COLUMBIA, MO (Feb. 2, 2017) — On the heels of a successful first year, STRIVE, the Thompson Center’s job preparation program, is now recruiting participants for fall 2017.
STRIVE, which stands for Self-Determined Transition Readiness through Individual Vocational Experiences, is a 10-month, 2 semester program open to young adults with an autism diagnosis between the ages of 18 and 25.
STRIVE’s specialized curriculum targets self-determination, career preparation and social skills in an environment where participants can learn and practice skills through classwork, peer mentoring, job shadowing and paid work experiences on the University of Missouri campus. The goal of STRIVE is to target the behaviors and difficulties in social interactions that are characteristic of ASD and reinforce the skills needed to secure and sustain employment for young adults.
One participant in the current pilot year group moved from her parents’ home in the St. Louis suburbs to her own apartment in Columbia to participate in STRIVE.
“Her growth has been tremendous,” said transition coordinator Maya Tarter. “While she was very anxious and a little uncertain about her new independence at the beginning of the program, she now seeks out new experiences like participating in a community choir, working a seasonal job in retail, trying new recipes and learning French. Her growing confidence and ability to find her own happiness is what STRIVE is all about.”
Visit the STRIVE site for more information and application materials.