Workforce Training
Have Dreams Academy
Have Dreams Academy (HDA) is a workforce training program at our Evanston location for adults with high-functioning autism. Through our Autism-specific curriculum, combined with a hands-on internship, each participant will build the soft skills needed to prepare them for work in the competitive job market.
Would you like to see if Have Dreams Academy is right for you? Read through our FAQ’s here. Please reach out to Andrea at ajohnsen@havedreams.org if interested.
This program has been made possible, in part, through a grant from NEXT for AUTISM.
Confidence • Independence • Teamwork
• Time Management • Relationship Building • Accepting Feedback • Requesting Help
Drew’s Story
Drew graduated from the inaugural Have Dreams Academy class in 2014. Upon completing his internship at the I Love Sweets commercial bakery in Evanston, he proved a strong addition to the team and was offered a job at the conclusion of the program. Over time, Drew's responsibilities expanded, including moving beyond his work on the production side of the businesses to helping with administrative tasks like inventory and data entry. Drew now works as a team lead, assisting new Have Dreams Academy interns as they acclimate to the work environment and helping them with their training
Have Dreams Academy
Planners for Have Dreams Academy participants are designed to maintain structure through positive activities as we navigate the change in routine and work to reduce social isolation.
Hiring partners include:
