Do you know a young woman who would benefit from job skills development?

Our mission

Yes She Can recognizes that individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have unique challenges that hinder their participation in the workforce.  Conventional internships are not sufficient to provide the teaching methods and coaching as well as the social and emotional support needed to help an individual with ASD gain the skills they need to get and retain a job.

Yes She Can offers an individualized training program designed for young women with ASD and related social and learning disabilities to develop transferable job skills leading to improved employment opportunities and increased independence.  The program is delivered by business managers, psychologists and social workers at Girl AGain, a resale boutique for American Girl dolls in White Plains, NY.

Profile of participants

Participants are young women with ASD or related diagnoses who are in their transition phase of public school, or who are attending college, or who wish to pursue employment through self-determination.  Our participants have done well in inclusion programs in school and in leisure.  While they are motivated to develop job skills, our participants would not succeed in mainstream employment readiness options.

Program description

• Direct involvement in store operations including merchandising, marketing, and customer service.
• On-the-job training in business processes including research and information analysis, data- entry, written communication, customer interactions, peer collaboration, employee-manager relations, and more.
• Focus on executive functioning, problem-solving, decision-making, discretion and judgement, flexibility and adaptability to change, taking initiative, being accountable and responsible.
• Direct instruction and immersive learning in workplace social skills and behaviors.
• Professional coaching for emotional regulation, self-advocacy and independence.

 Expected outcomes

• Experience in an authentic competitive work environment
• Perform a variety of job skills needed in competitive employment
• Increase in workplace social skills and communication skills needed in a job
• Ability to articulate her own support needs on the job

Program sessions, costs, and location

• 15-week session: 1 class/week – $540; 2 classes/week – $1080; 3 classes/week – $1620
• Self-Direction Transition Class option: 9-week session:
  1 class/week- $324; 2 classes/week – $648; 3 classes/week – $972
• Location: Girl AGain boutique, 4 Martine Ave.  White Plains, NY 10606

Intake and enrollment

• Completion of application including relevant educational records and evaluations
• Call with school program administrator or service agency
• Personal interview with Director of Training Program

Contact:  

Lesli Cattan, Director of Training Programs  Lesli@YesSheCanInc.org

Office: 914-428-1258

About Yes She Can:  Yes She Can is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 2013 by Marjorie Madfis, a business professional and mother of a young woman with ASD.  Yes She Can operates Girl AGain, a resale boutique for American Girl Dolls, located in White Plains, NY.  Learn more at YesSheCanInc.org and GirlAGain.com