ISELIN, N.J. — Brookdale Community College is developing a program that will equip adults who are on the autism spectrum with a variety of life skills, from meal preparation to financial literacy.

The Achieve Academy for Adults with Autism, which is slated to begin taking clients in 2025 at Brookdale’s satellite campus in Wall, seeks to fill a gap in services for individuals with special needs who are no longer eligible to receive public school-provided support.

“In New Jersey, a child with autism is allowed to be in school until they turn 21,” said Eileen Shaklee, an autism advocate and board member of Monmouth Ocean Foundation for Children, which has been working to develop the academy for a decade. “What happens after 21 is what a lot of parents like myself kind of call the cliff, because you’re leaving school where you had all these services, lots of reinforcements, lots of supports, and then there’s nothing.”

“One of the most important things for someone who’s on the spectrum is to have a consistent support system that can reinforce skills like life skills, being independent in your home,” Shaklee added.

For Shaklee, her passion for the academy is fueled by her own experiences as a parent to a child with autism, who will soon turn 21. “I’ve been selfishly motivated to get this thing off the ground, and it’s because of my son,” she said.

Shaklee said there is a lack of programs offered for adults with autism to engage in meaningful work and contribute to the community.

“There are various programs out there that are more care-based. They’re making sure that the person is safe. A child like mine, he needs more interaction, more purpose,” she said.

The academy will have a mock apartment, where clients will learn basic skills, such as making a bed, doing laundry and preparing simple meals, Shaklee said. The program will also provide job coaching, and even take clients into the community to gain work experience in different roles.

The academy will also have a space that mimics a restaurant, where students will make coffee or treats for the Brookdale community, according to a news release.

“We want to make sure that we’re providing all of the tools to them that they will need to be successful in their individual communities,” said Linda Jordan, the academy’s director.

Jordan said the Monmouth Ocean Foundation for Children has been instrumental in securing grants and donations to fund the academy. “They really have just poured their heart and souls into getting this program up and running,” Jordan said.

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., assisted in securing a $400,000 federal grant for the project, which will be used to furnish the academy, according to the release.

When the program launches next year, Shaklee said it will start with a cohort of about 10 clients, and eventually expand to at least 40.

“It’s been a very long process and it’s so satisfying to see where it is right now,” Shaklee said. “You plant those seeds and you hope they grow into a really big tree — and it’s looking good.”

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