Long Island Students with Autism Get Inspired from Business Professionals Gersh Academy Career Day

West Hempstead, NY; April 1, 2016 – Dozens of children in elementary through high school on the autism spectrum from Gersh Academy in West Hempstead recently learned about different career and professional opportunities as they met and heard firsthand from nine local business professionals during Gersh Academy’s Career Day. Among the diverse businesses represented at the event were a dog trainer, graphic artist, dance teacher, credit union store manager, grocery store owner, North Shore LIJ nurse and a representative from Jet Blue.

Gersh Academy’s Career Day was held with a specific mission in mind – to introduce children with autism to different areas of industry for sparking career interest and a pathway for meaningful futures within an engaging that fosters self-discovery, self-development and socialization.

Each of the presenters met with six different sets of students who were broken up into groups of 10 to 15. The business guests and Gersh faculty were impressed over the students’ levels of interest and engagement.

“It was a great privilege being part of Gersh Academy’s Career Day,” comments Graphic Artist Jan Guarino of Guarino Graphics. “The children were so welcoming and really took interest in our careers. This was a wonderful heartwarming experience that I am so grateful to have been a part of!”

“We appreciate our nine business professionals for taking time out of their busy schedule to meet with our students, which made our Career Day a true success!” says Gersh Academy Principal Celeste Gagliardi. “We are so proud of our students for being such gracious hosts and showing so much interest in what each of our special guests’ had to say about their different careers. It provided our students with some insight and vision on what they’re interested in doing in the future!”

In 1991 Kevin Gersh was inspired by a very unique child with autism who was enrolled in one of his educational programs. Mr. Gersh recognized that this one child and all children alike, if given the right educational environment, appropriate instruction and highly trained dedicated staff, can learn and thrive despite their challenges. Based on this philosophy, Mr. Gersh founded Gersh Academy. Today Gersh Academy’s successful and much-needed programs for children in grades K-12 focus efforts on students who have disorders on the autism spectrum. Currently, Gersh Academy has five K-12 locations, three on Long Island and two in Puerto Rico. In addition, Gersh Academy has a post-secondary residential program located in Buffalo, New York. This program offers a supportive living environment for young adults on the autism spectrum. Information about this program can be found at http://gershexperience.com.

Gersh Academy’s West Hempstead, Long Island, New York location is led by veteran Principal Celeste Gagliardi and a team of dedicated professionals. The school provides K-12 educational services for students from across the New York Metropolitan area. It is the goal of Mr. Gersh as well as the teachers and the staff of the school to provide exceptional services and programs and, whenever possible, that students are given the opportunity to return to their home schools and school districts with all the tools and skills they need to be successful and achieve their full potential. For more information about Gersh Academy, visit http://gershacademy.org.

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PHOTO CAPTIONS:
Pic 10: Northwell Health System Nurse Julie Denninger demonstrates a checkup on a student at Gersh Academy in West Hempstead during the school’s recent Career Day. Photo courtesy Corbett Public Relations.

Pic 11: Northwell Health System Nurse Julie Denninger fields questions from students at Gersh Academy in West Hempstead about her job during the school’s recent Career Day. Photo courtesy Corbett Public Relations.

Pic 1/Pic 3: Graphic Artist Jan Guarino of Guarino Graphics speaks to students at Gersh Academy in West Hempstead about her profession as a graphic designer and head of her studio during the school’s recent Career Day. Photo courtesy Corbett Public Relations.

Pic 4/Pic 15: Graphic Artist Jan Guarino of Guarino Graphs shares samples of her work as a graphic designer and discusses her day as head of her studio with students at Gersh Academy in West Hempstead during the school’s recent Career Day. Photo courtesy Corbett Public Relations.