iStrive is a Saturday program for young adults on the autism spectrum who are aging out of most services

It helps them continue growing toward independence, social relationships, emotional well-being, and career readiness. These young people have much to offer the community and iStrive helps them shine.

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Now accepting new applications! Interested in scheduling an appointment for an application interview? Please send us an email>>

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These emerging adults need the time and professional mentoring to learn the communication, self-advocacy, and appropriate interpersonal behavior that will sustain them in professional performance on the job and in relationships. It’s not just their intellectual skills, or eagerness to be productive in meaningful ways that will help them move upward. It is the opportunity for them to incorporate the many interpersonal and job-related values we all did at an earlier age, just at a different speed.

iStrive Center:

On Saturday mornings at 9:30 AM, iStrive Center begins as staff welcomes our young adults, to ACAP in Livingston N.J. At ACAP they experience stress management and mindfulness activities, receive emotional literacy assistance, and yoga. They spend time on incorporating both interpersonal and pragmatic practices of successful job-hunting, and the professionalism at work that will help them thrive. And importantly, they have a chance to make friends with each other. As these young adults grow they have the same needs all of us have for interpersonal connections and friendships. iStrive Center helps them achieve this.

iStrive Center Goals:

• Extend socialization and friendship skills
• Offer opportunities for weekend activities
• Improve social, vocational, and emotional functioning
• Create a collaborative community atmosphere where parents,  members, and staff build the program
• Provide group activities and individual psychotherapy
• Develop avenues for parent networking and support

Parents: Periodically, iStrive Center parents are invited to join us in their own space here at ACAP. They get a much-needed opportunity to hear talks, attend seminars, and share what they’ve learned. iStrive works with families as a collaborative community to help us develop a meaningful, evolving program. Learn More>>

Here is exactly what parents have been telling us:

“Being a parent of someone with unique needs, I can tell you the best source of information is other parents, ” a mother told us. “I want to be surrounded by people who are realistic, but hopeful. ”

”I’m finding it hard to envision the rest of my son’s life and I need to hear what other parents have to say. Maybe there’s something I haven’t thought of.”

“My son needs activities so his energy can be directed. He needs a structured place where he can navigate into adulthood.”

“Especially on weekends, he gets just locked in a video game.” another mother of a young adult recently told us. “I guess it serves some emotional function, but he gets so lost in those repetitive activities that it’s hard to win him back. ”

Corporations and Community: Our other essential partners are the community of corporations who will benefit in many ways, tangible and intangible, from an inclusive approach such as iStrive’s adding a new class of reliable, creative, productive workers to your workforce. Our commitment includes working with you and your employees to help introduce and build awareness of this new advance, and to provide back up to insure all goes smoothly. Learn More>>

Mental Health Professionals: The iStrive Center program also provides opportunity for new mental health professionals, seeking licensure in the state, to be mentored and receive much sought after clinical supervision while working with these young adults. It is a close, collaborate, interactive milieu where all can grow, and then give back to the community through working with local companies. Learn More>>

ACAP is a non-profit organization and holds 501c3 status. All proceeds benefit the ACAP iStrive program.

Below are some photos from our Saturday program: