey - Powered by Star Ledger\n\nBrookdale Community College is developing a program that will equip adults who are on the autism spectrum with a variety of life skills, from meal preparation to financial literacy.\n\nThe Achieve Academy for Adults with Autism, which is slated to begin taking clients in 2025 at Brookdale\u2019s satellite campus in Wall, seeks to fill a gap in services for individuals with special needs who are no longer eligible to receive public school-provided support.\n\n\u201cIn New Jersey, a child with autism is allowed to be in school until they turn 21,\u201d said Eileen Shaklee, an autism advocate and board member of Monmouth Ocean Foundation for Children, which has been working to develop the academy for a decade. \u201cWhat happens after 21 is what a lot of parents like myself kind of call the cliff, because you\u2019re leaving school where you had all these services, lots of reinforcements, lots of supports, and then there\u2019s nothing.\u201d\n\nRep. Chris Smith assisted in securing a $400,000 federal grant for the project, which will be used to furnish the academy, according to the release\n\nThe Achieve Academy for Adults with Autism celebrated the completion of its facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 16. The academy will begin serving clients in 2025.Brookdale Community College\n\n\u201cOne of the most important things for someone who\u2019s on the spectrum is to have a consistent support system that can reinforce skills like life skills, being independent in your home,\u201d Shaklee added.\n\nFor Shaklee, her passion for the academy is fueled by her own experiences as a parent to a child with autism, who will soon turn 21. \u201cI\u2019ve been selfishly motivated to get this thing off the ground, and it\u2019s because of my son,\u201d she said.\n\nShaklee said there is a lack of programs offered for adults with autism to engage in meaningful work and contribute to the community.\n\n\u201cThere are various programs out there that are more care-based. They\u2019re making sure that the person is safe. A child like mine, he needs more interaction, more purpose,\u201d she said.\n\nThe academy will have a mock apartment, where clients will learn basic skills, such as making a bed, doing laundry and preparing simple meals, Shaklee said. The program will also provide job coaching, and even take clients into the community to gain work experience in different roles.\n\nThe academy will also have a space that mimics a restaurant, where students will make coffee or treats for the Brookdale community, according to a news release.\n\n\u201cWe want to make sure that we\u2019re providing all of the tools to them that they will need to be successful in their individual communities,\u201d said Linda Jordan, the academy\u2019s director.\n\nJordan said the Monmouth Ocean Foundation for Children has been instrumental in securing grants and donations to fund the academy. \u201cThey really have just poured their heart and souls into getting this program up and running,\u201d Jordan said.\n\nWhen the program launches next year, Shaklee said it will start with a cohort of about 10 clients, and eventually expand to at least 40.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s been a very long process and it\u2019s so satisfying to see where it is right now,\u201d Shaklee said. \u201cYou plant those seeds and you hope they grow into a really big tree \u2014 and it\u2019s looking good.\u201d\n\nThis article was published on Aug. 8, 2024 by the Star Ledger/NJ.com and the original can be found at:\n\nThis N.J. college is launching an academy for adults with autism - nj.com", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:36:13Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413315"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.302054151892662, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}