CRANBURY, N.J. (July 6, 2016) - Ruitenberg Lind Design Group (RLDG) recently joined the Eden Autism Employment First program, providing work experience opportunities for two of the organization's adult participants.
"We have supported Eden for several years and have seen how they change the lives of people with autism spectrum disorder," said Jill Ruitenberg, RLDG President & CEO. "When I learned about the employment program, I knew it was something that was perfect for our company. RLDG is committed to supporting organizations like Eden that are vital to our community."
Based in Princeton, Eden Autism was founded in 1975 as a small, family-oriented school for individuals with autism. Today, Eden offers an extensive range of services to meet the needs of individuals with autism, and its highly regarded programs have been implemented in schools and other settings across the country.
"The Eden Employment Program allows both students graduating from the Eden School as well as our adult participants the opportunity to take part in job sampling," said Muhammad Siddiqu, Eden's Manager of Employment Services. "Employment First is a national initiative focused on providing all citizens, including individuals with significant disabilities, the opportunity to participate in increased community-based, integrated employment and community life. Eden created one of the first employment programs for people with autism. RLDG has shown great interest in Eden's mission and they are an ideal partner for our program."
The new Eden employees, Alex and Andy, will work in support functions at RLDG's design studio on Prospect Plains Road as well as K-Fab Services, the company's 13,000-square-foot production facility located two miles away on Cranbury-South River Road in Dayton.
Alex's parents, Tricia and Bob Rich of Skillman were excited to learn of the new job opportunity at RLDG for their son. "We are very pleased that this new job has given Alex the opportunity to work in the community in supported employment. It has always been our hope that he should have a meaningful and productive job that he enjoys going to every day."
East Brunswick residents Rong Di and Hanzhong Zhang, the mother and father of Andy, the other new Eden employee at RLDG, had this to say about his son beginning his new job, "We have always desired Andy to work and contribute to society, based on his best capabilities. Eden's employment program has allowed Andy to maximize his potential. Therefore, Andy can and will live a meaningful and fulfilling life."
"RLDG is the best source in our industry for one-stop planning, design, fabrication and installation of retail professional environments," said Paul Ruitenberg, the company's Director and Jill's husband. "Our goal is to give our new Eden employees a workplace opportunity that let's them learn about our business, so we think it's a good idea to give them exposure to both sites. We are committed to creating a positive work environment for all our employees, including our new Eden participants."
Jill and Paul Ruitenberg purchased the assets of Lind Design International, a well-recognized supermarket design firm, when its principal Gary Lind retired in 2014 and have since more than doubled the company's client base and tripled the number of employees, currently with 33 staff members. RLDG has been very active in community endeavors, providing its resources and professional expertise to Eden and other organizations, including the Monmouth County SPCA and Community Middle School of Plainsboro.
"The Eden Employment Program is intended to be a springboard for community inclusion and that's a big reason why it was such a perfect fit for our company," said Jill Ruitenberg. "Paul and I are building a place where our employees can feel part of the big picture, have fun working together and enjoy giving back to the community. The program benefits everyone because hopefully the Eden participants develop a sense of accomplishment by working with our team and the RLDG staff gets to experience firsthand, the satisfaction of supporting an organization like Eden."
About Eden Autism
A nationally recognized leader in improving the lives of individuals with autism spectrum disorder, Eden was among the first providers to address the need for services across the lifespan. 2015 marked Eden's 40th year of excellence in a range of services for individuals, families, educators and other professionals. Eden improves the lives of people with autism - one individual at a time, one family at a time, one community at a time. Visit www.edenautism.org or call (609) 987-0099.
About Ruitenberg Lind Design Group (RLDG)
RLDG specializes in the planning, design, fabrication, and installation of professional environments for supermarkets, malls, specialty retailers, restaurants, hotels and health care facilities. For more information, please visit www.beststoredesign.com or call (732) 474-1000.
PHOTO CAPTION:
Ruitenberg Lind Design Group President & CEO Jill Ruitenberg (center) with Alex Rich (left) and Andy Zhang, adult participants in the Eden Autism Employment First Program.