Contact: District phone #(909) 595-1261

Description: The HARTT Center serves students within the district aged 18-22 years old. The center focuses on post-secondary education and training such as job skills, community skills, and independent living skills. Students learn how to cook, clean, garden, grocery shop, take the city bus, and gain hand-on job experience.

Pros:

• Student work at various job sites. This allows students to explore various job fields and expand their knowledge in jobs.

• Students become familiar and confident in their own community.

Cons:

• This program is designed for students who are in the WVUSD. If you are outside the district, you might not be able to attend the program.

Contact: WHS Phone: (909) 594-1333

Description: WHS provides career and technical education pathway programs to help prepare students with the skills necessary that are needed within that field. The school offers pathways in Business, Photography, Education, Sports Medicine, Nursing, and more.

Pros:

• There are a variety of options available to choose from.

• Students with autism can try out classes each semester to explore each career field and see if this is something they like.

Cons:

• There is not evidence of these pathways being successful for students with disabilities.

• Some courses can transfer as college credit, while others cannot.

Contact: IMPACT department 1(909) 274-4192.

Description: This program helps adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) and DD participate in college experiences while providing them with employment training, independent living skills, and community experience. This program focuses on using a person-centered plan that helps students individually with their goals that were developed by exploring each students interest, needs, and capabilities (Mt. San Antonio College, n.d.).

Pros:

• This program offers classes in a style that is similar to typical developing peers. This offers students the opportunity to walk on campus alongside their peers and have that on campus college experience.

• There is an option for someone to help students complete their application online with live support.

Cons:

• The courses are noncredit courses.

• Depending on a students schedule, classes are at various locations. Students need to ensure that they are picking the correct location and have transportation for these classes.

Contact: CED-Ccces@csuld.edu

Description: This is a new program that is offered at CSULB to students with ID and ASD. Students spend two years at this program learning skills that help them become independent individuals within the community. The program offers career exploration, work experience, social inclusive activities, and access to living skills workshops.

Pros:

• Departments on campus have partnered with this program to help provided on campus work experience.

• Students in this program can take traditional college courses for credit with their typical developing peers.

Cons:

• Housing is not provided

• This program has not yet been approved to provide federal financial aid.

Contact: pathway@uclaextension.edu

Description: This is a 2–3-year program for students with ASD. The program provides support in education, social skills, and vocational experience (ICI, 2024). Students who attend are age 18-26. Students have the option to earn two certificates. The first certificate is in Learning and Life Skills, while the secondary certificate is career based. The program has a residential option that allows students to learn crucial independent living skills.

Pros:

• This program allows students to participate in social events with their typically developing peers.

• The option to live on campus allows students to experience real college life.

• If students are not ready for the program when they apply and the college encourages students to re-apply when they are ready.

Cons:

• This program cost on average $30,000 a year. With food and housing adding additional cost.

• Only half the students who are enrolled in this program currently get paid work experience.

Contact information: admissions@adelphi.edu

Description: This program offers services and provides coaches to help students in the areas of academics and vocational skills, a peer mentor, and a learning strategist (Pallardy, 2019). There is social skills support and students can attend bi-weekly social skills groups and bi-monthly on and off campus group meetings.

Pros:

• This program has a sensory room that can be used by students with autism or other needs to help calm and regulate themselves.

• You will have a vocational coach that will help guide you in identifying your interest, areas of strengths, and the best job field that fits your needs.

Cons:

• There are college fees associated with this program.

Contact: https://www.projectsearch.us/contact/

Description: This program helps individuals with significant intellectual and developmental disabilities learn hands-on vocational skills and gain real-life work experience. The program offers long-term job coaching and feedback from teachers, trainers, and employers (Project Search, 2018). The overall goal of the program is to help these individuals find and secure employment in the competitive pay world.  

Pros:

• 70%-100% of a class has been employed within 9 months of graduation (Project Search, 2018).

• The program offers a blend on classroom training and trainers to help master work task.

Cons:

• If a student is in the 'Internship', transportation is not provided. Students would need to find their own transportation to the host business site.

• This program is for individuals with disabilitie aged 18-30.

Contact: REDI@walgreens.com

Pros:

• Helps provide individuals with disabilities the opportunity to learn and develop the basic retail skills that are needed to be successful in Walgreens stores (Walgreens Co, 2014).

• Training sessions are found in individuals local areas.

Cons:

• This is a work experience training program and does not guarantee employment.

Contact: Ryan Wilson Email: wayfinders@mail.fresnostate.edu

Description: This two year program helps adults with ID and DD increase their independence and participate in work experience. Students live in student apartments, have internships, and take classes through Fresno State's Open University. This is a non-degree certificate.

Pros:

• Individuals may quality for federal financial aid to help pay for this program.

• Students can be 18-28 years old, allowing students to attend this program after they complete their districts ATP.

• 100% of students in the program have paid work while attending this program (Think College, 2024).

Cons:

• If the student does not have financial assistance, tuition may be an issue.

Contact: Phone (801) 784-5972

Address: 6232 S 900 E Murray, UT 84121

Description: This program serves adults with complex needs due to their disability. Individuals are aged 18 and older. The program offers resources in the areas of recreation, daily living skills, job training, and academics. The program uses ABA therapy and highly trained staff to help each individual be successful.

Pros:

• The program uses a person-centered approach tailoring each individuals program needs based on their abilities and interest.

• The program offers internships, volunteer work, and supported employment.

Cons:

• This program is based in Utah. If families are not from this area, they may need to relocate in order to patriciate in this program.

Description: The Department of Rehabilitation works with individuals with disabilities to help provide services that help advocate for employment, independent living, and equality (State of California, 2024). DOR offers a supported employment program that helps provided services for individuals with significant disabilities in an integrated employment setting (State of California, 2024).

Pros:

• Individuals can get the support from a job coach. The job coaching will be gradually reduced as the individual begins to perform the job duties independently.

• DOR tailer their services to each individual to ensure the best support and resources that fits the individuals need.

Cons:

• Job support services are limited to 24 months.

• To obtain job support, individuals will need to apply to DOR and get the services.

Description: DDS is person-centered service system that helps people with ID and DD. DDS has different work programs to fit each individuals need such as Coordinated Career Pathways, Work Activity Program services, Work Services, Supported Employment Services, and Competitive Integrated Employment (CA DDS, 2024). DDS works alongside DOR and Regional Centers to help maximize individual success.

Pros:

• There are many job opportunities available. It is important to find one that fits the needs of the individual person.

• There is a lot of information that is accessible to families and students. It is important to find a service coordinator to help.

Con:

• It is unclear if these services are as successful with students with complex needs.

Contact: Program Contact: April Fante

Email: collegetocareer@noce.edu

Phone714-808-4714

Description: College to Career works in coordination with DOR and receives funding from them. The college helps students with ID, ASD, or a cognitive disability learn valuable job skills that can be used to obtain employment. Students create a educational plan with a counselor, receive coaching, participate in employment workshops, have an opportunity to get a job, and find the best placement based on the student's individual goal.

Pros:

• Funded by DOR. The program could possible be at no cost to the family.

• Program is for 3 years

Cons:

• Not all students who apply get accepted.

• Only 10% of students in the program get paid work.

• Students only get volunteer work experience in this program.

Pros:

• Individuals who enroll in apprenticeship's have the opportunity to earn money while they gain hands-on experience.

• Students start off in a classroom (online or in person) and then move into on the job training.

Cons:

• Apprenticeships are in high-demand job areas such as cybersecurity, human resources, and clean energy. If these are not an area of interest, this might be something to take into consideration.

A national program: https://apprenticareers.org/

• Group homes (assisted living option)

• No cost information was available on website.

  • Pros:

    • Regional center can help pay for group home rent option.

    • Different levels (1-4) of support services that vary in the areas of supervision, care, self-help skills, mobility, and behavior (Autism Society San Francisco Bay Area, 2024).

    • Some group homes have structured daily routines, transportation available, and social/recreation opportunities.

  • Cons:

    • Not many group homes are set up to support individuals with autism.

    • Lack of training to work with individuals with autism.

    • Some group homes limit parental involvement.

• Apartment/Rental Homes (Independent Living option)

• No cost information was available on website. Rent is dependent on location of apartment and financial support from Regional Center and SSI.

  • Pros:

    • Regional center and SSI can both help fund rent.

    • More independence for the ASD individual

    • Parents are able to visit and stay involved in the individuals life.

  • Cons:

    • Limited options available.

    • If ASD individual does not have support or someone who can help them, it may become isolated (Autism Society San Francisco Bay Area, 2024).

• Program Eligibility: Individual with disability must live in Orange County are eligible.

• No information on cost was available on website.

Pros:

• This program looks for landlords and staff that support and display appropriate disabliity etiquette as well as respectful interactions (Dayle McIntosh, 2024).

• Educate tenants to understand their rights, create payment plans and scheduling, offer support to help individuals with disabilities say organized, clean, and manage their money (Dayle McIntosh, 2024).

Cons:

• Individuals with disabilities need to live in Orange County.

• Individual will live on own and be responsible for rent, paying rent on time, and cleaning their place. Individual needs to have adequate skills to be independent.

Eligibility: Not found on website

Pricing (rent per tenant):

• Single story home (4 bedrooms): $2,960/Mo

• Duplex Home (2 bed, 2 bath): $3,165/MO

• Two story home (5 bedrooms, 4 bath): $2,655-$3,165/MO

Pros:

• Clubhouse, swimming pool, hot tub, outdoor grill, garden, and bike path within community.

• Residents can use public transportation or on-demand ride share to navigate the community.

• Security guide on site

Cons:

• Additional services such as direct support are not automatically provided, they need to be secured through a agency of your choice (29 Acres, 2024).

• Only 10 homes as of right now. The community is small and limited.

• Some experience provided come at an additional charge.

• Department of Rehabilitation

• Regional Center

Funding options:

• Section 8 voucher: Voucher for low income individuals who need housing assistance. Landlord must agree to be apart of the program. Individuals pay 1/3 of the rent based on their income.

• Project-Based Section8 voucher: The individual living in a specific housing project will pay 1/3 of their rent. This voucher does not follow them, but is specific to the community (Autism Housing Pathways, 2024).

  • Link: https://autismhousingpathways.org/section-8-and-other-housing-subsidies-yes-this-does-apply-to-your-family-member/

• Subsidized housing: houses for individuals with low income and are built by the government.

• SSI- Supplemental security income: government funding that helps individuals with DDD.

Behavior service option:

• Medi-Cal: Can help cover behavioral health treatments (BHT) for individuals under 21. This can include ABA and EBPs that prevent and help support behaviors. However, Medi-Cal can help pay for other medical services beyond age 21.

Step 2: Find appropriate housing options and apply.

Step 3: Find additional support services if needed.

Step 4: Appy for financial support such as Section 8 and SSI.

Step 5: Continue to work on strengthening individuals skills and areas of need.

Step 6: When housing is ready....move in!