Meristem Inc

TO SERVE YOUNG ADULTS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM THROUGH EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF LIFE SKILLS.

INSTRUCTION:AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD) IS A LIFE-LONG DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY THAT OCCURS AMONG ALL RACIAL, ETHNIC, AND SOCIOECONOMIC GROUPS AND SUPPORTING YOUNG ADULTS WITH ASD IS A SIGNIFICANT SOCIETAL CHALLENGE. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ASD IS THE FASTEST GROWING DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY IN THE UNITED STATES. PRESENTLY, OVER 80% OF INDIVIDUALS WITH ASD IN CALIFORNIA ARE YOUNGER THAN 22 YEARS OF AGE AND THE CALIFORNIA ASD POPULATION IS INCREASING BY AN AVERAGE OF 12% PER YEAR.MERISTEM HAS DEVELOPED A MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH THAT INCLUDES THE DEVELOPMENT OF SELF ADVOCACY AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS WITHIN THE ASD POPULATION, THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRAINING PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS EMPLOYMENT BARRIERS AND EDUCATE EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES ON THE FEDERAL AND STATE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY AND AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT TO ENSURE PROTECTION AND SUPPORT. THIS MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH WILL CREATE NEW EMPLOYMENT AVENUES FOR YOUNG ADULTS WITH ASD, INCREASE THIS POPULATION'S OVERALL EMPLOYMENT SUCCESS RATE, STRENGTHEN INDIVIDUALS WITH ASD'S ABILITY TO SELF ADVOCATE IN A WAY THAT HELPS INFORM FUTURE POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT GUIDE EMPLOYERS, LAWMAKERS AND EDUCATORS, AND CHANGE NEGATIVE CULTURAL STIGMA AROUND PEOPLE WITH ASD AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ALL OF WHICH BENEFIT THE ASD POPULATION AND THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT:THE PROGRAM IS CONDUCTED ON AN OPEN CAMPUS IN AN INTEGRATED COMMUNITY AND PROVIDES REGULAR SOCIAL AND WORK EXPERIENCES FOR YOUNG ADULTS WITH ASD. THE SACRAMENTO CAMPUS WAS OPENED IN 2014 ON A 13-ACRE SITE IN FAIR OAKS. THE CURRICULUM CONSISTS OF HANDS-ON-LEARNING THROUGH 10 VOCATIONAL TRACKS: WOODWORKING, AGRICULTURE, METALWORK, HEALTH AND BODY CARE PRODUCTS, LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE, DIGITAL ARTS AND MEDIA, CULINARY ARTS, HOSPITALITY, GLASSWORK AND TEXTILES. THE PROGRAM DEVELOPS STUDENTS' VOCATIONAL, COMMUNICATION, INTERPERSONAL, CUSTOMER SERVICE AND PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS. INTRODUCING THEM TO A BROAD SET OF CAREER PATHWAYS AND PROMOTING THEIR TECHNICAL AND SOFT SKILLS DEVELOPMENT PREPARES STUDENTS FOR EMPLOYMENT AND INDEPENDENCE.ADDRESSING THE INCREASING NUMBER OF AUTISTIC YOUTH WHO WILL BE AGING OUT OF THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM CREATES A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE FOR FAMILIES AND OUR STATE. AUTISM IS A LIFE LONG DEVELOPMENTAL CHALLENGE. IN THE COMING DECADE AS MANY AS A HALF MILLION CHILDREN WITH AUTISM WILL REACH ADULTHOOD. YET, FEW RESIDENTIAL AND VOCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS EXIST FOR THEM. FREQUENTLY, ADULTS WITH AUTISM ARE PLACED IN FACILITIES OR PROGRAMS THAT ARE NEITHER DESIGNED NOR EQUIPPED TO HANDLE THEIR SPECIFIC VOCATIONAL NEEDS. MOST STATE REGIONAL CENTERS, THE ENTITY PROVIDING SERVICES FOR DISABILITIES, WILL SEE MORE THAN A 300% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ADULTS WITH ASD DURING THE NEXT DECADE. MERISTEM HAS CREATED A RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM DESIGNED TO DEVOTED ADDITIONAL TIME TO THE DEVELOPMENT LIVING AND SOCIAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT. ALL OF THESE SUPPORTS HELP TO STUDENTS TO PREPARE FOR AND TRANSITION INTO FURTHER EDUCATION OR THE WORKFORCE.

STUDENT SERVICES:MERISTEM INCORPORATES THREE ON CAMPUS SOCIAL ENTERPRISES TO CREATE REAL-WORLD WORK ENVIRONMENTS IN WHICH STUDENTS LEARN AND PRACTICE RELEVANT AND TRANSFERABLE PROFESSIONAL SKILLS. THE FOCUS IS ON LEADERSHIP, PRESENTATION AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS; CAREER AND SOCIAL AWARENESS; TEAMWORK AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION; THE JOB APPLICATION PROCESS; TIME MANAGEMENT AND WORK ETHICS. - MERISTEM HEALTH AND BODY CARE PRODUCTS - THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE OF THE SOCIAL ENTERPRISES ON CAMPUS. STUDENTS LEARN THE ART OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, MARKETING, SALES, PACKAGING AND PRICING. PRODUCTS ARE SOLD ONSITE IN THE BOOKSTORE, AVAILABLE TO GUESTS AT THE B&B AND OFFERED THROUGH OUR ONLINE STORE. - MERISTEM BAKERY - STUDENTS BAKE AND DELIVER CUPCAKES AND OTHER BAKED GOODS TO LOCAL BUSINESSES AND OTHER CELEBRATION EVENTS. STUDENTS CREATE THE RECIPES AND CONDUCT ONGOING MARKET RESEARCH FOR THE PURPOSES OF NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT.- MERISTEM MODEL BED & BREAKFAST - LOCATED A FEW MINUTES AWAY FROM THE CAMPUS ON A THREE-ACRE FARM, THE B&B IS MANAGED AND OPERATED BY OUR STUDENTS. THEY PREPARE THE GUEST ROOMS, PLATE, PREPARE AND SERVE A CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST AND HANDLE THE DAY-TO-DAY MANAGEMENT AND MARKETING OF THE FACILITY.