Autistic students finding jobs at St. Joe's

WYNNEFIELD (WPVI) -- A local university is having a tremendous impact on the autism community.

St. Joseph's University has been successful with a program that integrates autistic young men and women into its student population. And this summer, some will have jobs at St. Joe's autistic camp.

Bobby Strauss is a sophomore at St. Joe's. He was accepted to the university on his own merit and participates in the school's Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support.

"I was really excited to go to college; my parents prepared me ahead of time," Strauss said.

One of the many programs the center provides is the ASPIRE program, where autistic students are assigned peer mentors like senior Patrick Graham.

Action News was there as both participated in a behavior management training class using role-playing so that Bobby will be prepared to handle his job as a counselor at St. Joe's summer autism camp.

What sets this program apart from different universities is its inclusive approach. The autistic students are not separated from the student population. They are fully integrated in the classroom and the dorm rooms.

"There are about 700,000 kids with autism and Asperger's this year that have graduated from high school and a lot of them do not have jobs and many do not know that they can actually go to college," Michelle Rowe, Executive Director of the Kinney Center for Autism, said.

But Bobby has both, he's majoring in history and education.

He'll start his camp counselor job next Monday.