'Agricultural specialisterne': rural employment revolution for those with Autism

[Visionary7903]

My last few posts have focused on the subject of Skateboarding and Autism.

In 2011, Daniel Houze and Blake Stassi, then both 15, skateboarded more than 450 miles along the California Coast to raise awareness, and money, for Autism. The teens hoped to raise money for Easter Seals–a nonprofit organisation that assists more than one million children and adults with Autism and other disabilities and special needs annually through a network of many service sites in the United States and elsewhere…

…The teens, from Elk Grove, a suburb of Sacramento, dreamed up the journey during winter break in December. Both teens have seen the impact of the autism spectrum disorder in their own families.

…Houze has a male cousin who is a 7 on the spectrum, meaning he’s introverted and is nearly non-communicative. Stassi’s cousin, who is about 10 years old, can function in school, but doesn’t communicate well.

The teens also love skateboarding and longboarding, in particular, because it’s smoother and faster. Stassi’s been riding since he was 13. Houze started a year ago at his friend’s urging. They thought combining their athletic passion with their desire to help others could generate results.

“Autism came first,” Houze emphasized. “We wanted to think of something we could do to benefit our community.”…

Here is a link to photos from the 2011 ‘Elevate Awareness: Longboarding for Autism’ trip: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.125836754188423.20037.125827850855980&type=1

(sources: On an Epic Journey, Teens Longboard the California Coast - Watsonville, CA Patch; Elevate Awareness: Longboarding for Autism – SkateFurther)