NEXT for AUTISM has selected 20 new recipients of its work-based scholarship program.

NEW YORK, July 30, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- NEXT for AUTISM (NEXT), a leading nonprofit dedicated to transforming the national landscape of services for people with autism selects 20 college students to be part of the 2024-2025 NEXT for AUTISM FELLOWS work-based scholarship program. NEXT for AUTISM FELLOWS, a first-of-its-kind work-based scholarship program, provides financial scholarships to qualified students while also ensuring new Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) enter the workplace to support autistic adults.

"NEXT seeks to aid service providers dealing with the ongoing DSP workforce crisis by partnering to recruit and retain FELLOWS to work as DSP during their time in school," shared Gillian Leek, CEO, NEXT for AUTISM. "Not only are we helping those organizations struggling to provide quality care, but we are educating FELLOWS to go out into the world after graduation as more accepting and inclusive individuals. We are grateful to our partners and donors for sharing in this vision."

This is the second year of the FELLOWS program, which now includes 23 FELLOWS. As part of the program, each recipient works 800 hours a year as a DSP supporting autistic adults, in addition to receiving a scholarship award to assist with their tuition. Thanks to generous support from Bloomberg Philanthropies, The Louis J. and June E. Kay Foundation, The Sunshine Foundation, and The Taft Foundation for helping make this important program possible.

"We are thrilled to partner with NEXT for AUTISM and their FELLOWS Scholarship Program. This initiative is more than just an employment-based scholarship; it underscores our dedication to empowering our employees in their career journeys. At the same time, it fosters invaluable real-world experiences for students in health and human services fields. Recent data from New York Disability Advocates revealed a concerning 31% turnover rate in the nonprofit provider workforce statewide in 2022. Here at The Arc Westchester, we see the FELLOWS Scholarship Program as a crucial initiative not only for attracting and retaining our committed team members but also for nurturing their professional growth within our organization and helping them realize their career aspirations." Tibi Guzmán, CEO, The Arc Westchester

This year's program includes five new education partnerships University of Illinois Chicago, Mercy University (New York State), Richard Daley City College (Chicago, IL), SUNY (Westchester Community College), and Temple University (Philadelphia, PA) and four community partnerships A Plus Autism Solutions (Chicago, IL), The Arc Westchester (White Plains, NY), Urban Autism Solutions (Chicago, IL), Variety the Children's Charity (Delaware Valley location).

The 2025-2026 NEXT for AUTISM Fellows Scholarship cycle will commence in January 2025. We eagerly anticipate applying the insights gained from this year and observing how the program evolves based on the data we gather.

"This fellowship will allow me to develop skills that will directly impact my future career as a speech pathologist," shared Nasiah, a FELLOWS recipient attending the University of Illinois-Chicago.

ABOUT NEXT FOR AUTISM

NEXT for AUTISM is the leading nonprofit dedicated to transforming the national landscape of services for people with autism by strategically designing, launching, and supporting innovative initiatives.

NEXT remains steadfast in its quest to change the paradigm for how individuals with autism thrive throughout their adult lives. This is done by leveraging a broad range of autistic and neurotypical stakeholders and partnering with national organizations, regional agencies, and local entities to enhance services and maximize resources. Learn more at NEXTforAUTISM.org

Media Contact

Holly Wainwright, NEXT for AUTISM, 1 203-667-4734, hwainwright@nextforautism.org, NEXTforAUTISM.org

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SOURCE NEXT for AUTISM