Individual job and social skill goals are determined by participants, speech pathologists and BCBA's. Participants learn real life skills, work on personal goals, and gain greater comprehension of social rules and workplace expectations. Skills focus on time management, conflict resolution, understanding body language, acknowledging others,  conceptual processing, friendship, being a team player, work ethics, money management and more. 

Instructors help participants set goals, teach and explain what specific behaviors look like and why they are important, model desired behaviors and practice them. Classroom instruction is paired with community outings, which lets these skills be applied in the real world.

While many parents may feel their young adult could never be able to use tools, SEEDs has built a very structured and user friendly environment to do just this. The steps are broken down and safety is made a top priority. Instructors work on a 1:1 ratio, establishing rules and skill levels.   

The wood department remains a favorite for most participants, as they learn from mentors who thrive on sharing their talents and skills. Product and skill diversity allows for learners to blossom as they exhibit greater comfort and experience. So many skills and product options allow for expanded opportunities and spectacular gift items.

The ceramic department serves a multiple of purposes for our participants. On a skill building level, it is designed to accomplish success through teaching how to follow instructions, working on hand and eye coordination, practicing fine motor skills, developing social skills as well as other important job skills. When it comes to products, the ceramics department soars as a favorite among the community. 

The unique and creative items made are treasured gift items for any special person, co-worker, or friend. This department is a fabulous outlet for building self esteem, as the process is broken into manageable steps and skills are built upon as they learn.

In our computer lab the participants learn a variety of skills with hands on instruction. Skills range from basic computer use, creating fliers as well as how to use programs such as Word, PowerPoint and Excel.

Many of these computer skills are paired with social skills instruction to help our students better comprehend and take ownership of skills they have learned. Leadership skills are also a part of this instruction, as participants share what they have learned with their peers.

Sewing participants learn how to create patterns, use pins, correct mistakes, follow instructions and work as a team as well as design many different products. Instructions are broken down step by step and patiently taught. This is such an important life skill, and the department instructor develops creative ways to teach proficiency and greater independence. 

At SEEDs participants learn the art of weaving in a variety of skillsets. We have floor looms, a table loom, inkle looms, rigid heddle looms, and hats are made with the knitting-in-the-round looms. Members of the Telarana Fiber Arts Guild teach basic techniques to more complex as they gain better understanding of the process. There are many steps to this skill including throwing the shuttle, and how to have a consistent beat suitable for the item being woven. They make towels, hats, scarves, place mats, table runners and more. 

Through group interaction and learning how to use small hand tools, this department teaches a wide variety of important life, job, and social skills. Steps are broken down to allow growth and comprehension of the tasks necessary to be successful.  Visual instruction and repetition of the necessary steps teaches students how to overcome personal frustrations and discover their capabilities of perseverance and achieving goals. The products and projects vary from simple and elegant, to more complex and unique.

Individual job and social skill goals are determine by participants, Speech Pathologists and BCBA's. Participants learn real life skills, work on personal goals, and gain greater comprehension of social rules and workplace expectations. Skills focus on time management, conflict resolution, understanding body language, acknowledging others,  conceptual processing skills, being a friend, being a team player, work ethics, money management, and more. 

Instructors help participants set goals, teach and explain what specific behaviors look like and why they are important, model desired behaviors, and practice them. Community outings paired with classroom instruction are emphasized, making skills more familiar.

This department strives to teach a variety of more difficult skills such as being able to execute refined and timely instructions, precision, concentration on quality as well as your surrounding and being aware of the demands of working with welding and forging tools. Welding is a lucrative career, and can pave the way towards many possibilities. 

The instructors take training very seriously and spaces are limited. A wide variety of the SEEDs products for garden and home are made within this department. Special and unique items are designed and created in collaboration with the Wood and Ceramics Departments.   

Businesses have many jobs and tasks are required to keep things moving forward. Marketing and social media are just a few of these important jobs.

Our participants work alongside professionals to better understand these concepts through research, critical thinking, outlining, writing, designing and other activities. The scope of their training and outreach teaches them how to write our newsletter. They learn how to inform the community of our events, products as well as what they've learned by posting on our Facebook page.

They get to reach worldwide readers with blog posts they create, and learn about product photography, layouts and so much more. These skills help them work in teams to problem solve, keep them focused as they work towards deadlines, and introduces concepts that allow them to communicate important facts and information to a vast and diverse audience.  

Learning to cook and prepare meals is an important life skill and a step toward independence for those on the autism spectrum. In the Culinary Department at SEEDs, participants learn kitchen safety, proper food handling, meal planning, good nutrition and so much more! Under the guidance of experienced instructors, students learn how to follow recipes, measure ingredients and safely operate kitchen equipment as they create a variety of healthy, delicious sweet and savory items. Our Culinary Department also offers training to obtain an Arizona Food Handlers Card to open the door for employment opportunities!

We are so excited to introduce our new Screen Printing Department at SEEDs for Autism!

With guidance from our experienced staff, SEEDs participants have embraced the popular technique of screen-printing for creating high-quality t-shirts, tote bags and a variety of other exciting products. Utilizing their creativity, attention to detail and focus, the talented adults at SEEDs for Autism are ready to fulfill orders for small businesses, special events and so much more!

The Screen Printing department at SEEDs provides adults on the autism spectrum with hands-on experience as they learn a variety of marketable job skills in a real-life work environment.

Support our local nonprofit organization for in-house printing at competitive prices!

Please contact sales@seedsforautism.org or call 602-253-4471

Thanks to a generous grant from Thunderbird Charities, our Video and Media Lab has been a great addition to the curriculum at SEEDs for Autism. This exciting department focuses on developing and practicing social skills through the use of technology and new media formats such as video production, animation and computer arts. Staying current with new innovations in communication and information, participants utilize computers, cameras and video to share their stories, connect with others and document all the exciting things happening at SEEDs for Autism. This popular department helps students develop valuable job skills in the field of graphic design, marketing and media.

Developing Job Skills is a vital part of our program at SEEDs for Autism. Working in the Distribution Department empowers students with language and actions to appropriately interact with managers, co-workers and customers. This unique department provides participants with hands-on experience as they learn a variety of marketable job skills in a real-life business environment. Through the production and sale of our beautifully hand-crafted home and garden products, participants learn how to process payments, fulfill orders, provide excellent customer service, manage inventory and more.