Guilford, CT — On Saturday, January 26, 2013, Roses for Autism will open its doors for a public tour of its rose business operation and pioneering Career Training Program (CTP). Nine months after the Guilford community celebrated the organization’s expanded retail shop with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Governor Malloy, staff and program participants are eager to share how the business runs its day-to-day operations. The tour will run from noon until 4 p.m., with workstations set up throughout the retail area, packaging room, colossal greenhouses, and career training space.
Roses for Autism (RFA) is a nonprofit organization located on the site of the historic Pinchbeck Rose Farm, where roses have been growing in its landmark greenhouses since 1929. As the last remaining rose farm in the Northeast, the operation has the unique ability to offer customers an astounding array of benefits with their bouquets – purchases that support career training for adults on the autism spectrum, Connecticut-grown flowers on historic and thriving farmland, and an unparalleled quality in the products grown. These include up to 16 varieties of roses, 3 varieties of lilies, and a colorful array of gerbera daisies, with an expanded line of floral plants in the plans.
Alongside the rose farm, RFA runs a Career Training Program which marries this competitive business operation with best practices in meeting the employment needs of individuals with autism spectrum differences (ASDs) who want to work but are challenged by typical routes to successful employment.
Fourth-generation farm owner Tom Pinchbeck, Director of Operations, works with staff to assure that the Connecticut-grown, Pinchbeck-branded roses retain their beauty, full blossom, and fresh fragrance – just like roses grown in one’s own backyard – year-round. The January Open House is an opportunity for local residents to step into 100,000 square feet of heated greenhouse where they can surround themselves with roses, lilies, and gerbera daisies in the chill of winter!
Visitors for the Jan. 26 event will pull up a newly-paved driveway that starts from Route 1, extends into an expanded parking lot, and passes five resident cows along the way. Inside attendees will be greeted by an inclusive workforce made up of individuals with and without ASD whose work varies from e-marketing and information technology to production, floral design, packaging, and customer service.
Light refreshments and a festive atmosphere will greet all as the community celebrates heading into the fourth successful year of Roses for Autism. “If you are interested in supporting us because you or a family member has been touched by autism, or you’re curious about having the unique experience of watching a ‘Pinchbeck’ rose blossom in your home, or because you believe in supporting your local small business, we will be thrilled to meet you!” says Joan Volpe, executive director of Roses for Autism, who hopes both current and new customers, volunteers, and autism advocates will join in the celebration.
About Roses for Autism
Roses for Autism, at 929 Boston Post Road in Guilford Conn., is open for retail business Mondays through Saturdays, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. A new website at RosesForAutism.com features a “Flower Shop” where customers can order Pinchbeck flowers 24/7, with overnight delivery available Mondays through Thursdays for Tuesday through Friday arrival anywhere in the continental U.S. All proceeds of purchases are reinvested into the Career Training Program to assist more people in achieving their dream of meaningful, permanent employment in their local communities.
Roses for Autism (RFA) is the first initiative under Growing Possibilities, a non-profit organization founded by Ability Beyond Disability in 2009. The vision of Growing Possibilities is for RFA to become a replicable working model for inclusive career training and transitional employment for adults with ASD, currently 1 in 88 Americans with an estimated 25-50% employed compared to 91% of the general population. Among employed autistic adults, many are underemployed given their education, skills, abilities, and talents. Growing Possibilities aims to use Roses for Autism as their flagship program to change these staggering unemployment and underemployment statistics.
Source: Roses for Autism