Impressions - August 2018 - 32

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make.
do.

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Training
Through
Threads
a branch of Eden autism uses screen printing
to help teens and adults prepare for life.
By Jennifer Morrell, ConTriBuTing WriTer

Eden Autism was started in 1975 as a nonprofit organization
to help individuals with autism. The organization has made
many strides in varying areas, including opening a school and
offering adult services and various other outreach programs.
Addressing a clear need for services during an autistic person's lifespan - from the point of diagnosis through adulthood
- Eden has developed a broad scope of programs for individuals, their families, educators and other professionals. One
such program is Eden Threads, Eden Autism's screen-printing
business that was created to help establish new opportunities,
or - as the program puts it - "OpportuniTees."
"Eden Threads and programs like it can empower adults
with autism by providing them with skills and the confidence
to enhance their employment prospects," says RobertValluzzo,

screen-print manager for Eden Threads."Entitlement to special education ends at the age of 21. Eden provides vocational
training for its high school students, as well as job-training and
placement services for participants in its adult day program."
Valluzzo says the goal of both programs is to teach employment
skills that, ultimately, will lead to paid work in one of Eden's
employment centers or in the community, either with a job
coach (supported employment) or independently (competitive
employment).
The organization actually was initiated by an Eden parent and his associate, both of whom developed the business
model, trained the Eden Threads staff and acquired donated
equipment. They also applied for and received several grants.
Eden Threads completed its first decorated-apparel order in
December 2015, with the goals being to promote teamwork,
diversity and self-reliance.
"The venture has helped participants learn skills applicable to a production-driven environment and learn teamwork
within an assembly line-style of production, thereby gaining
and enhancing important group communication and social
skills," Valluzzo says.
Cranking Out Shirts

Eden Threads regularly
prints T-shirts for teams
that are registered for its
annual 5K fundraiser,
held each October.
P.32

i m p r e s s i o n s m a g . c o m AUGUST 2018

Since establishing an online presence in 2015, Eden Threads
has printed thousands of shirts for local businesses, corporations, families and nonprofit organizations. "We have made
shirts for commercial businesses, private events, nonprofits and
autism-awareness events," Valluzzo says."These are popular
items in our Eden Express convenience stores, which are located at our three campuses. Most recently, we created shirts
for Maddalena's CheeseCake & Catering, where individuals
who attend our adult day and employment program have jobs."
The organization also has created shirts for a local nonprofit's
members to wear when advocating at the New Jersey state

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Impressions - August 2018

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