Achieve Inc

ACHIEVE'S PRIMARY OBJECTIVE WAS TO MAINTAIN THE SUMMER SOCIAL ENTERPRISE (FOOD TRAILER) IN THE NORTH END OF THE COUNTY DURING 2022 SO THAT ALL NEURODIVERGENT COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK AT LEAST 12 HOURS DURING THE SUMMER UNDER THE TUTELAGE OF QUALIFIED MENTORS. ACHIEVE HAD THE FOLLOWING OUTPUTS (NUMERICAL COUNTS RELATED TO PROGRAMMING) IN 2022. IN 2022, THE FOOD TRAILER WAS OPEN FOR LUNCH (10 A.M. TO 3 P.M.), 6 DAYS/WEEK FOR 12 WEEKS DURING THE SUMMER. IN 2022, 16 NEURO-DIVERSE PEOPLE WORKED IN THE SUMMER PROGRAM AT THE FOOD TRAILER, GAINING JOB, SOCIAL AND COGNITIVE SKILLS UNDER THE TUTELAGE OF 3 PAID MENTORS (AND 3 VOLUNTEERS). ACHIEVE INVESTED BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY IN 2022 THROUGH PAYMENT OF AT LEAST $1,250 IN SALES TAX AND $1,723 IN EMPLOYERS' PAYROLL TAXES (UNEMPLOYMENT, MEDICARE, AND SOCIAL SECURITY). DURING THE 2022 SUMMER EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, OVER 1,300 ORDERS WERE FULFILLED, MANY HAVING MULTIPLE CUSTOMERS, THEREBY EXPOSING THE ABILITIES OF NEURO-DIVERSE WORKERS AND INCREASING THEIR ACCEPTANCE INTO THE MAINSTREAM. DURING 2022, ACHIEVE OFFERED 4 SOCIAL PROGRAMS TO AREA NEURO-DIVERSE TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS. ATTENDEES INCLUDED 3 YOUNG PEOPLE WHO DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS TO 19. CURRENTLY, NO PROGRAMS EXIST IN THE GREATER COMMUNITY FOCUSING ON BUILDING SOCIAL SKILLS IN TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES. ACHIEVE ATTAINED THE FOLLOWING OUTCOMES/INDICATORS IN 2022. IN 2022, 81% OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS HAD DOCUMENTED IMPROVEMENT IN MONEY-HANDLING, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS, SELF-ADVOCACY, AND SOCIAL SKILLS. IN 2022, 75% OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS REPORTED IMPROVEMENT IN AT LEAST 3 OF THE FOLLOWING AREAS: (1) PROPER WORK HYGIENE AND ATTIRE FOR FOOD SERVICE; (2) HOW TO ASK FOR HELP WHEN APPROPRIATE; (3) WHEN AND HOW TO COMMUNICATE REQUESTS FOR SCHEDULE CHANGES; (4) HOW TO APPROPRIATELY INTERACT WITH CUSTOMERS AND CO-WORKERS; (5) FAMILIARITY WITH RETAIL/FOOD SERVICE OPERATIONS AND/OR POINT OF SALE (CASH REGISTER) SYSTEMS AND HOW TO COMPLETE TRANSACTIONS WITH CUSTOMERS; (6) HOW TO BE PRO-ACTIVE IN THE WORKPLACE. IN 2022, 63% OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS REPORTED IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR SENSE OF SELF-WORTH AND REDUCED ANXIETY. NEURO-DIVERSE ADULTS HAVE 46% HIGHER ODDS OF HAVING ATTEMPTED SUICIDE THAN THEIR PEERS WITHOUT LEARNING PROBLEMS (FULLER-THOMSON, CARROLL, YANG, 2018).