OUCARES offers pre-employment training for adults with autism, developmental disabilities

The Oakland University Center for Autism's Outreach Services (OUCARES) is offering pre-employment skills training for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities.

An information session about the program will take place 6-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 23, at Meadows Learning Center. To attend, RSVP to oucares@oakland.edu.

This new 12-week program, which runs from April 11 – July 1, provides knowledge and skills in three key areas:

• Interpersonal skills – communication, social awareness, networking, team work, accepting criticism, collaboration

• Understanding employment – career options, resumes, applications, maintaining a job

• Independent living skills – hygiene, money management, community understanding, goal-setting

OUCARES Director Kristin Rohrbeck said the training is specifically designed to help adults with ASD overcome difficulties they often face in securing competitive, meaningful employment opportunities.

“The employment difficulties often stem from an individual's challenges in communication and social interaction related to their autism diagnosis,” Rohrbeck explained. “OUCARES' goal is to help adults with ASD overcome their social and communicative challenges to learn how and where to find employment opportunities that best fit their needs, how to engage with potential co-workers and clients appropriately in order to maintain employment, and lead successful and independent lives."

The program will be held Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., at Meadows Learning Center in Rochester, Mich. The cost is $3,000 for this 25-hour per week training. Limited scholarships are available thanks to support from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Applications are available at oakland.edu/oucares.

For additional information, email oucares@oakland.edu.