Why MICC?
Holt chose MICC because it offered him a unique opportunity to build the skills necessary for independent living. When asked about his decision to attend MICC, Holt said:
“I choose MICC because I have autism. To help me learn independent skills such as cooking and cleaning since I didn’t know how to do that before MICC. I’m originally from Texas, and there were no programs like MICC near there.”
Exploring Career Paths
Holt chose the Hospitality certificate as part of the Careers curriculum through MICC College, and the program allowed him to gain practical experience through various internships and job site visits. He described his career exploration process: “I took this one career exploration class my (first year), where I got to learn about the four certificates before actually choosing one. After I chose my certificate program, I had to visit some places to do my practicum sites, which is also an internship.”
Through his work at Ebenezer, Great Wolf, and Good Grocer, Holt developed skills ranging from stocking shelves to greeting guests to playing bingo with seniors. The hands-on approach helped him build confidence and discover his strengths.
The Support of MICC
MICC provided Holt with the resources and support he needed to manage the challenges that come with being autistic and learning to live independently. He highlighted some of the ways MICC helped him: “MICC has helped me with my autistic needs like transportation, laundry, and stress and anxiety management. Staff have been supportive, helping me focus on skill-building assignments and providing communication strategies for talking to many different types of people.”
Developing Independence and Confidence
As Holt nears graduation, he reflects on the journey and the community at MICC that has made a significant impact on his life. He shared how the experience at MICC helped him embrace his autism and become more confident: “MICC taught me that my Autism is something to be proud of. My differences are also my strengths. The community at MICC is made up of people like me who are accepting and who are good friends.”