NEXT for AUTISM has selected 20 new recipients of its work-based
scholarship program.
NEW
YORK, July 30, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- NEXT
for AUTISM (NEXT), a leading nonprofit dedicated to transforming
the national landscape of services for people with autism selects
20 college students to be part of the 2024-2025 NEXT for AUTISM
FELLOWS work-based scholarship program. NEXT for AUTISM FELLOWS, a
first-of-its-kind work-based scholarship program, provides
financial scholarships to qualified students while also ensuring
new Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) enter the workplace to
support autistic adults.
NEXT seeks to aid service providers dealing
with the ongoing DSP workforce crisis by partnering to recruit and
retain FELLOWS to work as DSP during their time in school. We are
grateful to our partners and donors for sharing in this vision.
Gillian Leek, CEO, NEXT for
AUTISM
"NEXT seeks to aid service providers dealing with the ongoing
DSP workforce crisis by partnering to recruit and retain FELLOWS to
work as DSP during their time in school," shared Gillian Leek, CEO, NEXT for AUTISM. "Not only
are we helping those organizations struggling to provide quality
care, but we are educating FELLOWS to go out into the world after
graduation as more accepting and inclusive individuals. We are
grateful to our partners and donors for sharing in this
vision."
This is the second year of the FELLOWS program, which now
includes 23 FELLOWS. As part of the program, each recipient works
800 hours a year as a DSP supporting autistic adults, in addition
to receiving a scholarship award to assist with their tuition.
Thanks to generous support from Bloomberg Philanthropies, The Louis
J. and June E. Kay Foundation, The Sunshine Foundation, and The
Taft Foundation for helping make this important program
possible.
"We are thrilled to partner with NEXT for AUTISM and their
FELLOWS Scholarship Program. This initiative is more than just an
employment-based scholarship; it underscores our dedication to
empowering our employees in their career journeys. At the same
time, it fosters invaluable real-world experiences for students in
health and human services fields. Recent data from New York
Disability Advocates revealed a concerning 31% turnover rate in the
nonprofit provider workforce statewide in 2022. Here at The Arc
Westchester, we see the FELLOWS Scholarship Program as a crucial
initiative not only for attracting and retaining our committed team
members but also for nurturing their professional growth within our
organization and helping them realize their career aspirations."
Tibi Guzmán, CEO, The Arc Westchester
This year's program includes five new education partnerships
University of Illinois Chicago, Mercy
University (New York State),
Richard Daley City College (Chicago,
IL), SUNY (Westchester Community College), and Temple University (Philadelphia, PA) and four community
partnerships A Plus Autism Solutions (Chicago, IL), The Arc Westchester
(White Plains, NY), Urban Autism
Solutions (Chicago, IL), Variety
the Children's Charity (Delaware Valley
location).
The 2025-2026 NEXT for AUTISM Fellows Scholarship cycle will
commence in January 2025. We eagerly
anticipate applying the insights gained from this year and
observing how the program evolves based on the data we gather.
"This fellowship will allow me to develop skills that will
directly impact my future career as a speech pathologist," shared
Nasiah, a FELLOWS recipient attending the University of Illinois-Chicago.
ABOUT NEXT FOR AUTISM
NEXT for AUTISM is the leading nonprofit dedicated to
transforming the national landscape of services for people with
autism by strategically designing, launching, and supporting
innovative initiatives.
NEXT remains steadfast in its quest to change the paradigm for
how individuals with autism thrive throughout their adult lives.
This is done by leveraging a broad range of autistic and
neurotypical stakeholders and partnering with national
organizations, regional agencies, and local entities to enhance
services and maximize resources. Learn more at
NEXTforAUTISM.org
Media Contact
Holly Wainwright, NEXT for
AUTISM, 1 203-667-4734, hwainwright@nextforautism.org,
NEXTforAUTISM.org
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SOURCE NEXT for AUTISM