Vocational Training for Adults with Special Needs: The best vocational training programs for disabled in 2018 (from Vocational Training).

Able-Disabled Advocacy, Inc. provides vocational skills training and educational advancement for youth, military veterans, and adults with disabilities and to assist them in finding employment and overcoming barriers to personal and financial self-sufficiency. (San Diego, CA)

Amatrol creates innovative, interactive learning solutions for industry and education to equip people with the skills to master technical systems, solve problems and adapt to a rapidly-changing workplace. We partner with our clients to provide an unmatched learning experience.  Includes a CNC Machine Operator Training Program (available virtually) and a Certified Production Technician Program.

Aspiritech : provides training and internships leading to careers in Accessibility, IT and Quality Assurance testing for neurodiverse individuals.  Has both in-person and remote training programs.

Blue Star Recyclers: recycles electronics and other materials to create local jobs for people with autism and other disAbilities. (Denver, CO)

Build with TACT programs lead to employable jobs + lasting careers that are personally fulfilling and suited to each individual’s strengths.  Career workshops include auto mechanics, carpentry, electrical, welding, and computer science. (Denver, CO)

Code for All Minds; Through an innovative and mostly online and free curriculum, aims to empower students with disabilities globally to uncover and develop their coding talents.

Daivergent is unlocking the unique aptitude of people with neurodiversity and disability, delivering vocational, social, and life skills training through its innovative platform

Exceptional Minds Studio: nonprofit vocational school and working studio that prepares young adults on the autism spectrum for careers in digital animation and visual effects. EMS also provides paid work for graduates. (Sherman Oaks, CA)

FIRST® Access: engaged in developing strategies, collaborations, grants, and initiatives that remove barriers and ensure greater access to FIRST programs so that all youth can participate.

Fly Brave Foundation offers employment training for adults with developmental disabilities that have aged out of the school system, focusing on three essential building blocks; vocational training, social/life skills, and living a healthy lifestyle through fitness programs..  (Sacramento, CA)

Genius Armoury offers numerous cybersecurity training programs for particular populations, including neroudivergents, verterans, high schoolers, and returning workers.

Genius Armoury – Cyber Security Guardians for Neroudivergents offers a series of virtual training modules in cybersecurity.

Global Career Development Facilitator: the first and most notable national credential in the field of career development.

Growing Together Aquaponics provides individuals with disabilities with job-training skills leading to competitive, integrated employment. Aquaponics is a hybrid system from hydroponics (growing of plants in water) and aquaculture (raising of fish in high density). (Mercer, PA)

Insurance Jobs Training and Hiring Program: 3-week virtual training and job placement and support for NeuroTalentWorks neuro(diversity) in insurance program (California)

IT Cybersecurity Academy: The Verdugo Jobs Center can provide hands-on training for individuals with disabilities for the high demand jobs in Information Technology.  Information sessions every Tuesday, 10am, at VJC. (Glendale, CA)

JoyDew: JoyDew provides much more than a day program for adults with autism. It enables them to have a fulfilling work and personal life, with the ability to communicate expressively, feel accepted, have community and friendships, and enjoy a meaningful career.  (Ridgewood, NJ)

Learning Independence for Future Employment (LIFE) Program: The LIFE program provides training, support and community integration programming to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The goal of our two-year program is to offer students classroom and practical learning opportunities in and outside of the community college environment that will prepare them to transition into independent adults. (Sierra College, Rocklin, CA)

Lost Angels Career Center is a non-profit that serves disadvantaged youth, families, and distressed communities through innovative vocational training, social enterprise, and traditional outreach programs. What We Offer (Lancaster, CA)

Melwood is a dynamic nonprofit providing jobs and opportunities for people with disabilities for over 50 years and counting in the greater Washington, DC area.

Melwood ABILIT is designed to prepare people with disabilities to enter careers in technology fields, including cybersecurity and data labeling.

Mind Shift helps businesses employ the strengths of people on the autism spectrum.  Provide job readiness training and match individuals to needs of businesses. (Fargo, ND + Milwaukee, WI + Minneapolis, MN + Denver, CO)

MindSpark Training Academy: provides vocational training and jobs in software testing to talented and qualified individuals with specialized abilities, particularly young adults on the autism spectrum. (Los Angeles, CA)

The MITRE Corporation- Neurodiversity@Work webpage provides listing of numerous vocational education programs in the Maryland and Virginia area.

NASA’s Neurodiversity Network (N3) is providing a pathway to NASA participation and STEM employment for neurodiverse learners, with a focus on those on the autism spectrum.

National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) is a professional association representing individual workforce development and human resources practitioners, who connect jobseekers, educators and companies to advance the American economy.

The National Career Development Association (NCDA) provides professional development, publications, standards, and advocacy to practitioners and educators who inspire and empower individuals to achieve their career and life goals.

Project LIFE: Project SEARCH is a business-based program that prepares young people with significant disabilities for success in competitive integrated employment. Utilizing evidence-based practices, the combination of Project LIFE® and Project SEARCH® provides a comprehensive, multi-year continuum of transition programming that leads to greater individual growth, independence and competitive employment. (in multiple states)

Rising Tide Car Wash: Our expert employees with autism will make your car look brand new and you’ll leave knowing that your purchase helped provide a chance for our team to prove how capable they are. (locations in Parkland, Margate, and Coral Springs, FL)

SME Education Foundation: exposes youth to modern manufacturing technologies, trains students on relevant manufacturing processes, and awards millions of dollars in scholarships annually.

Spectrum Design Foundation: Spectrum Designs is a custom apparel and promotional products business with a social mission – to create meaningful and inclusive employment and vocational training opportunities for people in a neurodiverse world. More than 50% of their workforce is on the Autism Spectrum. (locations in Port Washington and Pleasantville, NY).

The Spero Vineyards Viticulture Vocational Training program is dedicated to providing opportunities for young adults with developmental disabilities. (Pasadena, CA)

Taimahi: Provides on the job training for young adults with disabilities by creating and operating micro-businesses for them to learn to work in. Click here to see video.  (Whangarei, Northland, New Zealand)

NSITE provides a continuum of employment services that connect employers with talented, dedicated people who are blind, visually impaired, and/or veterans to meet their workforce needs.

Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs® is the charitable foundation of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International® (FMA). Our purpose is to support individuals in discovering their interest in manufacturing and to encourage the pursuit of a manufacturing career. With over 100 summer camps taking place in technical high schools and community colleges across the U.S., students gain exposure to hands-on learning, manufacturing facilities, and the skills needed for high-tech manufacturing careers.

The Prospector is a non-profit providing competitive and inclusive employment for people with disabilities through the operation of a first-run movie theater and online popcorn business.  See “Change Starts With a Spark” (video).  (Ridgefield, CT)

The Uniquely Abled Project: A national non-profit commited to shifting the paradigm from “disabled” to “uniquely abled, and the creation of vocational opportunities for the uniquely abled by matching their unique abilities to jobs in demand.   Click here for The Uniquely Abled Project Facebook page.

TITANS of CNC: free on-line CNC Academy which will teach you how to design in CAD, program in CAM and CNC Machine parts that matter in the industry.  Also, every episode of TITANS of CNC available under the TITAN TV tab.

Untapped: Bringing together organisations passionate about the inclusion of neurodivergent individuals in the workplace.  Creating a sustainable neurodiverse employment ecosystem.  A huge number of resources listed.

Varsity Tutors: Whether your child struggles with dyslexia, ADD, or any other learning difference, they learn in unique ways and have unique needs. They deserve a personalized approach from an educator who knows where to focus and knows how to work with IEPs and 504 plans. That’s where we come in.

Workshop for Warriors trains, certifies, and helps place Veterans, Wounded Warriors, and Transitioning Service Members into advanced manufacturing careers. Students earn nationally recognized portable and stackable credentials. (San Diego, CA)