We’re excited to share that our founder, Rachelle Vartanian, was recently featured on the “Shifting the Narrative on Everything Autism” podcast, hosted by Stacy and Torrin. During this heartwarming conversation, Rachelle opened up about her journey as an autism parent and how it inspired the creation of the Living and Learning Enrichment Center right here in Northville, Michigan.
From Personal Experience to Community Impact
Rachelle’s story resonates with so many families in our community. As an autism parent herself, she recognized the significant gap in services and support available to autistic teens and young adults. This realization sparked her vision to create something meaningful—a place where autistic individuals could access job skills training, participate in support groups, and connect through social programs specifically designed with their unique strengths and needs in mind.
During the podcast, Rachelle shared insights about our mission and the various services we offer at Living and Learning. She spoke passionately about how we’re helping autistic adults discover and pursue their dream jobs, providing them with the tools, training, and support they need to succeed in the workplace.
The conversation beautifully captured not just what we do, but why we do it—creating opportunities for autistic teens and young adults to thrive in their communities while building confidence and independence along the way.
Rachelle also discussed her vision for the future of Living and Learning, painting a picture of expanded opportunities and continued growth in serving our community. Her dedication to this work stems from her personal experience and genuine belief in the potential of every individual we serve.
We invite you to listen to this inspiring conversation below and learn more about the heart behind our organization. Thank you to Stacy and Torrin for providing such a wonderful platform to share our story and connect with families and advocates who share our commitment to supporting autistic individuals.