Autism Career Training is a day program with locations in Nashville, TN and Franklin, TN that provides opportunities for adults with autism to gain valuable vocational skills while interacting with the community, socializing with peers, and achieving independence. To learn more about what their program entails, please see the frequently asked questions answered below.
Program Information
Day program participants are able to learn vocational skills while in the center and also out in the community. They have many activities that center around social interaction, skill development, and independence. Each month they have a different theme that all of their activities revolve around (ex: art, household activities, etc.).
The locations are reimagined houses that allow the participants to have hands on experience in the kitchen, laundry room, and other functional locations of a house. This helps them learn practical skills while actually practicing those skills on a daily basis.
They also will participate in outings in the community such as going to the grocery store, volunteering at potential job sites, going out to eat, etc.
Fun Club: A once a month event hosted by Autism Career Training for their participants as an opportunity to socialize with peers in other day programs (both locations, BrightStone, etc.) in order to promote social-emotional learning, cooking skills, and functional communication skills.
Participants also have the opportunity to receive speech therapy and ABA therapy while in the day program if they choose to do so.
Participants are required to provide their own transportation to and from the center, but they do have a van for transportation during the day for community outings.
Autism Career Training's main goal is to teach their participants important job skills. Their hope is that this will allow the participants to placed in jobs in the community. If this is the goal of the participant, they work with them to help this become a reality.
They also have participants who do not have a goal to get a job and want to stay at the day program for many years. Autism Career Training welcomes these participants for years without pressure to find a job if that is not what they desire.
One location in Nashville, TN at 6515 Holt Rd Nashville, TN 37211.
Another location in Franklin, TN at 4030 Dream Valley Rd. Franklin, TN 37064.
Autism Career Training is open Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm.
No, participants can join the day program from two to five days per week depending on preference and availability.
No, participants are required to bring their own lunches. There are some days where participants will cook meals with staff and will not be required to bring lunch those days.
The amount of participants each day range from 3 to 10 per day at each location.
Autism Career Training may be a good fit for you if:
You are looking to improve your independence
You want to continue learning new things in a comfortable environment
You are wanting to participate in the community while also socializing with peers
You want to continue living at home while having activities throughout the day
You may not have the desire to get a job or go to college after graduating and want to have other activities to do during the day
You may need extra support and direction to complete activities during the day
You live near Nashville, TN or Franklin, TN
To qualify for Autism Career Training, you have to be:
At least 18 years old
Have a documented autism diagnosis
There is not a specific level of independence required, but applicants who need support with toileting, feeding, etc. may be limited to a certain number of days per week based on when staff can provide the support needed
You can apply on their website at: https://autismcareertraining.org/trainee-application/
1. Application: Complete the application form and a staff member will reach out within a couple days by phone to discuss the program and the needs of the participant and his or her family.
2. Tour: Staff will decide after the phone call if a tour should be scheduled. These take place from 9am-3pm M-F. The staff may request additional information at this time.
3. Trial Period: Staff will set up an initial session and the potential participant will complete a trial period that can last up to 30 days based on the situation.
4. Decision on enrollment: After an assessment and observation takes place, the executive director will make the decision whether or not to move forward with the applicant. If the program is the right fit, a meeting will be set up with the family to determine the trainee's schedule moving forward.
Assessment: Helps to pinpoint the trainee’s existing skill base and desired improvement. This can include Teachtown pre-assessment tools, interviews with parents and trainees, parent information forms, doctors’ reports, current eligibility report, and current IEP, etc.
No, there is not a fee to apply.
Pricing is dependent on how many days the participant chooses to attend.
For specific pricing, contact Autism Career Training at: https://autismcareertraining.org/contact/
Scholarships may be provided on a case to case basis based on donations received.
Autism Career Training accepts insurance for speech therapy and ABA therapy.
Who can I contact if I have more questions?
If you still have unanswered questions, you can contact through their contact form at: https://autismcareertraining.org/contact/
Where can I find more information?
You can find more information from their website at: https://autismcareertraining.org/
Can I take a tour of Autism Career Training?
Yes, a tour will be given as a part of the admissions process after an application is submitted.
Do they have social media I can follow to learn more?
Follow Autism Career Training on Instagram @autismcareertraining and like them on Facebook at Autism Career Training!