As the world “lights it up blue” for Autism Awareness Month, some local students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) will be hitting the books to learn how to manage their money. High Water Women, an organization where dedicated volunteers teach financial literacy classes to low income youth, conduct career days, mentor at-risk women and youth, conduct computer skills, résumé writing, and job search workshops, has partnered with Eden II Programs to help students with autism through an 8 week financial literacy course.
Diane Keating, Executive Director of High Water Women said, “We are so pleased to be able to offer the program to the teens at Eden II. We aim to teach our students the skills they will need to develop good spending and saving habits and become educated consumers of financial products and services.”
The Muriel Siebert High Water Women Campaign for Financial Literacy aims to prepare students for a financially independent future through curriculum that includes properly budgeting money, weighing wants and needs, banking, and setting financial goals. Since its inception, more than 3000 students have participated in the course.
“Our goal is to have our students enter their community and workforce as independently as possible. We’re happy that High Water Women has agreed to work with the students to help them achieve that through something as necessary as financial literacy. These are important skills that will stay with them throughout their lives,” shared Eden II Executive Director, Dr. Joanne Gerenser. The courses will be provided at Eden II’s flagship autism center at 15 Beach Street.
