“You’re Hired!” at Age 84: One Woman’s Amazing Example

Beverly Ficon, of Verona, NJ, had always loved working in the field of education; in fact, she rose to become president of the Katherine Gibbs College in Montclair, NJ. But when her peers might be feted at retirement parties, this grandmother of six had an experience that put her on the path to her current career.

“Starting with my own granddaughter, I became aware of the difficulties family members may have coping with a child on the spectrum,” she told NextTribe. She put away any thoughts of retirement and started helping those with autism achieve important milestones in their lives.  

She worked as a job coach for children with autism at Millburn High School and volunteered at a children’s agency, but then she found an organization, Spectrum Works, whose mission is to provide job training and employment to individuals with autism.