Hiring for a higher purpose

When exploring potential labor pools for skilled and capable candidates, many remain underused and overlooked, including adults with autism.

Joe Winters, the late founder of Winters Bros. Waste Systems, a WM company in New York, and his wife, Michele, looked to change that. They turned one of their greatest aspirations into a meaningful initiative: a model employment program for adults with autism. Inspired by their son Sean, who was diagnosed with autism in 1996, they founded the Winters Center for Autism in 2020.

“The bottom line is every person with autism deserves to live a meaningful, productive and fulfilling life, just like the rest of us,” Joe said before establishing the center. “And this is going to take the whole community to come together to make this happen.”

Building a strong foundation

Since 2020, the Winters Center for Autism has worked to enhance the quality of life and fulfillment for adults with autism through job creation, training and placement. Its Transition Work Experience Program offers adults with autism ages 18 and older and who have completed high school the opportunity to learn the vocational, social and independent living skills important for employment success.

The center began in a 14,000-square-foot building offering career programs for hospitality, culinary and food service, clerical and administrative and gardening and horticulture. It has expanded to include programs for janitorial services, auto detailing, retail, entrepreneurship, animal care in partnership with New York-based nonprofit Paws of War and window washing in partnership with ShineBoxNY, a New York-based office cleaning company.

“As an employer, working directly with the autism community is very important,” ShineBoxNY owner Tom Vito says. “We know we can really make a change, but little did we know [this partnership] would change us in the most beautiful, incredible and powerful way.”

Currently, the center works with more than 58 employers across Long Island to match participants of its Transition Work Experience Program with roles that best align with their individual strengths, personalities and preferred work environments. To ensure successful placements, the Winters Center for Autism Program Manager Julianne Falco works closely with employers to fully understand roles, responsibilities, work environments and company cultures.

“At the Winters Center for Autism, job training goes far beyond ‘traditional’ approaches,” Executive Director Christine Ponzio says. “Our coaches are specially trained to break down tasks, identify individual strengths and challenges and tailor training to each participant’s preferred learning style. We also incorporate tools such as visual supports and graphic organizers, along with training in soft skills like communication, interpersonal and adaptive skills to further support participants not only in the workplace but in their everyday lives.”

Through these employer partnerships, the center is moving the needle to improve the estimated 85 percent unemployment rate for adults with autism.

In addition to equipping young adults with skills needed in the workforce, the Winters Center for Autism is educating businesses on the value of hiring those who might think differently as well as sharing data about consumers who choose to support companies committed to a neurodiverse workforce.

“We can do our jobs really well and can stay on task really well,” says Nick Signorile, a Transition Work Experience Program participant who now works at Wendy’s. “Yes, we are slow at our tasks, but that doesn’t mean we are slacking on the job. It means that we just have a disability we can’t control, and we are amazing and intelligent people.”

Expanding opportunities through collaboration

Over the years, the center has expanded its opportunities for adults with autism. It now collaborates with the Suffolk County Department of Labor to enhance its training programs, St. Joseph’s University to provide more advanced training opportunities and Rimon Law to help adults with autism strengthen their resume writing and interviewing skills.

Additionally, the Winters Center for Autism has added other components to its campus, including the Winters Athletic Club, which offers a wide range of sports and athletic training programs; the Music Academy for Special Learners, a music and art program for children and adults; Elevate Yoga and Wellness, a space designed to lift, strengthen and enrich the mind, body and spirit of all who enter; Kempo Fitness, which offers martial arts classes; Anthony’s Delicatessen of West Babylon, a breakfast and lunch restaurant; Project SEED, or Supporting Employment Embracing Diversity, which teaches young adults with autism how to harvest and grow plants and herbs; and Louie’s Lounge, a sensory-friendly space of relaxation.

“The decision to add these programs and spaces stemmed from Transition Work Experience Program participants wanting to come back to the center following completion of the program because they felt safe, comfortable and had friends here,” Ponzio says.

“Patrick Winters, Joe’s and Michele’s son, has created an incredible campus environment and volunteers his time to teach more than 11 adaptive golf lessons each week. Every day, the campus is bustling with people coming and going from the community for a variety of classes, training experiences and meals. It’s about purpose, friendship and has a ‘Cheers’ vibe where everybody knows your name.”

Measurable impact, growth

In 2022, the Winters Center for Autism began with 40 adults in its Transition Work Experience Program. That number has grown significantly since and, as of December 2024, 174 adults had enrolled in the program. Of those, 121 trainees were offered a job in an industry of their choice, 97 receive a weekly paycheck and 24 hold volunteer roles.

The center’s success recently was highlighted in a video by NOM Studios, which shows the impact it has had on participants and businesses.

In addition to supporting the personal and professional growth of adults with autism through the center’s trainings and programs, Winters Bros. Waste Systems continues to create meaningful employment opportunities for adults with autism in areas such as finance, collection routes, operations, sales, janitorial services, snack carts and more. Currently, the company employs 11 adults with autism and aims to increase that number in the future.

Fueling the mission

When tackling unemployment among adults with autism in an individualized and personalized way, fundraising is critical as state funding often is limited.

In June, the center hosted The Joe Winters Classic at Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton, New York, one of Joe Winters’ favorite places.

“Fundraisers like this directly support existing and new programs,” Ponzio says. “Funds raised at this event allowed us to launch the Summer Career Experience, a four-week program for high school students aged 16-21 that included exploration of different careers and fun activities at the Winters Athletic Club.”

In November, the Winters Center for Autism held its first-ever Casino Night at the Harbor Club at Prime in Huntington, New York. This new event brought together a diverse group of businesses and supporters for an evening filled with purpose, community, games and more.

The center is working on its calendar of upcoming fundraising events.

A lasting legacy

Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, the Winters Center for Autism continues to promote its mission and apply for several grants to support new programs and possibly geographic expansion.

“My father’s dream was to better the lives of adults with autism,” says Patrick Winters, vice president of Winters Bros. Waste Systems. “He wanted to be remembered for helping those who need it most, and I believe we are fulfilling his mission and dreams everyday with the Winters Center for Autism and Winters Athletic Club. Every day, adults with autism are now provided with an opportunity to better themselves on a ‘whole life basis,’ from job training and placement to health and wellness.

“This is an everyday mission that never stops, but I know my father is proud of the impact we have made and will continue to make.”

The author is event and content producer for the Recycling Today Media Group and can be reached at mszczepanski@gie.net.