SEPTEMBER 2020 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 25
PRESS BUSINESS
WINTERS CENTER FOR AUTISM
CREATING JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Officials held a groundbreaking ceremony Aug. 11, 2020.
pickup company, was inspired to found
the nonprofit organization following
the experience he had with his own son,
Sean.
“Having a job has brought Sean such a
sense of pride and purpose in his life,”
Winters said.
Twenty-three years ago, Winters drove all
the way from his home in Vermont to Long
Island to seek treatment when his son was
diagnosed with autism at age 2. After
realizing that there was no better place
for him to find treatment near
Vermont, Winters returned
a few weeks later, moving his
entire family to Smithtown in
support of his son.
“Since that time, Winters has
been relentless in his passion,
his persistence, and his tenacity,
not only for his son, but
for the autism community at
large,” said Ponzio.
After implementing an inclusive model
employment program at his trash hauling
company, Winters realized that it
was time for him to take the next step to
encourage other businesses to follow suit.
“My dream is that in five years from now,
every company on Long Island will have
a workforce that includes people with
autism,” said Winters. “So please join
me, Long Island, in hiring for a higher
purpose.”
REDEFINING EXCELLENCE
Unsurpassed Personal Amenities
& Recreational Opportunities
BY TAYLOR HERZLICH
With hard-hats donned and shovels
in hand, local officials ceremoniously
broke ground on August 11 on the nonprofit
Winters Center for Autism’s new
campus in West Babylon.
The ceremony kicked off construction
of the 14,000-square-foot state-of-theart
building that will provide sorely
needed Long Island-based employment
opportunities to adults with autism
spectrum disorder.
“People with autism want to experience
purpose and fulfillment just like everyone
else,” said Christine Ponzio, executive
director of the Winters Center.
While the unemployment rate in the
U.S. is usually below 4 percent, the
unemployment rate for people with
autism can be as high as 90 percent.
The nonprofit Winters Center
seeks to fill this gap by making
mutually beneficial connections
through job creation, training,
and placement programs. The
nonprofit will identify the skills
and talents of individuals with
autism and will reach out to the
business community to create
new, easily incorporated jobs.
The organization’s goal is for
adults with autism to enjoy a renewed
sense of independence and individualism
from working, while employers
reap the benefits of taking on workers
who possess valuable qualities such as
honesty, problem-solving skills, and a
well-honed focus, the nonprofit leaders
said.
Joseph Winters, founder and president
of the Winters Center and owner of
Winters Bros. Waste Systems of Long
Island, a West Babylon-based trash
Short Term Rehabilitation/ Post Stroke (Eksobionics)
Long Term Nursing Care/ On-Site Dialysis
Respiratory Care Programs
State of the Art 6,000 sq. ft. physical
& occupational therapy gymnasium
Our facility will be ensuring a safe visit with your
loved ones by facilitating the following for all
visitors entering the building:
• In compliance with NYS limited visitation protocols
• Following necessary infection control guidelines
• Providing a wellness screening with temperature checks
• Maintaining social distancing
• Enforcing face masks to be worn at all times
To make an appointment, please call (631) 730-3000
We hope you enjoy your visit! Be Well and Stay Safe!
3115 Horseblock Rd Medford NY 11763
Additional guidelines may be found on our website: www.medfordmulticare.org
/www.medfordmulticare.org
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