VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A non-profit organization in Virginia Beach is giving adults with autism the opportunity to get real-life job experience.
Melissa Alspaugh and her mom Patricia Alspaugh opened the Indigo Autism center to give adults with autism real-life job experience.
Melissa a.k.a. Millie says the vision to open the center started with her brother who has autism.
"Anybody with a family member on the spectrum knows that there are times that are not always good and the fact that he perseveres through that. I think that shows the type of person he is," said Millie.
She says when her brother graduated from high school things were tough.
"Matt had a little bit of a rough patch when he got out of high school. A little behavior patch that stemmed from a kind of just being an idol," said Millie.
Millie mentioned the program has enhanced his social skills and has taught him how to stay healthy.
"Whether that's hand-eye coordination, doing inventory, making list, sorting doing different things to expand their mind," said Millie.
Matt and Millie's mom Patricia says the program has no restrictions for people with autism.
"We don't discriminate against any individual with autism. There are some programs that you have to meet certain criteria and verbal. We take everybody," said Patricia.
Patricia tells News 3 the staff builds personal connections with the participants and their families.
"Our curriculum, we individualize it for each participant and they are exposed to a lot of different opportunities and internships," said Patricia.
Millie says she can't believe how much her brother has grown,"
"You know he's in there even though he can't articulate what he wants besides telling minimally what he wants to go do, but I'm really proud of him that he perseveres."
If you would like to donate to the Indigo Autism Center or learn more about how they cater to the Autism community, click here.
