New academy for adults with autism to open at Brookdale

WALL - Eileen Shaklee knows how difficult it can be for young adults with autism to transition out of school at age 21.

On the brink of adulthood, they lose school-provided services like speech therapy, occupational therapy and life skills training. The routine of the school day and socialization with peers come to an end.

"Many parents and caregivers refer to it as the 'great cliff,' " Shaklee said. "Suddenly the… life your child received from going to school is gone. And there are very, very few programs available for disabled adults to go to."

Shaklee's son, who has autism, is turning 21 next year. Then, she will find herself in a predicament: where will he go that will help prepare him for the rest of his life?

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"The adult (with autism) still has the need, right? All of a sudden, there's nothing there to fulfill it," she said. "I'm staring down a cliff."

That is why the Monmouth Ocean Foundation For Children, of which Shaklee is a board member, has worked for years to raise money for the Achieve Academy for Adults with Autism. The foundation is a local nonprofit that works to help children with special needs.

The academy is just months away from being complete and ready to take on clients. Last week, its supporters celebrated a milestone when a building on the Wall campus of Brookdale Community College was renovated and announced as the academy's future home.

To make that happen, the Monmouth Ocean Foundation For Children and Brookdale were helped by several other local organizations: Local trade unions, various contractors, Spiezle Architectural Group, Shoreland Construction, the Monmouth County Commissioners and the Frances and Paul Turner Family Foundation. A $400,000 federal grant secured by Rep. Chris Smith will soon furnish the building.

Achieve Academy for Adults with Autism director Linda Jordan expects the facility to begin serving its first clients sometime in 2025.

"I want our clients to feel valued, and I want them to feel successful," she said. "I want them to feel like they can do anything, because they can."

Once complete, the academy will help adults practice the skills of daily living: shopping, budgeting, cleaning an apartment, planning and preparing a meal, hygiene and socializing with friends, which people with autism often find challenging.

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About 2.2% of adults in the United States have an autism spectrum disorder, according to a 2017 study of autism prevalence by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The prevalence is higher among men: 3.6% of men across the nation have autism, according to the agency.

Adults with autism tend to be underemployed or unemployed, and many (40%) spend limited or no time with friends, the CDC reported.

"This is an underserved population that grows every day," Tara Beams, the superintendent of the Henry Hudson Regional School District and a board member of The Monmouth Ocean Foundation For Children, said in a statement. "The need continues to outgrow what we can do for these amazing members of our community."

The Achieve Academy supporters hope to turn around those trends. The skills that will be taught in the Wall facility are designed with the goal of giving the academy's clients greater independence in the workplace and at home.

"They want to be contributing members of their community," said Jordan. "We want to help them, in any way we can."

Jordan expects the academy to start with a group of about 10 clients, but hopes to eventually expand the service to as many as 40 people.

"This project exemplifies what can be achieved through collaboration and dedication," Brookdale President David M. Stout said in a news release. "We are incredibly proud to support such an important initiative that addresses a significant gap in services for adults with autism."

The academy's work is likely to be high demand well into the future. Autism rates are higher among New Jersey children than adults. Roughly 1 in 35 children (nearly 3%) of the state's 8-year-olds were diagnosed with autism, according to a 2023 report from the CDC. Experts say much of the increase in autism rates is likely due to new diagnostic criteria and better awareness about the condition, according to the journal Science.

Shaklee, the foundation board member whose son has autism, said the Achieve Academy will benefit local children with autism as they move into adulthood.

"We're really excited about this program, because nothing — especially in this area — exists like that," she said. "It's scheduled. They're being stimulated. They're getting challenged. They're finding meaningful things to do. It's just going to be amazing."

Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers education and the environment. She has worked for the Press for more than 16 years. Reach her at @OglesbyAPP, aoglesby@gannettnj.com or 732-557-5701.