The idea of the Crafters for Life
came from a skills program from
the Council Rock school district.
It is a part time job and a number
of adults are involved. The age of
the adults ranges from 18 to older.
Joanne Curry is a speech
Pathologist in the Council Rock
school district. She created the
Crafters for Life concept to teach
autistic, special needs individuals
to have the skills to make good
quality products in order to transition
them into well-paying jobs.
Curry developed procedures
that autistic individuals would
have to follow to guide them
into creating a quality item. The
products that were sold ranged
from body scrubs, scarves, hand
lotions etc.
The customers that bought a
product(s) spent the money for
a good cause because all of the
money that was spent went to
autistic, special needs individuals
to help them find employment in
the future.
Sarah Uricchio-20, Pre-K education
says, “Autistic students are
successful in making the product
line and this company gets you
the opportunity to communicate
with new friends that are interested
in the same thing as you
which is to help autistic students
find employment. It is a pleasure
to be able to help these students
especially since it is difficult for
students with autism or special
needs to find jobs these days.”
The whole goal of helping out
with this company is to place each
product the student made on the
table and advertise their artwork.
The employees greet each customer
that walks by and explains
a little bit about what the Crafters
for Life program is about.
Last week, Crafters for Life
sold $400 worth of items. Body
scrubs were a popular buy and
scarves were the second popular
buy. A couple of customers came
to a table to buy 4 or 5 scarves.
Jenni Kelly-20, Sports Management
says, “I like how customers
spend money for a good cause
and were able to buy a creative
product made from an autistic
student. That is so cool that these
students have the opportunity to
make products and they feel so
much pride in doing it. Overall,
it was a great experience and I
felt proud in being a part of this
program to help and support a
good cause.”
Mike Grant- has been in charge
of Crafters in Life company since
2015. He has a 19-year-old son
who is autistic and he hopes his
son would have a successful job
in the future which he is hoping
this company would help with.
Grant says, “It is encouraging
to see that the majority of the
company are profitable and we
are able to pay our employees that
are working there. We are also
sustainable which is important
because we don’t have to worry
about the government intervening
to help with our company. What
is also encouraging to me is the
experience and that my son who
is 19, can have a future that is
successful.”
For more information, you can
email Mike Grant at mike@craftersforlife.
com