Lee nonprofit finds success in finding jobs for young people with autism

Jayme Fusco is okay with the fact that the teens and young adults she works with might not need her one day. 

That’s actually the goal.

As director of transitional services for Family Initiative, the registered behavior technician and board certified advocate in special education helps teens and young adults with autism spectrum disorder develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to enter the workforce. Programs at the Cape Coral-based nonprofit provide job training and introductions to careers through job shadowing and visits from community members, all aimed at helping participants secure employment.

“This is everyone’s dream, to become independent and get paid, to be able to get things yourself and eventually live on your own,” says Fusco. “So that’s the first step — to get that job.”

Four young adults who are part of Family Initiative’s career pathways program have done just that, with three working in the Lee County Tax Collector’s Office and one employed at the Lee County government administration building. Those opportunities came about through conversations between Lee County Tax Collector Noelle Branning and the founders of Family Initiative, David Brown and Anjali Van Drie.

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Licensed clinical social workers, Brown and Van Drie launched the nonprofit in 2015 after seeing a need for local services for children, teens and adults on the autism spectrum. And over the years, they had talked with Branning about some of the particular challenges for young adults on the spectrum. (Cape Coral-based Family Initiative had $2.81 million in revenue in its most recent fiscal year, public tax filings show.)

“I remember meeting with David and Anjali, and one of the issues they discussed were their [young adult] clients being able to enter the workforce and really establish independence at some point,” says Branning. “We started talking about what skill sets those young adults had.”

Almost two years ago, the tax collector’s office hired two of those young adults in part-time roles and brought on another one in January. They’ve already helped the office automate one task and are continuing to explore using artificial intelligence to increase efficiency for other tasks.

“We’ve learned how to utilize the skills they brought to improve our office, and it’s been a universal growth opportunity for us,” says Tara Jones, business operations assistant director at the Lee County Tax Collector’s Office. “They have experience of their own they’re bringing to the table, and it’s really important for our team.”

“Everyone seems to be really, really happy with how it’s going,” says Fusco. “Autism is just a part of who they are; it’s not who they are. It doesn’t define them. It’s just a social communication deficit; it’s not a cognitive disability.”

Before the four young adults started their jobs, Family Initiative trained staff at the tax collector’s office and county administration building about working with individuals with autism spectrum disorder. It helped provide them with “a generalization of what autism may look like — but it’s going to look different for everyone,” says Fusco.

Both sites have created special spaces where the young adults can have a quiet moment when needed. At the tax collector’s office, it’s “a little chill room that’s for our friends to go if they need a break,” says Fusco. “And now all of the staff members, if they want a quiet space, they all go in and use it, which is super cool.

“Over at the administration building, they took it a step further,” she continues. “They came to our sensory room to figure out what things would be great to have.”

Accommodations like these help set everyone up for success. And the young adults served by Family Initiative have a lot to contribute to the workplace. Many of them enjoy routine, making them well-suited to repetitive or detail-oriented tasks others might find tedious. 

“Because of the need for repetition and consistency, their work is highly accurate,” says Jones. “They are also avid communicators, and they’ll let you know when there is an issue or if they feel the work load is high.”

Lee County District 3 Commissioner David Mulicka knows the possibilities of partnerships like these from both a personal and professional perspective. His older son has been part of Family Initiative programs for the last several years. And as owner of HONC Destruction, he saw a young man with autism spectrum disorder blossom at his company and become a team leader in the organization.

“You never know what diamond in the rough you might discover, or a shy kid whose true potential can be unlocked with these programs,” he says. “I would want my fellow small business owners to view this as an opportunity for a win-win situation.”

Fusco hopes to expand the initiative both within the county government and beyond. “I think the possibilities are definitely endless,” she says. “And I think that you’re not going to find more dedicated employees than the individuals that we bring forth. They really, really, truly want a job, and they’re going to do the very best that they can, because they want to succeed.”