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Twins Cole and Sarah were born at 25 weeks, each one weighing barely more than a pound. You can imagine the anxiety, the uncertainty any parent would feel, wanting the best for their children but not getting any definitive answers over what would or could be.

Over time, each child was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and some developmental challenges. That didn’t hold either Sarah or Cole back from going to their local school, and after graduation, attending the Hopkins Transitions Plus program (offered to young adults with disabilities ages 18-21 through Hopkins and St. Louis Park school districts). 

But when that was done, they weren’t quite ready for the next phase. “They needed something to fill the gap between what they had learned up to that point, and actually going out into the world,” said their mom, Kathy.

Fortunately, a teacher in the Transitions program recommended investigating Franklin Capstone, the adult programming component of Franklin Center’s integrated approach for neurodiverse individuals. 

Franklin Capstone was created to help high school graduates prepare to move into the adult world, in a variety of ways, from social emotional to job readiness to independent living skills. “It’s not that there was a gap in programming in the Twin Cities metro,” said director Mike Faeth. “Many public school districts offer quality transitions programs. But we knew there weren’t enough quality options for parents and students, and that at 21 or 22, many people continue to benefit from having a community.”

That was exactly the case for Kathy’s family. 

“Capstone is a perfect fit to bridge that gap,” said Kathy. “It’s expanding on what they know, but it’s not just academics. And it’s not just cooking, or just social, or just job readiness. It’s truly a holistic approach.”

 

A Daily Difference

When it comes to school, the focus is always on the future — what does the student want to do, what will they be able to do? But the current experience matters, too. Kathy sees a daily difference. “Every day when I pick them up they’re smiling, they’re chatting. They work hard but it’s fun for them. They laugh and they learn.” 

What other differences does she see, beyond the fun factor? 

“The biggest change I’ve seen with Cole since beginning Capstone is that he is more confident and he advocates for himself,” said Kathy. “Sarah has become more socially mature and has dreams for her future.”

And the change isn’t just in attitudes; it’s tangible, too. “Both of them now initiate household tasks, such as the dishes and laundry. This is huge for me!”

 

Career Preparation: Tailored Guidance

Jake Miller is an Employment Support Specialist who’s helping Cole pursue his interest in the retail/grocery industry as a potential career option. (In addition to professionals like Jake, who help with career exploration, Capstone is also a registered provider of employment-related services through Minnesota Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services.)

“When I started working with Cole, we were in the introductory phase, determining what his interests are,” said Jake. “Then we started developing workplace readiness for the kinds of skills he would need for those areas of interest. Now we’re in the job search phase, applying for positions and preparing for interviews.”

Working one-on-one, Jake helps students look for jobs, apply for them, prepare for interviews, and stay on top of the search process. If a Capstone student isn’t ready for a job, that’s not a program requirement. The team also facilitates and supports participants with volunteer opportunities so students can get a sense of what a particular job might involve (whether they’re in job search mode or not). Sarah previously volunteered at a hotel in the laundry division, where her brother currently volunteers, and now volunteers at a fitness facility, keeping the environment clean for its members.

“We try to meet people based on where they are and what their goals are,” said Jake. “We talk through what kinds of things they’re interested in and what kinds of skills they need to be successful.” 

Another benefit of being in a full-time program at Capstone (other options are available through the Flex program), is that Jake sees Cole every day, even though they only meet once a week. “It’s convenient for both of us that I can just check in or if I need to print something off and give it to him, I can just walk to his classroom and hand it to him.”

 

Beyond the Job: Life Skills

While Jake and other staff focus on career preparation, other team members help with life skills – like home repairs and bank accounts.

While Kristen McLean, Social and Community Engagement Instructor, focuses on tactical daily needs (like how to line up a ride with Metro Mobility, for example), the skills she teaches are truly foundational. 

“We focus on how you regulate yourself to then figure out the problem-solving steps you need to take as an adult,” explained Kristen. “Whether that’s maintaining your finances or your apartment, we help them learn how to break things down into steps, and then how to assess what actions to take.”

The team also weaves in – and focuses on – relationships. For example one of the modules Kristen teaches walks through what’s appropriate and what isn’t for different types of relationships: family, close friends, co-workers, acquaintances, and so on. With the smaller class sizes at Capstone, the entire group can engage and participate.

“In life and in general, it’s a big thing to know how to be social and how to be authentic while being appropriate around other people,” said Kristen. 

“I absolutely love it here at Capstone because we all have the same end goal for them, to live their lives on their terms. As much as I would love to be teaching them forever,” she added, “we meet them where they are to help them get to where they want to be – and that means being a lifelong learner, but not necessarily a student.”

 

From a Mom’s Perspective

When Kathy reflects on the future for Cole and Sarah, she puts it this way. “I don’t dream for them because I don’t want to put a cap on it. They have surpassed everybody’s expectations, from being born so early and so tiny. No one expected them to be where they are. So I don’t want to limit it. Capstone is cultivating purpose, independence, and community. That’s going to grow into a life for each of them.”

 

For families navigating the uncertainty of post-high school transitions, Capstone offers a path forward. Learn more about our programs here.

And you can find more stories on our blog here.