Rochester, MI – Oakland University has opened a new on-campus laundry service geared towards providing employment opportunities for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
The service is patterned after a program developed by an organization in North Carolina and will be open to both campus students and non-students alike. For $10 to $15, busy students and other clientele can have their clothing picked up, freshly laundered and dropped off to their apartments or dorms.
Therefore the program will help provide a much-needed service in addition to offering those using it with the opportunity to help others by giving back.
For the individuals taking part in the program, the advantages are tenfold.
Studies indicate that approximately 90% of adults on the spectrum are either underemployed or unemployed with many struggling to find gainful employment due to challenges that are inherent to the disorder.
However with on-site job coaches offering support and the day-to-day operations being supervised by faculty members, the project is expected to be a resounding success. The expectation is that it will help employees to be productive by allowing them to meaningfully engage in the community through their work.
Additionally, organizers hope that through proper research and the development of an effective business model, a “road map” can be created that other universities throughout the country will be able to follow.