My name is Terri Farrell. My son, Conor Farrell, is an 18-year-old senior in the Lynnfield Public School System. Conor participates in the AHEF paralegal assistant internship program at the Salem Family and Probate Court. He works alongside court employees once a week for 2 hours.
In only three short months, Conor has gained confidence, an increase in his social competency skills, and a better understanding of working a “real job.” The burgeoning soft skills he is learning will translate to real income in the near future. Important job tasks such as filing, organizing, alphabetizing, scanning and data entry are an important skill set which can help Conor build a resume to support meaningful employment.
He has learned how to interact with his co-workers both professionally and personally. What this means is not only does it open the door to future paid employment, but it opens the minds of court employees who may not have considered a co-worker with autism as a successful co-worker. The AHEF not only trains individuals with autism for the real world but makes the critical leap to successful employment.
– Terri Farrell, Parent
