(201) 444-6409

A Whole-Life Solution for Adults with Autism

Serving Bergen, Essex, Morris, Passaic, Orange, Hudson, and Union counties in New Jersey & NYC.
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Our Day Program

Continuous Growth.  Increased Independence.

JoyDew helps members continuously grow personally and professionally

We provide the tools and support they need to expressively communicate, enriching them academically,  providing community and social activities, and providing them a path to employment in “21st century” jobs that leverage their unique strengths by providing career planning, and basic business skill and specific job training in their field of interest.

For members: Increased independence

For families: Peace of mind and time for themselves

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Path to Employment

JoyDew understands that the path to employment can be challenging for anyone, and especially for people on the spectrum. Frequently they have tried and failed to fit into a “neurotypical” work environment due to sensory sensitivities, stimming, etc. Oftentimes, their unique strengths are also uncovered, so if they are working, they are underemployed.

JoyDew’s proprietary methodology identifies the special gifts of each member, teaches them the key business skills and technologies to work in today’s business, provides job training in the specific area of interest, assists with career planning, and ultimately employs people on the spectrum into high-value 21st century jobs.

Strengths Assessment

The core of the JoyDew philosophy and approach is to identify and develop the strengths of the autistic adult, as opposed to modifying their subjectively perceived “limitations”. JoyDew considers a strength to be more than what you are successful at, or have already achieved, but also aspects of your personality and abilities that can become strengths within a certain setting.

Special Gifts

Sensory

  • Visual perception/acuity (detail, color, contrast, motion, depth)
  • Auditory acuity (tone, pitch)
  • Sense of Taste
  • Touch
  • Smell

Capabilities

  • Exceptional memory
  • Persistent / Sustained concentration
  • Spatial ability
  • Perfect pitch
  • Pattern recognition
  • Absorb knowledge quickly
  • Self-learn quickly

Traits

  • Detailed-oriented
  • Concrete / Honest
  • Loyal
  • Conscientious
  • Dependable / Reliable
  • Imaginative / Creative
  • Logical
  • Observant
  • Trustworthy
Untapped abilities can be discovered by looking within larger areas of functioning such as:  visual, auditory, movement/physical tasks. Clues are found in the individual’s social interactions, passions, or hobbies. Some positive traits can be observed directly; a learner has a talent for math, a great memory, or loves drawing. Other traits are less obvious but can be used to build future strengths. A strength can even be one small piece of a topic, subject, or skill. Behavioral habits (perhaps in making lists, identifying written errors, reacting to sounds, repeating tasks) can also predict useful strengths. Separate strengths are then combined to create a skill set that matches a vocational task.

Other skills associated with strengths can improve over time with targeted training.

Employment Readiness
At JoyDew, we view communication as a fundamental tool to help develop employment readiness skills. Firstly, we adamantly believe that each member has the right to communicate in whichever method(s) work best for them (e.g., using expressive language, facilitated or independent typing, sign language, technological devices, etc.) Our weekly ASL class, for example, is a monumental means of support that helps members enhance their ability to communicate with others.

Besides communication, we also work to develop the member’s employment readiness skills in numerous ways. We learn to: work in groups, adhere to a professional dress code, understand the importance of having responsibilities and commitments, and show respect for all people both in and outside of our diverse community. These are prerequisite skills that support our members to seek employment at JoyDew.

Job Training
Our daily schedule contains a variety of comprehensive classes that are meant to prepare our members for rigorous employment. Here are some examples of how our daily schedule facilitates job training skills:

Pattern Recognition:

The ability to identify complex patterns, analyze data, and navigate various features of programs (such as Excel) are highly marketable skills. In this course, members learn to read and interpret numerical and graphical data to find trends that could positively or negatively affect a business. These highly nuanced skills can be applied to a career in data analytics.

Robotics:

Members can stay current in the increasingly technological job market, now that robots are being replaced by humans for certain jobs. In this course, members learn cutting edge skills in robotic engineering and computer programming, particularly in coding. This is a field that offers the possibility for members to work remotely. They have also been learning to fly drones in this course!

AI Annotation:

Our curriculum is intended to introduce the basic concepts of artificial intelligence. We discuss and learn it’s definition, uses, and its’ potential to reshape countless processes that affect our everyday lives. The objective is to demonstrate, in simple but meaningful fashion, how members can have a valuable impact on society.

Cybersecurity:

This course emphasizes concepts such as data security, confidentiality, integrity, software updates, device security, encryption, and authentication, while simultaneously teaching members about security threats, breaches, malware, and social engineering. Members will go on to get certified through a Google course!

Website QA:

This course is designed to teach members how to be critical of website design, the functionality of links, as well as ease of use for consumers, including those with accessibility challenges. Members are trained on QA fundamentals, as well as Section 508 and can even get government certification. Their findings are reported in an audit log with instructions to programmers for corrections. The ultimate objective is to receive paid positions for working on these reports, through companies looking to have dedicated employees who have the visual acuity to notice details that others might miss.

Multimedia:

In this course, members have the opportunity to hone their photo editing skills, by experimenting with a variety of tools within digital programs such as PixlR and Canva. These skills can be applied to a range of jobs, such as photo editing and graphic design.

Medical Imaging:

Radiology assistants are in high demand these days. At JoyDew we capitalize on our members’ visual acuity, ability to focus, and attention to detail, in order to assist radiologists with pre-screening mammograms for breast cancer.

Animation:

In this course, members are learning how to create their own animated GIF’s on PowerPoint using a variety of hand-drawn and/or pre-made cartoons. The GIF’s they create change each week, and projects range from beginner to advanced in terms of the details required per slide. Members are also constantly increasing their independence by following a designated set of steps to create their animated GIF.

Self-Advocacy:

Learning to advocate for oneself is a pre-requisite skill that will support our members in gaining and maintaining employment over time. At JoyDew, our members have been working on their “My Story” presentations, which are comparable to visual resumes. Throughout this project, members showcase their skills, talents, achievements, and unique personalities that they feel make them employable. They also practice the skills required to present their “My Story” in front of an audience. These skills include standing appropriately, facing the audience, and maintaining the audience’s attention throughout their presentation.
Additionally, in this course members have learned about various scenarios regarding community helpers, to promote the ability to advocate for oneself in real life situations. They do so by providing First Responders and other public service departments with the awareness and resources to help individuals with autism.

Business Technology:

Members will learn about the intersection between business and technology, including how technology can be leveraged to improve business processes, increase efficiency, and drive innovation. Topics covered may include information systems, data analytics, digital marketing, e-commerce, cybersecurity, and more. They will gain a comprehensive understanding of how technology impacts various aspects of business operations and how to effectively integrate technology solutions to achieve business objectives.

Problem-Solving:

Members will develop critical thinking skills and strategies to effectively identify, analyze, and solve complex problems. They will learn various problem-solving methodologies, such as decision-making frameworks and creative thinking techniques. They will learn to break down problems into manageable components, generate and evaluate potential solutions, and make informed decisions based on available information.

Music-Making:

What’s more fun than exploring one’s creativity and self-expression through the art of music production? Members get to learn several aspects of music creation, including song writing, sound design, and recording techniques. They also learn to use music-making software such as BandLab. They can hone their skills to create professional-quality music of their own.
Career Planning

At JoyDew, members are afforded the opportunity to explore a wide range of careers. Therefore, we offer rigorous courses that emphasize technological competence and critical thinking skills – as well as academic enrichment and communication skills which can also foster job readiness. 

We pair career exploration with the ability to advocate for oneself in order to set our members up for success in their employment journey. We also attend field trips to understand the ins and outs of how businesses operate, and members have the chance to ask questions and explore how different careers work. We operate on the assumption that extra support will increase productivity and create a sustainable and profitable environment, so that our members become as productive as possible within our community. Additionally, we always offer the flexibility for members to change careers upon request.

Employment
It is our philosophy that our members will reach their full potential by seeking employment here at JoyDew, due to the individualized, flexible support system we offer. This level of support is extremely difficult to obtain in a typical work environment. We adamantly believe in offering our members the flexibility to complete job tasks in a timeframe that is manageable for them, whilst being able to meet our clients’ deadlines.
Ultimately, employment at JoyDew manifests as completing projects for clients that we partner with from various industries and institutions. For example, members completed a largescale project for Santa Fe College in Florida, where they analyzed data related to college enrollment to find patterns about high vs. low enrollment for particular courses.

If you or a family member with autism would like to identify and develop their unique gifts, please call (201) 444-6409 or email info@joydew.com for more information!

Contact Our Team

Transform Your Future with JoyDew’s Innovative Approach

At JoyDew, we’ve revolutionized the traditional day program model. Our unique approach combines meaningful employment opportunities with training and support services, creating a pathway to increased independence for adults with autism. With locations in Ridgewood and Livingston, we’re making real career development accessible across Northern New Jersey.

Our Comprehensive Day Program Services

Unlike traditional day programs that focus solely on activities, JoyDew provides a structured environment where adults with autism can be intellectually challenged, develop professional skills, earn income, and build lasting careers. Our program is designed to support individuals at every step of their journey.

Career Planning

  • Strengths Assessment
  • My Story/LinkedIn Resume development
  • Personalized Plan

Employment Readiness

  • Academic Enrichment
  • Computer and Technology Skills
  • Professional communication
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Social skills in the workplace

Job Training & Employment

  • Professional skills development
  • Industry-specific training
  • Real-world work experience
  • Paid employment opportunities
  • Career advancement pathways

Support Services

  • One-on-one mentoring
  • Job coaching
  • Career counseling
  • Employment support

Proven Success

Our innovative approach has led to:

• Successful job placements
• Increased independence
• Higher earning potential
• Improved quality of life
• Long-term career development

A Day at JoyDew

Our structured daily program provides consistency while allowing for individual growth and achievement. Here’s what a typical day might include:

9:00-9:15 Opening Meeting
9:15-9:45 Movement – Yoga
9:45-10:45 Multimedia Job Training – Animation
10:45-11 Snack Break
11-12 Work (paid) – Website Accessibility QA
12-12:45 Lunch Break
12:45 – 1:45 Medical Imaging Training – Breast Cancer Prescreening (1-on-1)
1:45 – 2 Break
2-3 Robotics Training – Drone flying practice
3-3:45 Career Exploration with Guest Speaker
3:45-4 Closing Meeting

Who We Serve

Our day program is designed for adults with autism who are:

• Seeking meaningful employment opportunities
• Looking to develop professional skills
• Interested in building independence
• Ready to engage in real work experiences
• Motivated to grow in a supportive environment

Location and Accessibility

JoyDew provides services at two convenient locations in Ridgewood and Livingston, NJ. Both locations provide:
• Full-service facilities
• Easy public transportation access
• Modern, sensory-friendly environments
• State-of-the-art training equipment
• Comfortable break areas
• Quiet, structured environments
• Community integration opportunities

Funding and Support

We work with various funding sources to make our programs accessible:

• DDD funding
• Private pay options
• Insurance coverage (where applicable)

Our Expert Team

JoyDew’s staff includes:

• Certified job coaches
• Vocational specialists
• Career counselors
• Employment specialists

Getting Started

Join the JoyDew community in three simple steps:

1. Schedule an initial consultation
2. Complete our assessment process
3. Create your personalized development plan

Contact Us Today

Ready to learn more about JoyDew’s transformative day program?

Contact us to schedule a tour or consultation. Discover how our unique approach can help build a foundation for lasting independence and career success.