Work Skills Development for Your Career Success
Build professional abilities for meaningful employment through personalized coaching and real-world experience designed for young adults with autism.
Work Skills Development for Your Career Success
Build professional abilities for meaningful employment through personalized coaching and real-world experience designed for young adults with autism.
Ready to Start Building Your Professional Skills?
Professional abilities help you succeed in any career. As a young adult with autism, you bring unique workplace strengths—attention to detail, reliability, creative problem-solving, and deep expertise in your interests. Your career development should reflect your goals, interests, and learning style.
Ready to get started? Here’s your path forward
Step 1: Connect
Step 2: Plan
Step 3: Practice
Want to Know More? Let’s See How It Works.
We’ll walk you through everything step by step – from the skills you’ll develop to where you’ll practice them. You’ll have all the pieces you need to move forward.
What Work Skills Do You Need?
We help you identify existing strengths and build additional career abilities for the job you want—not what others think you should have.
Core Professional Skills You’ll Develop:
- Communication – Express ideas clearly and advocate for your needs
- Time Management – Meet deadlines and balance responsibilities
- Teamwork – Collaborate effectively while staying authentic
- Problem-Solving – Use analytical strengths to overcome challenges
- Self-Advocacy – Request accommodations and communicate your value
What Work Skills Do You Need?
We help you identify existing strengths and build additional career abilities for the job you want—not what others think you should have.
Core Professional Skills You’ll Develop:
- Communication – Express ideas clearly and advocate for your needs
- Time Management – Meet deadlines and balance responsibilities
- Teamwork – Collaborate effectively while staying authentic
- Problem-Solving – Use analytical strengths to overcome challenges
- Self-Advocacy – Request accommodations and communicate your value
How Do You Build These Skills?
Your Professional Development:
- Meristem Café – Customer service, food preparation, inventory management, team leadership
- Herbal Arts Company – Product development, quality control, marketing, sales
- Campus Projects – Event planning, facility management, administrative support
Employment readiness training covers resume writing, interview preparation, workplace communication, employee rights, and career advancement strategies.
How Do You Build These Skills?
Your Professional Development:
- Meristem Café – Customer service, food preparation, inventory management, team leadership
- Herbal Arts Company – Product development, quality control, marketing, sales
- Campus Projects – Event planning, facility management, administrative support
Employment readiness training covers resume writing, interview preparation, workplace communication, employee rights, and career advancement strategies.
See Meristem Social Enterprises→
Where Do You Practice?
Multiple opportunities let you practice skills in supportive environments designed for students on the autism spectrum. Our campus businesses provide authentic employment experience where you develop workplace competencies while contributing to real operations.
Community internships partner you with local employers who value neurodiversity. You receive ongoing coaching support during paid and unpaid positions in your interest areas, plus assistance with applications, interviews, and onboarding.
STEP Program (Ages 16-21) offers eligible students a $300 stipend, up to 120 hours of paid internship at $16.50/hour, job coaching support, and pre-enrollment in Department of Rehabilitation services.
Where Do You Practice?
Multiple opportunities let you practice skills in supportive environments designed for students on the autism spectrum. Our campus businesses provide authentic employment experience where you develop workplace competencies while contributing to real operations.
Community internships partner you with local employers who value neurodiversity. You receive ongoing coaching support during paid and unpaid positions in your interest areas, plus assistance with applications, interviews, and onboarding.
STEP Program (Ages 16-21) offers eligible students a $300 stipend, up to 120 hours of paid internship at $16.50/hour, job coaching support, and pre-enrollment in Department of Rehabilitation services.
STEP Internship Program
STEP (Student Training and Employment Program) matches motivated young people ages 16-21 with paid work experience and job readiness training. Get paid to get ready for work and be matched with an internship that fits your interests.
Are You Eligible?
You qualify if you’re between 16-21, enrolled in school or planning to enroll, have a disability and receive special education or 504 services, have time and transportation for part-time work, and live in El Dorado or Placer County.
What STEP Provides:
STEP offers 21st Century Skills Job Readiness Training and “Job Club,” a $300 stipend for work supplies and uniforms, up to 120 hours of paid internship starting at $16.50/hour, ongoing support from job coaches, and pre-enrollment in Department of Rehabilitation services.
Employers Welcome
Host a STEP team for short-term projects and help motivated young people gain real-world work experience. We provide the work experience while STEP handles payroll, wages, workers compensation, and on-site job coaching support.
STEP is a collaboration between the Department of Rehabilitation, Golden Sierra Job Training Agency, Meristem, and the Foundation for California Community Colleges.
STEP Internship Program
STEP (Student Training and Employment Program) matches motivated young people ages 16-21 with paid work experience and job readiness training. Get paid to get ready for work and be matched with an internship that fits your interests.
Are You Eligible?
You qualify if you’re between 16-21, enrolled in school or planning to enroll, have a disability and receive special education or 504 services, have time and transportation for part-time work, and live in El Dorado or Placer County.
What STEP Provides:
STEP offers 21st Century Skills Job Readiness Training and “Job Club,” a $300 stipend for work supplies and uniforms, up to 120 hours of paid internship starting at $16.50/hour, ongoing support from job coaches, and pre-enrollment in Department of Rehabilitation services.
Employers Welcome
Host a STEP team for short-term projects and help motivated young people gain real-world work experience. We provide the work experience while STEP handles payroll, wages, workers compensation, and on-site job coaching support.
STEP is a collaboration between the Department of Rehabilitation, Golden Sierra Job Training Agency, Meristem, and the Foundation for California Community Colleges.
How Does Coaching Work?
- On-campus coaching and practice opportunities
- Virtual sessions fitting your schedule
- Hybrid approaches combining in-person and online support
How Does Coaching Work?
- On-campus coaching and practice opportunities
- Virtual sessions fitting your schedule
- Hybrid approaches combining in-person and online support
Your Professional Future Starts Here
Professional abilities help you succeed in any career. As a young adult with autism, you bring unique workplace strengths—attention to detail, reliability, creative problem-solving, and deep expertise in your interests. Your career development should reflect your goals, interests, and learning style. Here’s how to get started:
Step 1: Connect
Ready to discuss your career interests and goals?
Step 2: Plan
Let’s create your personalized development plan.
Step 3: Practice
Start building the skills you need for your career.
Contact Our Team
Professional abilities help you succeed in any career. As a young adult with autism, you bring unique workplace strengths—attention to detail, reliability, creative problem-solving, and deep expertise in your interests. Your career development should reflect your goals, interests, and learning style. Contact us to learn more and get started
