We live in a world of opportunity. You can be whatever you want to be, a doctor, a singer, an engineer. People with autism hold those roles too and they are thriving.

Autism is often misunderstood. Individuals with autism are on the spectrum and each individual is unique and has their own story.

A fresh cup of coffee, inviting company, and a place to come together with people who all have the same goal – to grow. That’s the experience people have at the Coffeehouse at The Harris Center.

“Coffeehouse is a great environment for participants to learn life skills. The program teaches social skills, communications skills, entrepreneurial and employment skills to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) and persons with autism,” said Charles Kerlegon, Director, IDD Services Division at The Harris Center.

Adolescents face a lot of stressors such as schoolwork, extracurricular activities, sports, and social pressure from their peers. It can be difficult to balance everything, especially when teens feel there’s an expectation to excel in all areas of their lives.