Sierra School Students Gain Real-World Job Skills Through Community Partnerships
Adult Transition Program Community Partnerships at Sierra
Sierra School of San Diego’s Adult Transition program partners with local businesses to give students meaningful, real-world work experience while building vocational, social, and independence skills. Through partnerships with Brew Spot, a neighborhood coffee shop, and AEFCT (Autism Experts Empowering Families & Children Together), an autism services business office, students practice job skills that align with their individual transition plans and long-term goals.
Community-Based Job Placements Build Independence
Sierra has partnered with AEFCT for over 10 years in a variety of capacities and launched its partnership with Brew Spot in December 2022. Students typically participate in community-based job placements in groups of two to three, accompanied by a Sierra job coach, for one hour per week. Students hold each job for the length of the school year before rotating to a new placement, allowing them to develop a broader range of skills and add meaningful experience to their resumes.
“Community-based work experiences play a critical role in preparing our students for life after Sierra,” said Nicole Luster, associate director, Sierra School of San Diego. “These placements give students the chance to interact with the public and non-disabled peers, build vocational skills, and work toward greater independence.”
Real-World Job Skills in Public and Office Settings
At both worksites, students complete tasks such as light cleaning, organizing, prepping materials, and greeting customers. At Brew Spot, students work in a busy, public-facing environment, helping with washing dishes, cleaning tables, watering plants, and maintaining shared spaces. Several students naturally took on social roles by opening doors for customers and offering greetings. One student, Dalvin, has also helped train a newer student, demonstrating leadership and growing confidence. Staff have noted that some students are able to complete tasks independently with minimal support from their job coach.
At AEFCT, students gain experience in an office setting by shredding paper, filing, sorting materials, and cleaning and labeling toys. AEFCT Executive Director Maryann Le said the partnership is mutually beneficial.
“It is so rewarding to watch them grow over the year in their planning, organizing, and professional skills,” Le said. “They are always a pleasure to have as part of our office environment, and we look forward to many more years of partnership.”
Family Impact of Adult Transition Program Community Partnerships
Parents have shared that participation in the work experiences leads to noticeable growth in confidence and independence. One parent said her daughter, Asha, enjoys having a job and is learning how to become more flexible with job expectations. Asha is also learning how to listen to supervisors, follow workplace rules, and adapt when tasks change.
Dalvin’s family shared that he has become more social, self-sufficient, and confident since joining Sierra and working at Brew Spot. She described how he now takes pride in responsibilities both at work and at home, enjoys telling others about his job, and has shown independence in new situations, including overnight trips away from home. She credited the program with giving him opportunities that allowed him to grow and succeed.
Blair, who recently transitioned out of the program, also had a positive experience at Brew Spot. Her family shared that she loved the job and consistently spoke highly of the staff and customers. Her parents emphasized the importance of exposing students to a variety of experiences while also giving the community opportunities to interact with people of all abilities.
“We are grateful to Brew Spot and AEFCT for their continued partnership and commitment to creating inclusive, supportive work environments that help Sierra students build skills, confidence, and a pathway toward adulthood,” said Luster.
