Eden Autism Services is helping my son work through his behavior issues and is helping him learn. Prior to attending Eden, he wasn't reaching any of his goals at his prior school. They said they exhausted their toolbox with him. Eden has been able to reach my son and I have hope now for him. In addition to being a parent I'm also a volunteer for Eden. The staff at Eden really CARE for the kids and adults with autism. It's evident in everything they do. They truly understand people with autism and how to reach them. They go the extra mile and then some! Eden's programs offer so much and are the kind every parent wishes for.
I know a graduate of Eden and have seen the positive impact it has had on his life and the life of his family. I have no reservations in praising this organization's work.
Eden made a huge impact on my family's life. Before my brother attended Eden, he had many behavioral issues, and it was difficult for him to go places outside of home and school. The loving and caring staff at Eden helped him progress so much. They helped so much in ways I can barely start to describe!
Eden autism services has provided fantastic services to my brother and our family. They have helped him become the independent individual he is today. Without their knowledge and support, I am certain he would not be the intelligent and skilled man he is today.
I've volunteered on Eden's annual january fundraising event for about a dozen years now; I am always so moved and impressed by the fierce pride and committment Eden folks have for the childrem and adults in their programs. I dont have a child with Autism, this is just a Cause I learned of many years ago, and when I saw all the good work Eden was doing - and was planning to do -- I felt compelled to lend a hand. They also do so much for the families of autistic children and adults -- from my observations, their mission is to make life better for all those touched by Autism, and this has been their goal for over 35 years now!
My 16 year old son has been a student at Eden Institute for almost 5 years. An Eden employee observed my son in a community setting, and encouraged us to consult with Eden through their outreach services. My son suddenly developed severe self-injury at age 9. He had been attending a top school for children with autism, but the staff at that school had run out of ideas about how to help our son. My son was in a very bad place, and we as a family were in crisis. It soon became apparent that we needed to have my son attend Eden Institute if he was going to have any real chance of overcoming this very serious problem. Up until our son attended Eden we had never had any real respite care or support after school hours. Eden looked at us as a family, and did what they could to support us. They have provided us with an after school program for our son, respite care, and help with appointments with Doctors and Dentists. They have also put into place specific behavioral, communication, academic, and vocational programs to help our son reach his fullest potential. His self-injury is still a very serious problem, but he has been given strategies and tools to reduce those behaviors. Our son's temper tantrums have decreased markedly since he has attended Eden. Eden institute is an excellent example of a school that uses the best practices in teaching children and adults with autism based upon the science of Applied Behavior Analysis. Therefore I can confidently say from a clinical standpoint that the data indicates that our son's rates of tantrums have decreased. Most importantly, though it can't be measured on a graph, our son's happiness has increased exponentially since he has attended Eden, and as a family so has ours.
My little brother Jordan has been helped immeasurably by the education, network and support that has grown from the Eden family. I cannot estimate or imagine how different he would be if he had not been so fortunate as to attend. The life he leads now is just a small testament to how pivotal Eden was for him in his life. At almost 30 years old, my brother is a hard worker (EdenWERCS - yep, i dare say he's better with his money than i am!), an active traveller (he's been to more places than you can count, and he absolutely LOVES the beach), an avid comic book collector (Midtown comics!) and an endless source of joy for me, my family, and my friends. He has been able to grow and develop in so many ways, and into such a complex and compassionate person through the teachings that he applies from when he was just a little kid. I just cannot thank Eden enough... truly truly a remarkable place.
Our son started with Eden when he was five years old and was non-verbal with disruptive behaviors. He was quite a handful! At that time we could not imagine that he would be the person he is today – a calm 29 year old who works in the community and is able to be an active, full participant in the lives of our family and friends. He is this person, in large measure, because of the skills that were painstakingly taught to him over the years at Eden. The Eden staff is the most caring group of people that I have ever encountered in a single organization. In our son’s early years when we were challenged by some of his behaviors, it was the guidance and support that we received as a family that made the world of difference in our overcoming each challenge. We also know that if we ever need that level of support again, it is there for the asking. Eden is a unique organization with unique individuals dedicated to helping our loved ones have the best life possible. I feel very blessed to have Eden in our lives.
My 20 year old son, Spencer, has been a student at Eden Institute since he was 3 years old. It would take me hours to list the many ways Eden has helped our family throughout the years. They patiently taught our son, while teaching us at the same time. Toilet training, nodding "yes", pointing at an object- all little achievements most parents take for granted, but each of those milestones were taught step by painstaking step to our son, until he finally grasped them. They never lost patience with Spencer, even through his most challenging times, and worked as a team with us to help solve problems as they arose. They even helped his little sister deal with sibling issues, And through it all they treated Spencer with love, understanding, and the deepest respect for him as an individual. I would nominate Eden for any award, because they have been lifesavers for our entire family!
In the natural order of things, loving parents expect for their children to outlive them, anything else would be unthinkable. Parents of children and adults with autism, are terrified by the prospect of pre-deceasing their children as we are haunted by the idea of leaving them alone in a world where they can't fend for themselves. As our children outgrow the cuteness of childhood, we find that our worlds become increasingly isolated. Family and friends become distant, invitations to barbeques, baptisms and bar mitzvahs dwindle - The simple pleasure of going to the grocery store as a family becomes an impossibility. This is the reality of so many families touched by autism, except for those blessed to be part of the Eden family. Eden has accepted and embraced our son, and our family, not in spite of his worst behaviors but indeed because of them. During our worst hours, we have been able to rely on Eden to stand by our sides and provide us with advice, services, support, understanding and a plan for not merely surviving, but living proudly with autism. From behavioral training, to respite, recreational, vocational and residential services Eden covers the full range of support needs across the spectrum of life - from early childhood through adulthood. Thank you Eden, for giving us a place where we feel welcome and embraced by a caring community.
I'm the surviving parent of a 42-year old man who has received services from Eden since he was 12. Its hard to put into words the gratitude I have for Eden's giving my son the care, nurturing, protection and education he's received for the past 30 years. Eden's professionalism in hiring staff, developing and implementing life-enhancing programs and services, and functional job training and employment has allowed my late wife and I to rest assured that our son's needs will be met after we both are gone. Our service on the Board of Trustees in years past gives me confidence that Eden's record of ensuring that clients receive the maximum benefit from charitable donations and that administrative expenses are held to an absolute minimum will continue. There are many organizations out there that will compete for your charitable giving - there are none better than Eden in putting your money to work where it should go and where you expect it to go: to the clients whose lives are are made richer by your generosity.
Eden Autism Services is very close to our hearts as Eden plays a priceless role in the development of our son who was diagnosed autistic just before we celebrated his 2nd birthday. Eden has been a blessing to us as we struggled with our son's diagnosis and searched for the absolute best treatment for him, serving as our lifeline to understanding his needs & providing him with a better quality of life. Now 4 yrs old, our son has been a student at Eden for over a year & his progress is nothing short of impressive due to the tireless efforts of his therapists, expert knowledge/experience of his program authors & enormous amounts of hard work put forth by our son. The Eden program & staff have enlightened our family with hope. Although our son has a very long road ahead of him, we look forward to what he will accomplish this coming year at Eden and we're grateful for who he is & what he can do today...thank you Eden Autism Services! Eden is working hard to provide opportunities to the autistic community.
My son has been a participant in the adult services program for almost seven years. It is a well-supervised and integrated model that combines a residential component, a day program and ongoing skill development for adults and adolescents with significant behavioral issues. He is also able to expand previously-developed work, employment and social skills within a evidence-based and consistant behavioral treatment program that has allowed him a very naturalistic and satisfying life within the community. His calm demeanor speaks volumes and his smiles are more frequent and not just for the camera.
I thank God every day for Eden. I was lucky enough to get my daughter Brielle enrolled as a student there more than four years ago. The change in her since she joined is wonderful. Brielle is autistic and non-verbal. When she came to Eden she was angry and frustrated with her inability to communicate. The incredible staff at Eden has helped Brielle so much. They have helped me as well. My daughter now communicates with the help of an electronic device and she is learning new things every day. She is happier than ever.
It has been a personal and professional pleasure to work with Eden and its dedicated staff and leadership. The organization faithfully delivers on its misison to provide quality lifetime support for individuals with autism and their families. Their evidence-based treatment, the quality of their care and instruction, the deep personal involvement of the staff with their students, the quality of their assessment and treatment programs, the usefulness of their webinars and the engagement of their leadership with the community are wonderful testaments to their commitment to quality and service. The exciting new facility in Princeton is a tribute to support by their many friends and their belief in the value of Eden. The organization is an important and valued resource for Princeton, the Princeton region and the entire autism community.
Eden is the leading foundation for Autism Services in the nation. They have been there for my autistic brother throughout his childhood, and now, as an adult in one of their group homes. Their services for individuals with autism and their families far exceed other schools and autism advocacy organizations. The education they provide, the dedicated individuals working there, and the exemplary model they seek to be are all part of what makes Eden so amazing. Rather than working to "cure" the "epidemic" of autism (as Autism Speaks claims to do), Eden does not marginalize the autistic individual as a person with a disease that must be eradicated - Eden celebrates the intrinsic value of the autistic individual, helps him or her achieve their maximum potential, and focuses on providing the best life possible for those they serve. I cannot sing their praises enough; Eden has truly been life-changing for my brother and my family.
My son attends Eden and our family is so much the better. Eden is one of the finest schools for autism in the country.
I have been a donor to Eden Autism Services for nearly 30 years, and have witnessed its growth during that time from a small local agency to a world-class organization that continues to positively impact the lives of children and adults with autism and their families each and every day. The staff are remarkable - so impressive and inspiring in their commitment to Eden's mission.