We Make, Autism At Work Expands Programming to The Katzenbach School

Mercer County, NJ—We Make, Autism At Work has partnered with the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf in Ewing, New Jersey and officially opened its third site on February 9th, 2024 at a ribbon cutting ceremony that involved the whole community. This expansion program offers the opportunity for high school students who are on track to graduate and between the ages of 18-22 the chance to build workplace skills on their campus and then slowly and methodically transition to one of We Make's employment facilities in either Pennington or Piscataway, New Jersey or to another career choice after building enough skills to become competitive in the workplace. The majority of the We Make employment participants are youth who have transitioned from high school or are in the process of transitioning from high school but have not yet secured an employment or postsecondary educational path. The participants meet daily under the supervision of We Make's Program Manager and Executive Director who have over 25 years of combined experience working in the autism community.

Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf has over 100 years of experience educating New Jersey's Deaf and Hard of Hearing children serving children birth to age twenty-two and recognizes that Deaf children can do anything hearing children can do. Many of the students at Katzenbach are dually diagnosed as being deaf and with having a developmental or intellectual disability (often autism.) This new partnership will serve the students who are often forgotten and end up with little or no job opportunities after graduation. Many of the students who will benefit from this new program are diagnosed with an autism-related disability, are deaf or hard of hearing, or have a dual diagnosis.

Susan Keltgen, Katzenbach's Principal for middle and high school, stated, "The We Make partnership is an opportunity to provide all of our students with a meaningful chance for employment post graduation. Typically, employment opportunities are extremely limited for the graduates. This program is giving students and families a sense of belonging."

Moe Siddiqu, We Make's Executive Director shared, "We Make is in the business of providing families and students a chance at the American Dream!" Tony Lesenskji, We Make's Founder was at the ribbon cutting and while harboring a wide smile he stated, "Today I feel a real sense of accomplishment, this expansion really hits home! I see so many kids, so many guys similar to my son who now will have the chance at getting a job. There is just so much potential in this room!"

To support the efforts of We Make, Autism At Work and their mission to provide employment training and opportunities to persons diagnosed with a disability, you can donate at this link: WE MAKE's WEBSITE.