Older students from Camelot’s Northwest Center for Autism get job training at local Hy-vee, and earn a paycheck

(DeKalb, Illinois – September 18, 2014)

Students at Camelot’s Northwest Center for Autism (NWCA) in DeKalb, IL, are getting the opportunity to learn job skills and get paid, thanks to a partnership with Hy-vee grocery store.

Principal Jennifer Johnson says the relationship between Camelot and Hy-vee began this summer when the store started selling soap made by NWCA students. With the soap still on sale and selling well, the store took the relationship to the next step by offering to pay students as they learn job skills.

The students bring in carts from the parking lot, help carry groceries to cars, and do general clean-up chores. As the students progress they will be given other tasks such as stocking shelves. This is the aspect of Camelot’s therapeutic day school program in which students 18-21 gain real-life experience to help them transition to a job. But finding a store willing to pay the students marks a breakthrough.

“It’s being part of the community and it’s giving these kids a chance,” said Hy-vee Operations Manager Kory Robinson. “I understand I could have them work and get the training and not get paid, but that’s not what it’s about. It’s about seeing these kids grow, get real life skills and responsibilities, and try to help find a future for them.”

The two students, 19 and 20, work 8-16 hours a week during the school day. Camelot staff is also at the store to monitor and coach the students.

“This is a very important part of our curriculum,” says Principal Johnson. “We work with children as young as three and young adults as old as 21. Our objective throughout is to ensure that our students realize their full potential. For these two individuals, that now includes working and getting paid.”

Robinson says the decision to work with Camelot may be at the store level but there is also corporate support.

“We saw an opportunity to give a helping hand to some kids and I felt that it was our duty in DeKalb to do that,” Robinson says. “Our mission is making life easier, happier and healthier and that’s all we’re doing: trying to make these kids’ lives easier, happier and healthier and giving them these opportunities.”

Camelot also has an unpaid work-study relationship for its older students with several area businesses and continues to look other corporate that want to give young adults along the autism spectrum the chance to learn job skills.