ORLANDO, Fla. — Only 7% of adults with autism have access to support to live outside of their family home. That’s according to a survey conducted by the Autism Housing Network.

What You Need To Know

  • Only 7% of adults with autism have access to support to live outside their family's home, Orange County Public Schools is aiming to change that with their Exceptional Student Education Transition School

  • It offers programs to Orange County residents with unique abilities to learn job skills that can translate into real careers

  • Rosen Shingle Creek partners with the school to teach their student in the hospitality industry

Orange County Public Schools is aiming to change that with their Exceptional Student Education Transition School. It offers programs to Orange County residents with unique abilities to learn job skills that can translate into real careers.

“We think of students with unique abilities not being able to do a lot of jobs out there. We don’t raise those expectations. So programs like this raise the expectations for our students. The more that we give them, they’ll rise up to the occasion and work to be more independent,” said Bonnie Segal, Resource Teacher for ESE Transition School.

The program helps teach students life skills before they age out. According to the Child Mind Institute, aging out is a forced transition into being a disabled adult where they may be eligible for new programs while being too old for others.

Rosen Shingle Creek partners with the school to teach their students all about the hospitality industry.

One such student is Elijah Gomez. He isn’t letting his autism diagnosis define him. That’s why he became a student at Orange County Public Schools’ ESE Transition School. He’s now in his third year in the program and is learning what it takes to be an independent adult.

“I want to learn job skills,” said Gomez.

This year he’s taking on skills related to the hospitality industry. Everything from housekeeping to banquets Gomez has you covered. He said he hopes this training leads to a career at the Disney Parks.

“I like helping others,” said Gomez, “setting up chairs in a row and also pick up trash from the ground.”

Gomez told News 13 how important this program is for young adults with unique abilities. It’s 5-days where students are at a business for the full school day. Really getting those skills that can translate to a job. Accessibility is an important factor, therefore transportation is provided for each student. Many of these students get full or part-time employment after graduating from the program.

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