Reel Life Skills for Autism: Job Readiness Training On a Movie Set

NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. - June 3, 2015 - PRLog -- Autism does not end when a child grows-up, yet there is a dramatic decline in access to services during the transition into adulthood. Reel Life Skills aims to fill the gap and smooth the transition, leaving participants with real rubber-meets-the road work-related social skills that they can take with them to future employment.

This unique pilot program first provides job readiness training to young adults on the spectrum by qualified master’s level counselors in a small group setting. Then students become interns on a real movie set, where they are given actual responsibilities. No specific filmmaking experience is required.

The Friendship Network for Children, Inc. is an ambitious grass-roots non-profit organization that provides training, counseling, and advocacy for children, teens, and young adults with autism. Incorporated in the summer of 2004 in Northborough, MA, it was founded by Nancy Swanberg, M.S., a licensed mental health counselor and author of The Connection Formula: How to Autism-ize Your Thinking and Become Your Child’s Lifeline. Swanberg also has extensive experience in schools, mental health agencies, and private practice. She started her career as a vocational counselor and now has come full circle. “Being employed gives people a real sense of purpose,” states Swanberg. “I feel The Friendship Network is uniquely qualified to help make this possible for people on the autism spectrum.”

A movie set is a busy and demanding environment with deadlines demonstrating real work expectations and the need for good communication. Experienced crewmembers are oriented in understanding autism, but the concept is to make the environment as realistic as possible. Counselors will be on set to help facilitate the learning process. In the end everyone’s work leads to a tangible result: a short film, something that all involved can have the satisfaction of knowing they had a hand in creating.

The Friendship Network is asking for help funding so they can offer these desperately needed services to young adults with autism at no cost to them or their families. http://www.razoo.com/story/Reel-Life-Skills-For-Autism-Job-Readiness-Training-On-A-Movie-Set  Swanberg is clear, “One way or another, we will make this pilot program happen. Then we can adapt it and help more people.”