Jordan Grey loves comic books and cartoons. When you walk into his room at his Eden Autism home, he has all his favorites, his mother, Charlette Grey, says.
He is a big Michael Jackson fan, too. Grey and his older sister, Kiersten Grey, had tickets to see the King of Pop in concert in 2009, but Jackson died before the scheduled concert. Fans were able to keep the tickets. Those tickets are among Grey’s favorites.
Grey grew up in West Windsor, and he was diagnosed with autism when he was 6 years old. He is now 43 and has been living in an Eden Autism home with a roommate for almost 10 years in West Windsor.
Grey is among the many adults who have found a place to call home through Eden Autism Services, which continues to expand its residential program. The Plainsboro-based organization celebrated the opening of its 34th residential home in September, a newly renovated house in Robbinsville that will provide housing and around-the-clock support for four young autistic men.
For families like the Greys, Eden’s residential program offers an opportunity for their loved ones to develop independence while receiving the support they need.
At first, Charlette Grey had her reservations about having her son move out of the family home.
“It was a really difficult decision,” she admitted. “We were quite happy with him at home, and we enjoyed having him around.”
But with encouragement, she realized it would be better to transition her son while she and her husband, Jerry Grey, were still around rather than waiting until it became a necessity.
“I knew it was best for him,” she said.
She joked that when her son comes home on some weekends, he may find it quite boring. She and her husband live close by.
“They are very active and go on field trips,” she said of the residents at his Eden home. “Sometimes when he is home, we may go out, but we may not.”
Eden Autism Services, which was founded more than 50 years ago, provides a lifetime of support, from the point of diagnosis through the school years and into adulthood. It specializes in supporting autistic children and adults who have the most complex cognitive and behavioral challenges throughout their lives.
Eden Autism offers vocational training and employment services for adolescents and adults, residential services for adults and numerous other resources grounded in applied behavior analysis. Though much has changed over the 50 years since its founding, Eden’s goal remains the same: to provide a comprehensive spectrum of services designed to enable individuals with autism to lead fulfilling, productive and engaged lives in their communities, to the extent of their abilities.
Jordan attended Eden School in Princeton, which provides year-round educational services for children and adolescents with autism, ages 3 to 21.
His mother, who sits on the Eden Board of Trustees, said she can’t say enough about Eden’s support services for her son, who is nonspeaking. Over the years, Eden has helped him with his behaviors and helped him communicate his wants and needs.
“They have been a blessing to our family,” she said, noting Eden recognized her son’s potential from the beginning.
Today, Jordan works at Wawa. His first job was through a program at Johnson & Johnson.
“He was able to do what they were asking,” his mother said.
Eden and Wawa began their partnership in 1981 when Wawa hired Ari Shiner, its first employee with special needs, through Eden, according to Eden’s website. In 2021, Shiner was honored by Wawa for 40 years of employment.
The story of Eden began as a dream shared by 14 families. In 1975, autism was a largely unknown disorder, and services for autistic individuals were extremely scarce. These pioneering parents were determined to create a better world for their children. Out of a rented church basement in Princeton, the Eden Institute, now known as Eden Autism Services, was born.
“We were thrilled when we met other children like our son, David,” said Harriet Riedel, a founding Eden parent. “We had never seen another autistic person. We just felt like we had come home.”
In 1979, Eden opened its first group home, Winsten House, in Hightstown. With a small budget and a big dream, Eden parents spent many weekends and late nights renovating the building, painting, building and cleaning to help turn the house into a home.
That residential program has grown considerably in the decades since. On Sept. 16, Eden Autism celebrated the opening of the residence in Robbinsville.
“The home is a testament to Eden’s long-standing commitment to creating opportunities for the people we support,” said Michael Decker, who has served as Eden Autism’s president and CEO for nine years. “We are proud to welcome four men to their new home that will support their continued growth, independence, and quality of life.”
The four men were expected to move into the residence during the fall, with staff available around the clock to provide support.
The Robbinsville home was developed in partnership with the state Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA), the N.J. Department of Human Services’ Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) and Robbinsville Township.
The 2,500-square-foot ranch underwent a full renovation to ensure every part of the home could accommodate residents’ needs. The home features an open floor plan and several new accessibility features that will allow residents to age in place.
In addition to the structural improvements, Eden partnered with Gregg Kiesel Interior Design to furnish and decorate the residence. Kiesel donated his design services to help create a comfortable, welcoming environment for the four men who will live there.
“Opening a new group home is always a special moment,” said Gia Gore, Eden Autism’s director of facilities. “We spend so much time making sure every detail is right, but what really matters is creating a home where our participants feel comfortable, safe, and connected to their community. When you finally see that home come to life, it’s incredibly rewarding.”
Eden Autism homes are located throughout central New Jersey, including West Windsor, East Windsor, Cranbury, Hamilton, Ewing, Princeton, Lawrence and Robbinsville. Residents range in age from 22 to 77. Another three homes are in the early stages of development, including one in New Brunswick near Rutgers University, one in Cranbury and another in Robbinsville.
Decker said that when Eden looks for a home, it considers the accessibility and affordability of the location. “We tend to look for a one-story ranch,” he said.
The new residence is Eden Autism’s 13th in Robbinsville Township, making it the municipality with the most Eden homes.
“It’s more just the housing stock,” Decker said of the number of homes in Robbinsville. “When you drive around, you see a lot of one-story ranches.”
The township has been instrumental in supporting Eden’s mission, Decker added.
“Eden has been providing invaluable support and opportunities for individuals with autism and their families for decades and we are pleased to see that mission continue to grow here in Robbinsville,” Mayor Mike Todd said at the home’s opening in September.
Each Eden Autism home typically has four residents. Some of the older homes may have more than four, but the newer homes typically have four residents, said Paul Bernard, manager of residential services.
Each home has 24-hour staff support, with employees working in shifts.
Bernard began as a direct support professional (DSP) with Eden.
“We are there to assist [the residents],” Bernard said of the DSP’s role. “We are going out food shopping or doing fun activities with them in the community.”
Bernard has been with Eden for 13 years. He now manages several homes to ensure they remain in compliance with applicable requirements.
“I know what it takes to be successful in this role and to have these guys live nice lives,” he said, reflecting on the connections he has built with residents and their parents and guardians over the years.
“It’s just a really nice thing.”
A resident must meet certain criteria to be approved for Eden services through the New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities. Decker said Eden has residents in place before opening a new home.
Currently, Eden does not have any plans to expand beyond central New Jersey. Its main goal is to provide an environment where residents can live for a long time.
Kiersten Grey and her brother were part of a video that Eden Autism produced last year as the nonprofit organization celebrated its 50th anniversary.
“Eden has been such a beautiful gift to our family,” she said. “Jordan, as extraordinary as he is, part of the reason he is so extraordinary is because he’s been in Eden.
“It’s really, really special the community that exists in Eden because there are people who love my brother the way that I do Jordan.”
Eden is a state-approved, licensed provider of services in New Jersey, according to its website. Its funding comes from a variety of sources, including New Jersey school districts, the New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities, Medicaid and individual, foundation and corporate donors.
Autism is reported to affect 1 in 31 children nationwide and 1 in 29 in New Jersey.
Eden remains one of the few providers where families can rely on the organization to support their loved ones from childhood through their senior years.
“One important distinction with Eden is we were formed by families and today we are governed by families,” Decker said. “Every family member or guardian and individual we support is a voting member of the organization.
“They elect our board of trustees.”
Many of the trustees are family members, but they don’t have to be. They can also be community members who support Eden.
Eden raises awareness of its services through campaigns throughout the year. Its biggest fundraiser is the Eden Autism 5K & Fun Run/Walk, held in October. The organization will hold its Eden Dreams Shaping Tomorrow fundraising gala in January 2027 at the Park Château in East Brunswick.
For more information, visit edenautism.org.
