Living and Learning Enrichment Centers helps adults with autism prepare for the workforce

This is really a cool story. Finding a job has to be tough these days for everybody, especially hard for adults with autism and other special needs. There is help available to get them prepared for their workforce. The Living and Learning Enrichment Center in Northville, teaming up with local companies to increase workplace inclusivity. Ethan, Ethan, Erlandson is the director of employment services. This here, and we have former Living and Learning member and current employee Griffin Simmons here as well. Guys, thanks for being here. Yes, thank you for having us. Pleasure. This is a great program to really highlight and make sure that people understand that this opportunity is out there. So, Ethan, let me start with you. Tell us a little bit about the center, what you guys do there, and how this works. Yeah, the Living and Learning Enrichment Center is a nonprofit organization based out of Northville. We work with individuals with disabilities through social programming, vocational services. We have clinical services, and then Griffin and I, we both work in our employment services department, where we help individuals prepare for and obtain employment opportunities. All right, Griffin. So, tell us a little bit about your story from first arriving at Living and Learning and where you are now. Yes. So I was a member. So I was referred to Living and Learning by MRS, and they helped me connect with Living and Learning to help me find employment. Yeah. So I went through the whole cycle of obtaining employment, and then one day last December. One of my former coworkers told me our employment services department is growing, and they formed a position called the administrator in employment services, where they where I run the front desk and do all their administrative work, and they thought I would be terrific at it. So, and how's it going? It's going really well. I'm really enjoying it. And how significant is that to you to be able to have this job and earn a paycheck? All those things. It's very rewarding because I go in working with a lot of confidence. Yeah, I. I work on being the best person I can be every single day. I am gaining my own paycheck and starting to live independently. Yeah, and Ethan is now is Ethan your boss? He sure is. Should we? I mean, should we ask him how it's going? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Sure. How's he doing? We are so so lucky to have Griffin. Like he said, you know, we were working with him at first on preparing for and looking for a opportunity that meets his skills and qualifications. Yeah. Um, and then just like he said, you know, we had a position a front desk position that opened up, and we just thought Griffin would be the perfect fit. So we reached out to him, interviewed him, he got the job, and um, you know, we're we're so blessed and so lucky to have him. Sure, I can see why. Um, so for for people who are looking, well, just explain the significance of being able to to find a job. And you work with a lot of partners. Chick Fil A is one of your biggest partners, right? Correct. So these are companies that are saying yes, we want to be a part of this. Why is it meaningful to the companies and these workplaces, and and how does it impact um all of the people who get placed? There's so much that goes into it. Um, you know, for the individuals and their families, landing an employment opportunity can be absolutely life changing. You know, it can be something that they've been working hard towards for really long time, and it really just comes down to sense of purpose. Yeah, sense of purpose. Yeah. And just comes down to finding that right opportunity. So um, you know, kind of going into the employer side of things, these individuals can bring so much to your team. Yeah, and and these local companies realize that and say we want to be a part of this. Okay, so if anybody is interested on either side of the equation, I suppose um, how do they contact you guys? Yeah, you can find us online. You can go to our website. We are a vendor of Michigan Rehabilitation Services, and we also work with Oakland and Wayne County Health Networks. Um, Griffin, how did you find us? So I found you guys through. Michigan Rehabilitation Services. One of our friends has a connection with Living and Learning, so. We decided that Living and Learning would be a really good place for me to build relationships, make some friends, find employment, and stuff, and potentially join their social programs. But as a matter of fact, I serve on their member advisory board. Yeah. And I'm also a mentor for their two programs: Saturday night hangout and our guys group. Nice. Yeah. Oh, that's been really fun. Very. I mean, that's a really good point. That's a very important combine. You can't just. It can't be all work. Yeah, it's fun too, right? Good stuff. Griffin, Ethan, thank you guys so much. Thank you. You're welcome.