College2Career Program – Santa Rosa, CA
A Post-High School Program Focused on Jobs, Independence, and Real-World Skills
As we continue to explore options for life after high school for neurodivergent teens and young adults, we visited the College2Career Program at Santa Rosa Junior College. This program is very different from traditional college programs because the main goal is employment, independence, and real-world skills, not just academics.
Many families don’t know programs like this exist, so we wanted to explain how it works and who it might be a good fit for.
What Is the College2Career Program?
The College2Career (C2C) program at Santa Rosa Junior College is a three-year program designed to help students with intellectual disabilities and/or autism obtain employment and build career skills while attending college.
The program focuses on helping students:
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Go to college
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Explore careers
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Learn job skills
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Gain work experience
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Get a paid job
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Build independence
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Navigate the community
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Develop social and communication skills
The program’s mission is to create career and technical education opportunities that lead to employment for students with intellectual disabilities and autism.
Admissions and Who the Program Is For
The program is competitive and only accepts about 20 new students per year.
Typical eligibility includes:
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At least 18 years old
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Intellectual disability and/or autism
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Ability to attend college and work regularly
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Ability to arrange transportation to campus and job sites
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Motivation to work and attend college
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Appropriate behavior for college and work environments
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Basic social and communication skills
Students apply and go through an interview process to determine if the program is a good fit.
This program is a full-time commitment and students cannot be enrolled in another transition program at the same time.
Program Structure (3 Years)
The program is structured over three years, with each year focusing on different goals and skills.
Year 1 – College, Community, and Career Exploration
Students learn:
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How to navigate the college campus
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Community resources
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Career exploration
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Basic college and life skills
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How to access tutoring and support services
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Volunteer opportunities
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Work readiness skills
By the end of Year 1, students typically have identified career interests and created an education and career plan.
Year 2 – Career Training and Work Experience
Students:
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Take career and technical education classes
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Develop job skills
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Participate in work experience
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Begin internships or job training
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Continue college classes and support services
Year 3 – Supported Employment
Students:
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Work in the community
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Receive job coaching and support
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Transition into employment
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Continue career training and education
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Connect with vocational support agencies
The program is designed so that students finish the program with real job experience and employment opportunities, not just classroom experience.
Cost and Tuition
One very important thing about the College2Career program is that the program itself is grant funded, which means students do not pay tuition for the program services themselves.
Students may still have costs related to:
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College classes
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Books
- Living Expenses
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Transportation
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Personal expenses
But compared to many transition and independence programs, this program is much more affordable because it is funded through the California Department of Rehabilitation.
Housing
Another important difference from some other programs we visited:
This program does NOT provide housing.
Students live at home or independently in the community while attending the program and college.
This makes it a good option for students who:
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Want to attend college locally
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Still live at home
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Are not ready for residential programs
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Want to build independence gradually
Program Focus
The biggest focus of College2Career is employment and independence.
Students receive support with:
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Job search
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Resume building
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Internships
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Work experience
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Paid employment
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Study skills
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Organization
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Planning
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Communication
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Social skills
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Accessing campus resources
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Independent living skills
The goal is that by the end of the program, students are working and have career direction.
Why Programs Like This Matter
One of the biggest challenges for many neurodivergent teens is not high school — it’s what happens after high school.
Many students:
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Are not ready for full independence
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Struggle with executive functioning
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Need help with job skills
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Need help with social skills
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Need help navigating college systems
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Need support transitioning into adulthood
Programs like College2Career help bridge that gap between:
High School → College → Employment → Independent Adult Life
Final Thoughts
The College2Career program is:
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Focused on employment
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Integrated into a real college campus
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Grant funded (more affordable)
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Structured but still independent
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Focused on real life skills
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Designed for students with autism and intellectual disabilities
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A three-year transition into adulthood and work
This program is a great option for students who:
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Want to attend college
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Want to work
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Want to build independence
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Need support with executive functioning and life skills
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Are motivated to work toward employment
There are more post-high school options than most families realize, and we are trying to share what we learn along the way in case it helps another family navigate this stage of life.
