Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Eichenholz
Hi Jason, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Jonathan’s Landing Foundation started from a deeply personal journey with my own son, Jonathan. As a parent of a child with autism, I witnessed firsthand the limited options available for adults with autism like Jonathan who lose access to all of their critical care services and supports once they turn 21. And as every parent to child with autism will tell you, you lay awake in bed asking yourself the same question every night: What will happen to my child when I’m gone?
Determined to create a better solution for the tsunami of kids with autism aging out of care in the U.S., I founded Jonathan’s Landing to offer comprehensive support through housing, employment, and community integration. With a coalition of experts, business leaders, and educators combining their individual talents, we’re developing a first-of-its-kind model that combines job training, meaningful employment and independent living to empower adults with autism to live fulfilling and dignified lives.
We are currently focused on launching our workforce development program as well as our very first social enterprise company. Through some amazing partnerships, like CTIA, the wireless industry association, Stratix, and a coalition of nonprofits, we’ll be offering skills training and professional certification for adults with autism and other disabilities within the cellphone and tablet repair industry. And with the launch of our first social enterprise, we have a place to both employ trained individuals, as well as use the profits from that company to help offset the future cost of residents who live at Jonathan’s Landing’s intentional community.
And all of this has been bolstered by a recent $1 million budget allocation from the Governor, spearheaded by Rep. Keith Truenow and Senator Dennis Baxley, jumpstarting our workforce development program.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As with turning any dream into reality, Jonathan’s Landing Foundation has its own unique challenges, but that’s a testament to the importance and necessity of our mission. We’re undertaking something that has never been attempted at this scale — creating a place for 500 residents and career pathways for 5,000 adults — so it’s been a fantastic challenge to solve alongside the incredible strategic partners we have, as well as our team of experts.
Perhaps the greatest challenge has been overcoming societal misconceptions about the capabilities of adults with autism. These adults are capable of so much more than we often understand, they just need the resources and support to truly shine. But these challenges have truly only validated our mission and fueled our determination to create an inclusive community where adults with autism can thrive.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I’m a tech executive, entrepreneur, and pioneer in photonics-enabled product development. With two decades of experience, I’ve led revolutionary projects and co-founded companies like Luminar, which produces LiDAR technology for the global automotive industry. As a father of a son with autism, my next chapter is focused on innovating the residential and workforce support for adults autism through Jonathan’s Landing Foundation.
Jonathan’s Landing Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in Orlando, Florida, dedicated to creating an intentional community for adults with autism in Central Florida. We specialize in providing comprehensive support through innovative job training programs, meaningful employment opportunities, and independent living arrangements. What sets us apart is our mission to create innovative solutions in both the residential and career components of our industry from day one.
We are especially proud of our groundbreaking workforce development program which focuses on the mobile device repair industry—a field well-suited to the strengths of adults with autism. Our growing partnerships and support are positioning Jonathan’s Landing Foundation as a national blueprint for autism support and advocacy. You can learn more at our website https://jonathanslanding.org/.
What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is ensuring that adults with autism, like my son, Jonathan, have the opportunity to lead a life of dignity, purpose, and belonging. As a parent, I understand that Jonathan, and other adults like him, want a life where they can thrive, not just survive. And I am honored to be a place in my career where I can bring something to life that will be a life-long permanent community of true belonging.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jonathanslanding.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathans_landing/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JonathansLandingFoundation/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@jonathans_landing
