Beyond Secondary School, Learn Employment and Independent Living Skills
Learn: financial, safety, nutrition, community, health, etiquette, relationships, transportation, and problem solving skills.
Learn: financial, safety, nutrition, community, health, etiquette, relationships, transportation, and problem solving skills.
NextStep at Endeavor Academy is a structured, two-year residential program designed for adults with autism that helps build crucial independent living and career readiness skills. Participants maximize their capacity to live more independently through the Learn4Independence® curriculum and individualized services. Based on the First Place-Phoenix Transition Academy model, after graduation 84% of participants are expected to be living in their community of choice with more than 80% expected to be employed.
Learn4Independence® is a 32-course scaffolded curriculum for adults with autism and other neurodiversities that focuses on skills to promote living independently and working successfully. This unique curriculum’s design elements can accommodate various types of individuals with learning differences. Participants seeking gainful employment and a more self-sufficient, independent life can thrive with Learn4Independence® and the experiences offered. Licensing of the curriculum was made possible through a grant from CareerSource Chipola.
This program provided my son with the opportunity to participate in social events, as well as, a job coach to help him find a job. NextStep has been such a blessing to my son and my family.
- Mother of a 2024 Transition Academy graduate
NextStep coaches worked closely with our son while he was in the program, ensuring he could achieve independent success in the workplace—and succeed he did! As our son became more skilled and independent at work, the coaches shifted their focus to address other specific needs. He has now been employed for over two years.
- Mother of a 2024 Transition Academy graduate
"NextStep at Endeavor Academy has my strong support for the essential work they do for individuals with autism. My son is currently enrolled in their program, and the transformation we have witnessed in him is nothing short of life changing. Before NextStep, we worried about his future. Like many parents of children with autism, our greatest fear has been: What happens to our child if we are no longer here? NextStep has alleviated that fear. Through their structured curriculum, job coaching, and life skills training, our son has gained the confidence and ability to handle daily responsibilities on his own."
- Father of a current Transition Academy Participant
"As the parent of a young adult with disabilities, I have seen firsthand the incredible impact that NextStep has on its students and their families. The dedicated staff, well-designed curriculum, and forward-thinking approach to independent living make NextStep a model program that deserves recognition and support. From the moment we stepped onto the campus, we were impressed—not only by the facilities but by the kindness and dedication of the teachers and staff. The program’s comprehensive approach to teaching life skills has given my daughter knowledge and confidence that she carries with her in everyday life."
- Mother of a current Short Course participant
"The transformation I have witnessed in my son during the two-year program and since graduation has been truly remarkable. My family and I have been extremely impressed by the substantial progress and newfound confidence that NextStep has fostered in my son. Unlike other organizations, NextStep was instrumental in securing employment for my son and providing intensive job coaching, which they continue to provide even after graduation. Seeing my son gain confidence, feel valued, maintain a good job, communicate more effectively, socialize more, and smile more often has been beyond our expectations."
- Mother of a 2024 Transition Academy graduate