Vocational Services
The Autism Center of Nebraska offers a pre-vocational/vocational program to provide autistic individuals not only life and job training skills but also opportunities for employment and self-sufficiency in a nurturing, structured environment.
During the pre-vocational/undergraduate phase of the program, interests, skills and competencies are identified and assessed. Basic job and life skills training is provided to help individuals attain the appropriate skills to obtain and keep a job. Skills taught would include, but not be limited to the following:
- Necessary life skills as they relate to securing and maintaining a job
- Organizational skills
- Preparing for the work day
- Creating home schedules
- Packing a lunch
- Obtaining transportation
- Dressing appropriately
Following the pre-vocational/undergraduate phase of the program, the goal is to match individuals to job opportunities appropriate to their skill level in the community or to a specialized apprenticeship in the Green Thumb Project.
The Green Thumb Project is a program that operates a greenhouse and florist shop where plants and flowers are grown, maintained, and arranged for retail. The program also includes a craft shop where pottery and containers for the plants and flowers are made and sold as well as bird feeders, birdhouses, and weather vanes.
The vocation/graduate phase of the program involves specialized training related to a specific job in the program. Specialized areas of training would include, but not be limited to:
- Management
- Sales
- Craftsmanship
- Pottery making
- Plant care