HARRISBURG – Secretary of Public Welfare Estelle B. Richman announced a new grant opportunity to help service providers develop programs for Pennsylvanians living with autism who are finishing school and beginning to seek employment.
“With support from community service providers, adults living with autism receive the training they need to help ensure their success as they join the workforce,” said Richman. “Through this grant initiative, we can continue to open new doors for Pennsylvanians with disabilities and help them to achieve their goals.”
Educational and rehabilitation services for individuals with autism spectrum disorder typically end at the age of 21 and adult oriented programs, while helpful, are not specifically designed for autism. The grants will help providers fill in the gaps in services by providing funding to develop and pilot an effective education-to-employment transition program targeted to this population.
Proposals must be completed and submitted electronically to the Department of Public Welfare’s Bureau of Autism Services by Dec. 12.
Under Gov. Edward G. Rendell’s leadership, Pennsylvania continues to be a national model of excellence in autism service delivery and has placed an emphasis on establishing statewide diagnostic, assessment, training, and intervention standards to meet the lifetime needs of Pennsylvanians with autism.
To learn more about applying for a grant or to download the application, visit here.