Supported Internship Program

EPIC School is a recognized 501(C)3 Non-profit organization.

Educational Partnership for Instructing Children 238 N. Farview Avenue • Paramus, NJ 07652

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@TheEPICSchool

For additional information about our school, educational programs, charitable giving opportunities, information concerning admissions, upcoming fundraising events, or to schedule a visit go to our website: www.epicschool.org

JoAnne Emerle, Transition Coordinator jemerle@epicschool.org or (201) 576-0600

The EPIC SchoolBusiness Advisory Council (BAC) will connect the EPIC School to the local business community for the singular purpose of obtaining training opportunities for adolescent students with autism at the EPIC School and partner organizations. EPIC School students will benefit via on-the-job training in the skills necessary to be competitively employed, and local businesses benefit by gaining access to a pool of potentially, well-qualified and highly trained employees. In this way the BAC will meet the needs of both the autism and the business community.

Current (and past) Business Partners include:

• Barnes and Noble Paramus/Hackensack• Direct Market Designs• Falcon & Singer, PC• Iron Horse Restaurant• Jack Daniels Audi• Jo-Ann Fabrics• Martab Medical• Moe’s Southwest Grill • Northwestern Mutual• REI Paramus• Sam’s Place@Montclair State University • The Center for Food Action

EPIC School works with local businesses to develop community partnerships, resulting in positions that are productive and meaningful for both the student and the business.

When EPIC School students, ages 16-21, enter our High School Program the development of employment and career opportunities becomes a central focus. Through a series of internships EPIC School students learn the skills many employers are looking: focus, endurance, quality production, and working cooperatively with co-workers. Initial internships can be as brief as 2-3 hours/week for 6-8 weeks and, later on in the process, as lengthy as 5 days/week for up to 20 hours/week. Throughout an internship an EPIC School Job Coach is present to provide individualized instruction, act as a “liaison” between the EPIC School student and his or her colleagues, and solicit feedback from the employer to ensure work consistency. In addition, EPIC School Clinical Faculty conducts a variety of assessments to determine employment preferences and job satisfaction. The goal of the EPIC School Internship Program is to partner with the local business community to develop the skills necessary for EPIC School students to be gainfully employed after they graduate.

Benefits to the Student • Access to job training and related experiences

in an actual work place• The development of a set of skills that, by definition,

the business community finds valuable• The development of productive relationships

with local business leaders leading to positive employment recommendations

• The potential for a job after graduation that is highly preferred and meets the business needs of their new employer

• The opportunity to identify job preferences and dislikes across multiple internships

Benefits to the Business• The promotion and development of a growing pool

of trained workers• Access to this pool of potential employees after graduation• The potential to create a more efficient business process

for all your employees• The potential to turn social issues into ongoing

business opportunities• Increases in the diversity of your workforce• The potential for tax credits if you move beyond

internships and hire an individual with autism

Ryan is a hard worker and asset to our company. We look forward to having Ryan a part of our team after he graduates.”

– Michael Petti, Director of Residential Dining at

Montclair State University

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Our son loves his job. It is the essence of inclusion in the community and speaks to his innate sense of purpose living and growing in our world.”

– EPIC School Parent

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