PROVIDENCE, RI - U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today announced the Groden Center in Providence will receive a $333,000 federal appropriation he secured to provide vocational training and employment services to persons with Asperger's Syndrome. The Groden Center will use the funding to assist with training and placing individuals with Asperger's Syndrome in the workplace.

Asperger's Syndrome is a neurological condition on the high end of the autism spectrum. It is characterized primarily by difficulties in social interaction, interpreting social cues, and labeling and communicating feelings. Young adults with Asperger's Syndrome are usually intelligent, capable, and eager to work. Because they are typically reliable, perfectionistic, and loyal, they make excellent employees once an appropriate job is discovered for them and the challenges of navigating a social world are mastered.

"The Groden Center has been treating and educating kids and families in Rhode Island for more than 30 years and they do an outstanding job. I am pleased to have secured this funding to help the Groden Center assist individuals in acquiring the vocational and social skills they need to enter the workforce," said Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee. "This federal funding will enable young people with Asperger's Syndrome to contribute their considerable talents and different abilities to our workforce. It will help them learn new skills, earn a paycheck, and live healthy, productive lives."

Dr. Patricia Wisocki, the Project Director of the Job Club, reports that in the first year of the program all participants were successfully placed in either paying jobs or internships for further training in specific jobs. These jobs include inventory control in a national organization, baking in a school cafeteria, horticulture, a self-designed computer business, an auto detailing business, assisting with a local radio program, assistant at a library, office work, historical research for a church.

Once employed, individuals in the program continue to receive training and support.

"We are very encouraged by these results and are looking forward to this next year working with more young adults with Asperger's Syndrome. This year we have added an academic component that will help some participants continue their education and work through the social challenges of college life," Dr. Wisocki said.

"We have been fortunate in the state of Rhode Island to have Jack Reed as our senator. He has been a champion for persons with developmental disabilities and he understands that through appropriate education, treatment, and vocational training, they can make unique contributions as valuable members of our community," said Dr. June Groden.

Founded in 1976 by Drs. June and Gerald Groden, the mission of the Groden Network is to enhance the lives of children and youth with autism, behavioral disorders and developmental disabilities, and their families through the development of vocational, communication and functional community skills. The Groden Network of programs serves over 800 clients through programs that include: The Groden Center - day and residential programs for children and adolescents; The Cove Center - vocational programs for adults; a preschool; an early intervention program; The Halcyon Center - day and residential support programs for adults in Southern Massachusetts; and Kingston Hill Academy - a public charter school dedicated to the Groden Network mission of individualized learning.

PROVIDENCE, RI - U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today announced the Groden Center in Providence will receive a $333,000 federal appropriation he secured to provide vocational training and employment services to persons with Asperger's Syndrome. The Groden Center will use the funding to assist with training and placing individuals with Asperger's Syndrome in the workplace.

Asperger's Syndrome is a neurological condition on the high end of the autism spectrum. It is characterized primarily by difficulties in social interaction, interpreting social cues, and labeling and communicating feelings. Young adults with Asperger's Syndrome are usually intelligent, capable, and eager to work. Because they are typically reliable, perfectionistic, and loyal, they make excellent employees once an appropriate job is discovered for them and the challenges of navigating a social world are mastered.

"The Groden Center has been treating and educating kids and families in Rhode Island for more than 30 years and they do an outstanding job. I am pleased to have secured this funding to help the Groden Center assist individuals in acquiring the vocational and social skills they need to enter the workforce," said Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee. "This federal funding will enable young people with Asperger's Syndrome to contribute their considerable talents and different abilities to our workforce. It will help them learn new skills, earn a paycheck, and live healthy, productive lives."

Dr. Patricia Wisocki, the Project Director of the Job Club, reports that in the first year of the program all participants were successfully placed in either paying jobs or internships for further training in specific jobs. These jobs include inventory control in a national organization, baking in a school cafeteria, horticulture, a self-designed computer business, an auto detailing business, assisting with a local radio program, assistant at a library, office work, historical research for a church.

Once employed, individuals in the program continue to receive training and support.

"We are very encouraged by these results and are looking forward to this next year working with more young adults with Asperger's Syndrome. This year we have added an academic component that will help some participants continue their education and work through the social challenges of college life," Dr. Wisocki said.

"We have been fortunate in the state of Rhode Island to have Jack Reed as our senator. He has been a champion for persons with developmental disabilities and he understands that through appropriate education, treatment, and vocational training, they can make unique contributions as valuable members of our community," said Dr. June Groden.

Founded in 1976 by Drs. June and Gerald Groden, the mission of the Groden Network is to enhance the lives of children and youth with autism, behavioral disorders and developmental disabilities, and their families through the development of vocational, communication and functional community skills. The Groden Network of programs serves over 800 clients through programs that include: The Groden Center - day and residential programs for children and adolescents; The Cove Center - vocational programs for adults; a preschool; an early intervention program; The Halcyon Center - day and residential support programs for adults in Southern Massachusetts; and Kingston Hill Academy - a public charter school dedicated to the Groden Network mission of individualized learning.