80.7 F
Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsLocal governmentTherapy Solutions, V.I. Businesses Join to Develop Independent Living Skills for Adults...

Therapy Solutions, V.I. Businesses Join to Develop Independent Living Skills for Adults With Autism

Sheraw Designs’ Chad Sheraw instructs STEP interns on sanding a mahogany cutting board.

Local businesses and Island Therapy Solutions have teamed up to build independence and essential life skills for adults with autism.

Big Beard’s Adventure Tours, CHOP Grill & Restaurant, Rehab Services of St. Croix, Sheraw Designs and St. Croix Environmental Association recently hosted interns as part of Island Therapy Solutions’ Strategic Transition Enrichment Program (STEP).

STEP is part of Island Therapy Solutions’ Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy program for adults with autism spectrum disorder.

“Our intern has been working out quite well,” said Captain Steve Kammerzelt of Big Beard’s Adventure Tours. “He comes on time and always with a happy attitude. He definitely has his favorite tasks but willingly helps out when he is asked to do other things. He has been here long enough to know how to do what is asked of him without much supervision from store staff. His staff (a registered behavior technician assigned by Island Therapy Solutions) is also super friendly and positive and directs/redirects him when/if necessary. It has honestly been nice to have him around to help out.”

Each internship operates under an agreement that requires adherence to internship parameters established by the V.I. Department of Labor. The internships typically last about eight weeks, and the interns are accompanied at all times by a behavior technician or a registered behavior technician from Island Therapy Solutions.

STEP and similar programs across the U.S. open doors previously closed to adults with disabilities, and consumers appreciate these businesses, according to Autism Speaks, a global autism awareness organization.

2. CHOP & Grill Restaurant Owner Sana Joseph Smith poses with a STEP intern.

In a recent consumer study cited on www.autismspeaks.org, 92 percent of Americans view companies hiring people with disabilities more favorably than those that do not. The study also found 87 percent would prefer to give their business to companies who hire people with disabilities.

However, that’s not the prime motivator for most business partners.

“CHOP & Grill Restaurant and our team members consider it a privilege to be able to support the (STEP) interns and their quest to achieve additional knowledge,” said STEP internship partner Sana Joseph Smith of CHOP & Grill Restaurant on St. Croix. “The payoff of seeing them grow as individuals is way more than the small sacrifice we have to make to accommodate them. Our community supports us, and we support our community.”

In addition to developing workplace skills and experience, the STEP participants complete projects and tasks designed to develop independent living and social skills. Individuals work on cooking, identifying and managing currency, personal privacy concerns, community safety and other life skills that foster independence.

Each participant is assessed to determine the skills developed within their individualized STEP program. Every participant works on tasks designed to meet the specific needs of the participant.

To be eligible for STEP, an individual must have a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder.

Island Therapy Solutions provides these diagnostic services and offers STEP from its Gallows Bay offices on St. Croix.

. Big Beard’s Adventure Tours Owner Captain Steve Kammerzelt works with a STEP intern.

“We are actively seeking partnerships with local business owners to assist in our goal of providing opportunities to develop real-life, day-to-day work and life skills for our STEP participants,” said Courtney Mills, who in conjunction with a board-certified behavior analyst leads STEP.

April is Autism Awareness Month! Learn more about becoming STEP an internship business partner or participant by contacting Andrea Purdome at Island Therapy Solutions at 719-7007. Or visit http://www.islandtherapysolutions.com

Island Therapy Solutions is a multi-dimensional practice serving St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John. It provides psychological testing for adults and children, individual and group therapy, psychiatric care, couples therapy, family therapy, ABA autism services for children and adults, occupational therapy for children, and speech and academic tutoring services.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.

2 COMMENTS