NFAR Works

Our specialized vocational program, NFAR Works, offers autistic individuals in San Diego the opportunity to explore their true potential.

This program focuses on job readiness and workplace skills for autistic adults. Through hard and soft skills training, work experience, and job search preparation, participants learn the necessary skills to start building a fulfilling career in an area that interests them.

The program offers participants the opportunity to explore job types while strengthening skills needed for many entry level positions. Soft skills are an essential part of our vocational training. These are taught in small groups and reinforced throughout the program through a variety of fun activities designed to strengthen social skills, communication methods, responsibility, and teamwork.

This year-long program helps prepare participants to take that next step — to employment, school or other pursuits — with greater knowledge of the workplace and with increased confidence and self-reliance.

Through our NFAR WORKS PROGRAM individuals will receive:

An instructor teaching electronics assembly and testing, which are among the best jobs for autistic adults, in the NFAR Works program.

Job Skills Training

Participants explore and learn job skills across a variety of industries, including working with Microsoft Office Suite, data management systems and office equipment for office environments, and work processes for light industrial and distribution centers.

An instructor providing soft skills coaching, essential for the best jobs for autistic adults, during an NFAR Works training session.

Soft Skills Training

Soft skills are a large part of our program, which includes an executive functioning and evidence-based cognitive enhancement curriculum, as well as exercises to strengthen professional communication and social expectations in the workplace. Soft skills are taught in small groups with one-to-one assistance.

Participants at the NFAR Works Copy Center practicing office administration tasks, often listed among the best jobs for autistic adults.

Work Experience

Real work projects and work samples are used throughout the program to help participants gain real work experience and find what types of work are of interest to them.

NFAR Works participants and instructors visiting Chef Works to explore some of the best jobs for autistic adults in San Diego.

Job Search Preparation

Participants learn about the job market. They create a resume to reflect their new training and experience, and practice for job interviews. Industry guest speakers and tours enhance the participants’ understanding of the workplace.

Participant Qualifications

Our program serves neurodiverse young adults 18+ that are:

  • Age 18 years and over
  • High school graduates
  • Interested in working or attending college
  • Able to obtain reliable transportation

  • Able to arrive and depart from the program independently and on time

  • Able to complete simple tasks independently with verbal or written directions
  • Able to refrain from behaviors that are disruptive to the learning environment
  • Able to communicate with staff and others

Program Details

  • 4-6:1 participant to instructor ratio
  • 4 hours per day, Monday through Friday
  • 12 month program
  • Hands-on skill building and work projects
  • Includes whole group instruction and computer based learning

NFAR’s Vocational Training Center is conveniently located in the Scripps Ranch area of San Diego just off the I-15 freeway and Carroll Canyon Road, and with MTS bus service from the Miramar College transit center.

Participants in the NFAR Works program training for the best jobs for autistic adults in the supply chain and logistics industry.
A participant practicing computer skills, often cited among the best jobs for autistic adults, during an NFAR Works vocational session.

Interest Form

Are you interested in signing up for one of the programs? Please fill out an interest form to start the process. We will arrange to have you come in, tour the programs, and learn more.

FAQs

NFAR Works is a year-long vocational training program designed to help neurodivergent young adults gain the job skills, soft skills, and work experience needed to pursue employment, college, or other career paths.

The program is open to neurodiverse young adults who are 18 or older, have a high school diploma, can travel to the program independently, and are interested in working or attending college.

Participants develop job skills across multiple industries, including Microsoft Office, data management, and light industrial work. The program also focuses heavily on soft skills like communication, teamwork, responsibility, and professional workplace behavior.

NFAR Works is located at NFAR’s Vocational Training Center in the Scripps Ranch area of San Diego, just off the I-15 freeway and Carroll Canyon Road, with MTS bus access from Miramar College transit center.

You can get started by filling out an interest form on the NFAR website. NFAR will then arrange a tour of the program so you can learn more before enrolling.