Ep. 21: Obsessions

Today’s problem is something we all face eventually - the transition from teenage life to adulthood. It’s a big deal for everyone, but for young people on the autism spectrum that transition can be really tough.

Did you know that young adults with autism have lower employment rates than people with other disabilities? A report published by the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute tells us that for two-thirds of young people with autism, that transition from high school to adulthood was pretty much not happening, with no real plan or support for developing a career or plan for higher education within two years of graduating high school. 

One solution may be in entrepreneurship, and my guest is paving the way. My guest today is Betty Proctor.

Betty Proctor  was working as a social worker at the FSU Autism Institute when the clock started ticking. Her daughter was about to graduate from high school, and she knew that she needed to spend more time with her.  She also saw a need for her daughter, who is on the Autism spectrum, to develop her passions and strengths into a career for her future.  So, she took a leap of faith and left her job to partner with her on making and selling jewelry at local markets.

That leap landed in Railroad Square, where they opened Obsessions Gift Shop, and then to a non-profit organization called Motivating People Through Arts and Crafts (MPAC)

MPAC serves as a resource for the community to provide social, life, employment, and entrepreneurial skills while educating the public on awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Communications Disorders. Today we’re going to explore how MPAC works and most importantly, how we can help.