GGAF Client Featured in the National Atomic Testing Museum June Newsletter
Jorge Valadez, Grant a Gift Autism Foundation WORKS client, was featured in the National Atomic Testing Museum (NATM) June “The Blast” Newsletter!
This is what NATM had to say about Jorge:
Volunteer Spotlight
Jorge Valadez
Jorge Valadez is one of our valued volunteers at the National Atomic Testing Museum. He began his work at the museum in early November of 2020. Jorge is 19 years old and was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. His involvement with the Grant A Gift Autism Foundation, which has worked with the Museum, helped him to expand his opportunities as a person with autism. At the NATM, Jorge is doing various tasks from greeting visitors to helping out in the gift shop. He shadows staff and interns to learn more about how the museum operates.
Outside of his museum work, Jorge spends much of his time either drawing, 3D modeling, playing video games, listening to history-related videos, making videos, and hanging out with his friends via social media. He hopes that his crafting of custom nerf blasters as props, wall hangers, and performance pieces will one day be able to sustain him, but he would also like to join the US Army or get his foot in the door of the firearms industry. Jorge’s friends and family describe him as being an intelligent, thoughtful, and quiet individual with a sometimes dark sense of humor. He is overjoyed to be volunteering at a museum so dedicated to the preservation of history.
About WORKS:
WORKS (Working On Readiness, Knowledge & Skills) is an on-the-job-training and internship program designed for adults and transitioning youth with autism. The program follows the basic principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy. Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs)/Job Coaches lead every session to teach clients correct workplace behaviors and develop relevant skills. During the 12-week period, a vocational treatment plan is created for each client based on intake information and a baseline assessment. Data is collected to help determine whether the participant will proceed to a second site with a higher level of difficulty or continue building skills at their current site. Learn more here.
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