Of the hundreds of modern art exhibits at the Walker Art Center, the Andy Warhol silkscreen painting of Jackie Kennedy is one of T.J. Jameson's favorites.
"See how the color blue changes across each of the panels?" Jameson asks the tour group he's leading.
Such details don't escape Jameson, who has a photographic memory and a passion for art.
He's one of seven tour guides working for a fledgling Edina-based nonprofit that began providing jobs this summer to local young adults with autism, a developmental disorder that often affects social communication skills.
The program allows them to showcase their array of skills from horseback riding to art to encyclopedic knowledge of the local architecture scene. It also fills a vast employment need for the soaring population of autistic young adults, many of whom have just left the safety net of services provided by schools and who face an unfamiliar world.
"What we're trying to do is more than just provide a job for adults with autism," said Kathryn Nordberg, chief executive officer of Erik's Ranch and Retreats, which is named after her son. "We're trying to build a whole life."
Advocates say the need is desperate.
"They are absolutely filling a huge void because there are not enough housing options and residential supports for adults across this country," said Leslie Long, director of housing and adult services for Autism Speaks, a national advocacy group.