Come visit us at our May 13th Open House at either our Livingston or Ridgewood location! Click here for more information.

A non-traditional day program for adults with autism offering higher education, employment, supported housing, social activities and guidance for parents in a safe, innovative, autism-friendly environment for a more independent, joyful, meaningful life.
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From Undervalued and Alone to Valued, in Community
Most adults with autism have unique gifts that can be developed into a meaningful career in areas like medical imaging, pattern recognition, data analytics, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and robotics.

We believe in them, provide the right work environment, training, and special support they need to flourish.

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From Low Quality Group Homes or “Golden Cages”, to Autism Smart Living
When our housing opens next year, it will be staffed with well-paid, highly motivated autism experts who will ensure our members’ joyful living.

Located close to town centers, our state-of-the-art facilities will be safe, secure, and include private living quarters and shared community spaces.

From Isolation, to Living in a Community of Friends
By organizing engaging social activities onsite, virtually and in the community, JoyDew helps people on the spectrum to interact and develop relationships.

The result is that many of them have developed real friendships for the first time in their in their lives.

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From Limited Access to Unlimited Opportunity
JoyDew partners with several colleges to provide degree and certification opportunities.

Our highly trained staff conduct job training, academic enrichment, and teach business social skills, focusing on “21st century” jobs that leverage the unique strengths of our members.

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From Struggling, to Guidance Through Autism Services
Most families experience significant stress and frustration every day trying to get appropriate services for their child, and are constantly in fear for their future.

JoyDew helps parents navigate the complex world of autism services, including social security, Medicaid, DDD benefits, and finding autism-friendly medical, legal and other professionals, as well as agencies and support coordinators.

From failing, to Leveraging Special Abilities
One of JoyDew’s core values and approach is to identify and develop the strengths of the autistic adult, as opposed to modifying their subjectively perceived “limitations”.

Applying a proprietary methodology, JoyDew is able to tease out each member’s unique strengths, determine what support they need, create a personalized plan to determine jobs of interest and training required, train them, and ultimately employ them in appropriate, high-value jobs.

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From presumed incompetent, to Confidence
JoyDew takes a “presume competence” approach to autism and focuses on an individual’s unique strengths, rather than their limitations as compared to neurotypical individuals.

This simple idea changes everything. Because members are smart, and they believe we know that, they feel safe and are willing to try their hand at challenging work. With this confidence, they are able to succeed at levels many never thought possible.

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From trying to conform, to Embracing Identity
Most young adults with autism have spent countless hours in ABA classes being taught how to conform to societal norms, but despite their best efforts, are often unable to control their stimming and other “behaviors”.

At JoyDew, we understand the need for self-regulation, and embrace the notion that people on the spectrum may have sensory sensitivities, move, communicate and have different interests and ways of thinking than neurotypical people.

From Minimal Communication, to Expressive Communication
People with autism may have apraxia of speech, dysphasia, motor planning or other issues that result in difficulty developing language skills, understanding what others say to them, or communicating nonverbally.

At JoyDew, we believe that expressive communication is a basic human need, and it is critical to everything we do. For this reason, all our staff are hired and trained extensively in Total Communication resulting in 100% of our members expressively communicating within 6 months.

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From Isolated, to in a Community of Friends
Did you know that 79% of adults with autism feel socially isolated from their peers?

JoyDew believes that everyone should feel comfortable in their environment, which includes having a flexible space for learning and working, staff and equipment to support their needs, and most of all FRIENDS.

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JoyDew increases the independence, happiness and quality of life for adults on all parts of the spectrum and their families by offering a whole-life solution to help them learn, work, live, develop friendships and unleash their unique gifts.

FUTURE VISION

JoyDew’s vision is to replace the brutal reality, experienced by all people with autism and their families, with solutions that touch every part of their lives, and are rooted in strengths, human rights and hope.

Our whole-life solution transforms lives by presuming competence and raising expectations; accepting identities and building strengths through academic enrichment; and by training for high-level
employment in a community with lifelong friends, a full social life, safe and friendly housing, and assistance navigating the complex autism industry.

UNLEASH JOY

JoyDew enables adults with autism to have a fulfilling work and personal life, with the ability to communicate expressively, feel accepted, have community and friendships, and enjoy a meaningful career and a safe autism-friendly environment.

Designed to be sustainable for their lifetime, JoyDew renews hope and faith, increases independence, personal empowerment, and self-worth, and improves the quality of life of its members, their families and careers.

JoyDew provides much more than a day program for adults with autism. It enables them to have a fulfilling work and personal life, with the ability to communicate expressively, feel accepted, have community and friendships, and enjoy a meaningful career.

Designed to be sustainable for their lifetime, JoyDew renews hope and faith, increases independence, personal empowerment, and self-worth, and improves the quality of life of its members, their families and careers.

Most adults with autism across the spectrum have a gift that can be developed into a meaningful career. We simply need to believe in them and provide the right work environment, training, and special support they need to flourish.

Julian is eager to leave for the program in the morning. He returns bright-eyed and energized in the afternoon…As he put it, “JoyDew makes me think”.

JoyDew’s recognition that its members are capable of sophisticated thought and able to participate in the workforce at a high level is perhaps its greatest contribution to the autistic community.

– Allan Reiss, parent

Our Approach

You might not be able to imagine you or your family member with autism could be employed in a high-value job, but let us surprise you. Approximately half of our members have never been able to fully speak and all of them are employable now!

Employment

Most adults with autism have unique gifts that can be developed into a meaningful career in areas like medical imaging, pattern recognition,
data analytics, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and robotics. We believe in them, provide the right work environment, training, and special support they need to flourish.

Housing

When our housing opens next year, it will be staffed with well-paid, highly motivated autism experts who will ensure our members’ joyful living. Located close to town centers, our stateof-the-art facilities will be safe, secure, and include private living quarters and shared community spaces.

Social Activity

By organizing engaging social activities onsite, virtually and in the community, JoyDew helps people on the spectrum to interact and develop relationships. The result is that many of them have developed real friendships for the first time in their life.

Higher Education & Training

JoyDew partners with several colleges to provide degree and certification opportunities. Our highly trained staff conduct job training, academic enrichment, and teach business social skills, focusing on “21st century” jobs that

Parent Education

JoyDew helps parents navigate the complex world of autism services, including social security, Medicaid, DDD benefits, and finding autism-friendly medical, legal and other professionals, as well as agencies and support coordinators.

Julian is eager to leave for the program in the morning. He returns bright-eyed and energized in the afternoon…As he put it, “JoyDew makes me think”.

JoyDew’s recognition that its members are capable of sophisticated thought and able to participate in the workforce at a high level is perhaps its greatest contribution to the autistic community.

– Allan Reiss, parent