The recently opened convenience store on campus at West Chester University provides students with autism a chance to prepare for their careers, writes Susan Snyder for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

This makes WCU the first university in the nation to open a store on campus to provide workplace training for students who are on the autism spectrum.

The Ram Shop is in the same building as the university’s autism program. It offers a variety of snacks and drinks, as well as t-shirts and novelties. The store also sells a shirt designed by students in the autism program, with some of the proceeds going to the social fund for the program.

The store will be a training ground for around a quarter of the 50 students in the autism program.

“Whatever the issues that the students are facing,” said WCU president Christopher Fiorentino, “once we bring them into the institution, we consider it our responsibility to do everything in our power to get them across the finish line.”

This means ensuring that they are employable, he said.

Read more about West Chester University in The Philadelphia Inquirer here.

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