HELPING HANDS: “We make sure that our atmosphere offers everyone a sense of belonging and getting along. We take into consideration everyone’s personality as we help them develop skills to participate in activities and work projects to create useful products,” report founders Violetta and Sergio Neri and founder and executive Svein Hansen of Pennington Adult Living Services (PALS). Shown, in foreground from left, are PALS participants Nicole, Jack, and Keller. Seated at top are David and Robert.

By Jean Stratton

You never can predict how one step, one decision can set in motion a series of events that lead to something unexpected, and yet with ramifications that will benefit people for years to come.

Consider PALS: that is, Pennington Adult Living Services. This organization offers programs, activities, and learning opportunities for adults with special needs. Founded in 2017 by Sergio and Violetta Neri and Svein Hansen, it has filled an important need for adults with a variety of conditions and challenges, including the autism spectrum, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and seizure disorders, among others.

PALS was inspired by Sergio Neri’s son, Davide, now 32 years old, who faces the challenge of autism.

“Our family has experienced the impact of autism for almost three decades, and has supported local autism intervention programs for an equally long time,” explain Sergio and Violetta Neri, who also own the Hopewell Valley Vineyards in Pennington.

Meaningful Activities

“We know wholeheartedly how challenging it can be to overcome some of the obstacles associated with an autism spectrum diagnosis,” they continue. “Establishing meaningful activities, teaching functional self-help and home living skills, improving expressive language, and language comprehension are some of the things we have been dealing with on a very personal level.”

Sergio, a native of Italy, came to the U.S. to enroll Davide in the Princeton Child Development Institute, which offers a broad spectrum of behavior analytic services to children, youth, and adults with autism.

There, he met one of the teachers, Svein Hansen, who began working with Davide, who was then 7. Hansen had studied developmental challenges, and worked with people with disabilities in his home country of Norway.

“The serendipity of life played a part, too,” he explains. “A very dedicated professor was interested in my studying in the U.S. and contacting the Princeton Child Development Institute. This is how I met Davide, Sergio, and Violetta.”

In time, the idea for a project like PALS emerged, and the Neris and Hansen set up a pilot program, Project Autism, at the Hopewell Valley Vineyards location.

“It started with two people and grew to five or six,” they explain. “Our goal was creating job opportunities for adults with autism through the creation of various work projects aimed at creating useful and salable products.”

Community Store

Its success led to PALs, a nonprofit organization dedicated to provide services to individuals with developmental disabilities. It is a state-approved provider of services by the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD). As such, it receives financial support provided through a fee-for-service structure by the DDD. Foundations, organizations, families, and individuals are also generous contributors.

PALS’ workshop and community store is located at 280 North Main Street in Pennington. In addition, an adjacent building houses The Mill Activity Center.

The organization offers programs and activities for those age 21 and older, with a staff of 20 instructors working with 50 participants.

“The instructors are all certified, with computerized training required by the state,” says Sergio Neri. “Training is received from the Rutgers University College of Direct Support. They are also certified in CPR and first aid, and we have in-house training, which is very important. We are very proud of our vetting system for the staff, and as our program is growing, the challenge is to find even more qualified teachers.”

The students are all ages, adds Svein Hansen. “The oldest is in his mid-50s, and participants include those with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and seizure disorder. One person brings a service dog, who can detect seizures.”

At the workshop, participants may be sewing, painting, and creating a variety of products under the supervision of the instructors. Many of the items are available for sale in the store, and among them are note cards, wall art, small bags, little bird houses, baby bibs, faux flowers, covered hangers, and candles, among other products. Some of the participants’ creations are also donated to Princeton’s popular ArtJam festival each year.

Store With a Heart

The colorful items are attractively displayed, and though many are made by the PALS participants, others are fair trade, recycled, repurposed, or made by firms dedicated to awareness and support of social causes, including for special needs individuals around the world.

“Any retail item has been carefully selected by our staff to ensure that PALS does its part in bettering people around the world,” reports Violetta Neri. “Also, sometimes, our participants will help in the store. This is a store with a heart!”

The Mill Activity Center offers still more opportunities for the participants. A piano, sewing machine, exercise equipment, and kitchen are available so they can engage in music, sewing, exercise, and baking, as they are able.

“We consider this a meeting hub where they can interact and learn to get along together,” points out Hansen. “Each person has different milestones to achieve and different skills to develop. One young man of 26 now has his first paid job in a restaurant, and is looking forward to being able to live independently in his own apartment. We are very proud of our interaction with the participants and of helping to teach interaction among the participants with each other.”

The amount of time spent at The Mill Activity Center and the Workshop and Community Store varies. Some people come once a week, some every day. They usually spend a minimum of two hours, and some stay as long as six hours. Instructors can also go to the individual’s home or work place.

“We are very hands-on. Our staff is very involved in helping each participant to learn and participate more positively,” says Sergio. “The challenge is always to keep the quality of our services high and having the staff we need.”

Hours in the Day

Interest continues to grow, he adds. More and more families are inquiring about entering the PALS program, and there is already a waiting list.

“There are just not enough hours in the day for all we want to do,” emphasizes Hansen. “We also take the participants outdoors, and on field trips to miniature golf, swimming, and other activities. And we partner with local equestrian therapy centers and stables.”

The founders and the five-member board of trustees are enthusiastic about PALS’ success and its future. A series of long-range plans are on the agenda.

“We look forward to creating two group homes for our participants, one for men, and one for women,” says Sergio Neri. “We have the land, and it is already underway. Each home would have eight residents, four male and four female, We also hope to have supervised apartments for those able to live independently. There is a lot to look forward to!”

And, add Violetta Neri and Svein Hansen, “Our mission is to assist individuals with intellectual disabilities achieve more independent, productive, and happy lives. We are so glad to see the happiness on the faces of PALS participants and their families. It is so important that we can help to make a difference in their lives, and we are grateful for the opportunity.”

PALS always welcomes donations to help the organization continue to provide its services, and an annual fundraiser is held — most recently at the Hopewell Valley Vineyards, which included food, entertainment, and a silent auction.

The PALS Community Store is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For further information, call (609) 737-4469. Visit the website at palsnj.org.