Press-Telegram: Long Beach Program Empowers Autistic Youths to Pursue Dreams in Real World

Kevin Wright’s passion is amusement parks and he knew just about everything there was to know about Disneyland.

And, so, when he was hired last fall to work at the Happiest Place on Earth, new-employee orientation didn’t reveal anything he didn’t already know.

But the 24-year-old man might not have landed his dream job had he not been in a Long Beach program that helps autistic high school graduates make the leap to college and the job market.

Photo above: Parker Franco, 22, of Vista, shows his art work in the art corner. His paintings are on display at the College Internship Program (CIP) of Long Beach, a program which helps autistic kids prepare for college, prepare for entering the job market and learn how to live with roommates independent from their parents. Long Beach. May 24, 2017. (Photo by Thomas R. Cordova, Press-Telegram/SCNG)