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Autism Vocational/Life Skills Training
SARRC's Vocational and Life Skills Academy (VLSA) is designed to help young adults and adults with ASDs express interest in potential careers while learning necessary life skills that will enhance their ability to live and work more independently. The academy works to model best-practices in the area of vocational and life skill development with community integrated programs, for individuals age 13 and older, that include typical mentoring and staff support.
In early 2009, SARRC opened its 10,000-square-foot Opus West Vocational & Life Skills Academy, where students with autism will learn important skills to help them live as independently as possible. The building will be located in downtown Phoenix, just minutes from SARRC's Don & Sybil Harrington Campus for Exceptional Children.
Autism Artisans
This series of art workshops will expose emerging and established artists with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) ages 13 and older to a variety of art mediums. This program utilizes art to promote autism awareness, therapeutic intervention and opportunities for the talents and contributions of individuals with ASDs to be appreciated.
CommunityWorks
CommunityWorks is a pre-vocational, community-based training program for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and typical peers ages 13-18. In collaboration with several community organizations, CommunityWorks develops and promotes best practice job training and social skills.
CulinaryWorks
SARRC’s Entrepreneurial Center for Special Abilities (ECSA) is partnering with Arizona’s most celebrated chefs to create CulinaryWorks. Signature soups are being prepared, package and sold, on-the-go, by SARRC’s Vocational & Life Skills Clients. CulinaryWorks extends beyond the functional benefit of satisfying hunger, it contributes to the success of young adults and adults with autism by engaging them in every aspect of product development.
Employment Services
Employment Services is a vocational, community based, job training program for adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), 18 years and older. Employment Services is designed to ensure job development and placement of each enrolled client, with a custom job plan and job coach to meet individual employment needs. Each client works one-to-one with an Individual Supported Employment (ISE) job coach, who provides on-the-job training and support. SARRC thoroughly screens each client for appropriateness for employment and works with each client to determine individual strengths and needs, and to identify barriers to success. Employment Services include, but are not limited to skills training in resume building, filling out applications, interviewing, personal hygiene and appropriate dress for work and non-work settings, and conducting oneself in a professional manner. In addition, job coaches provide continuous support for each client. They monitor each client’s progress in an effort to target support and training toward different areas of need throughout the program.