Next Term: Fall 2024 -- Aug 13 - Dec 13

Our Online Career Readiness Training for Neurodiverse Job Seekers is aimed at individuals who hold a two or four year college degree (or equivalent), are currently underemployed or unemployed, have set the goal to get a job and be good at it, need the knowledge to strengthen their motivation and drive to reach the goal, and want flexibility in setting the pace and intensity of their training. For individuals that are currently employed gainfully, our courses will help them improve their workplace effectiveness and grow in their career with confidence.

The courses are offered twice a year in Spring and Fall terms over a 17-week period, including a 2-week simulated workplace experience. The training is uniquely designed so that participants can customize their level of participation based on their needs, current situation, and comfort level.

Learn-By-Doing Session

15 Wks (120 Hrs; 2 Hrs/day; 4 Days/Wk)

The program begins with a 15-week learn-by-doing session consisting of 13 courses designed specifically to provide a highly impactful and valuable online learning experience.

The courses consist of live online classroom sessions, meetings, and discussions via Zoom, supplemented by assignments to internalize the course learnings. You will have ready access to the instructors and course content including a variety of tools, tips, assessments, and reference documents.

Participants learn and practice personal effectiveness skills, job search and career launch strategies, and workplace competencies – all skills essentials for securing employment and achieving career fulfillment and success.

Simulated Workplace Experience

2 Wks (40-60 Hrs; 4-6 Hrs/day; 5 days/Wk)

The last two weeks of training are designed to reinforce and practice the learnings from the courses in a simulated workplace environment, while gaining experience working on real world projects sourced from our business partners.

The 17-week training, comprised of the 15-week learn-by-doing session and the 2-week simulated workplace experience, also provides opportunities for the attendees to interact with companies and network with business professionals.

Flexible Participation

Choose the courses you want

You may be currently underemployed or unemployed and you want to prepare yourself for effective job search. Or you may be currently employed and desire to grow in your career. The training is uniquely designed so that you can customize your level of participation based on your needs, current situation, and comfort level.

You can spread the courses over multiple terms. There are sequence requirements on how you can take the courses over multiple terms. See details below in the Class Schedule section.

Job Search/Placement Support (Optional for 6 months)

Completion of the training starts the optional phase of individual coaching and placement support with a career coach. This dedicated one-on-one guidance assists the individual during their employment search and continues with the eventual hiring and onboarding, possibly with one of our employer allies.

Please note that this phase requires the participant to complete the full 17-week training successfully and demonstrate the readiness and commitment to undertake the hard work of searching for and landing in a job. This phase is nominally for a period of 6 months. Depending on the needs of the individual, this period can be further extended.

Once employed, job and career coaching are available as an optional service to support the individual’s workplace assimilation and ongoing career plans.

Are You Ready to Invest in You?

“For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.” -- Aristotle

Next Session

Fall 2024

Aug 13, 2024 – Dec 13, 2024

Apply By

Aug 7, 2024

How to apply?

Please follow the six step process on the right

Step 1

Review Class Schedule, Program Audience, and Program Benefits below

Step 2

Learn about course details in our online learning site

Step 3

Check if you have the required Digital Literacy Skills

Step 4

Attend an Information Session (starting Jun 25) to learn more about the program, including cost and payment options and have all your questions answered

Step 5

After attending an Information Session, schedule time with us to discuss your specific situation, interest, and payment options

Step 6

Complete the application form

Class Schedule

The class begins with an Orientation session and a foundational course on neurodiversity in the workplace. You are required to attend the Orientation and the foundation course on Neurodiversity in the Workplace. The remaining courses are built around three Learning Dimensions: Job Development (JD), Personal Effectiveness (PE), and Workplace Competencies (WC). There are a total of 13 courses across these three learning dimensions.

You can spread the courses over multiple terms. There are sequence requirements on how you can take the courses over multiple terms. You must attend the orientation and foundation course at least one time, before you can take any other course. All the PE courses need to be completed in the order shown below, before you can take any other course. After that, you can take courses from JD and WC areas in the order shown below. You have to take at least one course. If you want to participate in the last two weeks of simulated workplace projects, you must take all the JD, PE, and WC courses.

Each Learn-By-Doing training day will consist of one classroom session from 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. Mondays and Wednesdays are for instruction and learning; Tuesdays and Thursdays are for individual work on course assignments. Our instructors and coaches will be available to help and guide you through the course assignments. All times are in Pacific Time Zone. There will be three (3) breaks in each classroom session, totaling approximately 30 minutes.

Each Simulated Workplace day will be from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM with breaks for lunch and other needs as determined by the project work team members.

Orientation: Aug 13
Orientation

Foundation (F): Aug 14 – Aug 15
Neurodiversity @ Work

Personal Effectiveness (PE): Aug 19 – Sep 24
The Growth Mindset
Seven Habits – Basics
Executive Function
Coping and Resiliency

Job Development (JD): Sep 25 – Oct 29
Job Development Strategy and Positioning
Job Search Toolkit
You Are a Brand
Job Searching & Interviewing Strategies & Tactics
Employment Self-Advocacy

Workplace Competencies (WC): Oct 30 – Nov 28
Being Assertive
Conflict Resolution
Team Structure & Performance
Powerful Presentations – Basics

Simulated Workplace (SW): Dec 2 – Dec 13
Workplace Projects

Program Audience and Benefits

Preparing you to launch and grow your career

Are you a good fit?

You are a good fit for our program, if you:

Hold a two or four year college degree (or equivalent)
Are currently underemployed or unemployed
Have set the goal to get a job and be good at it
Need the knowledge to strengthen your motivation and drive to reach the goal
Want flexibility in setting the pace and intensity of training

Even if you are currently employed gainfully, our courses will help you improve your workplace effectiveness and grow your career with confidence.

What will you gain?

Strategies and tactics for your employment search, career management, and professional growth
Actionable tactics, using tools and techniques from the courses, to build your Job Search Toolkit including resumes, cover letters, and online profiles and portfolios
Growth Mindset, foundational habits, and essential skills for improving personal effectiveness
Essential workplace skills to effectively communicate, collaborate, and contribute in the workplace
Familiarity with today’s workplace dynamics and expectations while gaining workplace experience

Cost

Every participant must attend Orientation and Foundation course (Neurodiversity @ Work) at no cost.

The cost of the full 17-week training is $4,500. Individual courses are $300 per course. The last 2 weeks of Simulated Workplace is $600. The payment is due at the beginning of the training. If you have a financial hardship, please tell us so that we can discuss options for you to attend the training.

Our Career Readiness Training is available to consumers of California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR). If you are a consumer of DOR and your counselor approves your participation in the training, the training cost is completely covered by DOR. If you are a California resident but not a consumer of DOR, please look up the nearest DOR office and make an appointment to see if you are eligible to become a consumer of DOR. Please note DOR will require a formal diagnosis of your neurodivergence.

If you are not a California resident, you may check with the Vocational Rehabilitation department of your state and explore the possibility of their covering the cost of the training. Please let us know if you need our support for this.