Alec is a senior at University of Indianapolis working on both his master’s and his bachelor’s degrees. According to Alec, being busy means he is never bored. His quest to stay busy led him to his desire for an internship opportunity arranged through his school and the College InternXperience program at Easterseals Crossroads. In its seventh year, the program partners with eight local colleges to help recruit qualified students who have a diagnosis of autism.
“I have seen less anxiety and increased confidence with students who participate in an internship. The program benefits employers because they learn more about inclusion, which is essential for work environments,” said Easterseals Crossroads program specialist Rhonda Wood.
Alec’s skills and interests made him a terrific candidate for an analyst position in the Treasures of the Earth exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. Alex researches in the lab and fields questions in the exhibit.
“The internship has given me confidence. I now know that I want teaching position in my field of study,” said Alec. “It feels amazing to know that I’m teaching someone and that they’ve learned something from me.”
“Partnerships with community organizations are very important because no organization can do it all alone; creating a better community depends on different voices working together to make that happen. We want families who visit our museum to see themselves in our workforce and Easterseals Crossroads helps make that happen,” said Grant Goshorn, STEM Galleries Interpretation Manager, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.
Watch the brief video below to learn more about Alec and his internship.
