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Seeds for Autism founder outlines job, life‑skills programs and plans for thrift store and coffee shop
Summary
Mary Anne, founder and executive director of Seeds for Autism, described a Phoenix‑based program that trains adolescents and adults with autism in trades, life skills and supported employment; organizers plan a thrift store opening and later a coffee shop to expand community integration and paid apprenticeships.
Mary Anne, executive director and founder of Seeds for Autism, told the Veterans Disability and Human Services Commission on March 12 that the Phoenix nonprofit trains adolescents and adults with autism in job skills, life skills and social‑skill development aimed at supported employment and independent living.
The program “was founded in 2010,” Mary Anne said, and grew from “four young adults” working in her backyard to a facility offering woodworking, jewelry making, sewing, weaving, graphic arts, culinary training, blacksmithing and a garden program. She said Seeds pairs participants with job coaches and partners with vocational rehabilitation to pursue employment and on‑the‑job supports.
The organization described a two‑phase expansion. Phase one is a thrift store — “Seeds Garden of…
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