What We Do
- Train and employ developmentally disabled students and adults in the practice of dismantling and recycling unwanted electronics (e-waste).
- Convert waste from local residents and corporate partners into reusable materials such as copper and aluminum.
- Participants develop problem-solving skills as they disassemble e-waste and sort components for recycling.
- Instill pride and independence in the participants, providing them a means to earn money while learning transferable skills.
- Continue to enhance educational skills gained throughout life in the classroom and improve functionality and socialization.
Why It’s Important
Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in the US. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported that 1 in 68 children in the US have an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). About 1 in 6 children in the US had a developmental disability in 2006-2008. These ranged from mild disabilities to intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and autism. According to US Bureau of Labor statistical data for June 2014, only 32.1% of Americans with disabilities are part of the nation’s workforce. Autism Speaks found that 9 out of 10 adults with Autism are unemployed or underemployed, regardless of their IQ or educational level.
