Mentoring for Autistic Young Adults

Mentoring for autistic young adults pairs one consistent mentor with a young adult to work on goals they choose: work, school, routines, money and independent living. Sessions can follow the same structure every week, by video anywhere in the United States or in person in Los Angeles. It is not therapy or a day program, and families are involved in the way the young adult chooses.

This page is part of our wider young adult transition program, which supports young adults moving from school into work, college and independent life.

Who it is for, and who it is not for

Mentoring tends to fit autistic young adults, or young adults on the autism spectrum who may not use that term, who:

Have finished high school or are close, and want help with what comes next.
Are in college, starting work or looking for a first job.
Want more independence in daily routines, money or living on their own.
Do best with a consistent person, clear plans and predictable sessions.
Want to take part. Mentoring works when the young adult is choosing it, not just their family.

Mentoring is not the right fit, on its own, for someone who needs clinical care, behavioral therapy, daily supervision or a structured day program. Those needs belong with licensed professionals and specialized services, and a mentor can work alongside them. If anxiety, depression or burnout is part of the picture, a licensed professional is the right step. In a crisis, call or text 988.

What a mentor works on

The young adult sets the goals, and the mentor helps break them into small weekly steps. Common areas include:

Work: choosing jobs that fit, applications, interview practice and settling into a first job.
School: a weekly study routine, using campus supports and staying on top of deadlines; see autistic college students.
Daily routines: sleep, meals, getting out the door and planning the week.
Money: budgeting, paying bills and handling a bank account.
Independent living: cooking, laundry, appointments and preparing to move out; see independent living skills.
Self-advocacy: practicing how to ask for what you need from a professor, manager or landlord.
Relationships and social goals, only if the young adult wants to work on them, and at their own pace.

The approach builds on strengths and interests. The aim is not to change who someone is; it is to make the next step in their life more manageable.

Can sessions be structured and predictable?

Yes. Predictability is something to plan for from the first session, not an afterthought. Things families and young adults often ask about, and that we talk through on the intro call:

The same mentor every time, on the same day and time each week.
Following the same order in every session, such as check-in, review the week, then plan next steps.
Ending each session with the agreed steps written down, so nothing depends on memory.
Choosing how contact happens between sessions: text, phone or both.
Advance notice of any schedule change.
Talking through preferences about camera, setting or session length up front.

Tell us on the intro call what helps and what gets in the way, and we plan around it.

What it looks like week to week

Each young adult works with one dedicated mentor. Sessions are 30 or 60 minutes, weekly or several times a week, with text and phone contact between sessions for reminders and quick questions. Families choose a weekly plan (billed week to week) or a monthly plan; we do not publish prices, and rates are reviewed on the free intro call.

Video or in person in Los Angeles? It depends on the person. Video works anywhere in the United States, keeps the young adult in a familiar space and cuts out travel. In-person sessions in Los Angeles suit people who find face-to-face conversation easier or want a change of setting. Some families mix the two. See virtual mentoring for how video sessions work.

Take a short assessment. Tell us about the student or yourself and the goals. It takes about five minutes.
Have a free intro call. Our team reviews it personally and sets up a short call.
Meet the mentor. We match each person with a mentor whose experience and style fit.
Start the plan. 30 or 60 minute video sessions on a weekly or monthly plan, scheduled in your local time.

How families are involved

Families often make the first call, and parents or guardians are welcome on the intro call. After that, the young adult decides how involved family is. With their permission, the mentor shares regular progress updates, so parents can step back from reminding and checking without losing touch. With the same permission, the mentor can coordinate with others already involved, such as a clinician, transition planner or vocational counselor. See for families and how progress updates work. Parents planning ahead may find our transition to adulthood guide useful.

How this differs from other options

Therapy: a licensed clinician treats mental health conditions. A mentor works on practical goals and routines and does not provide therapy, and no diagnosis is needed to start.
Day programs: offer group activities and supervision for set hours. Mentoring is one-on-one and fits around school, work and home life.
Job coaches: often support someone on a specific job site. A mentor supports the whole week, including the parts of life around work.
Residential or full transition programs: move the young adult into a program setting. Mentoring keeps them where they live; see an alternative to failure to launch programs.

Questions to ask any mentoring provider

Will the young adult work with the same mentor every week?
How do you keep sessions predictable, and how are schedule changes handled?
Who sets the goals, and how is the young adult’s voice kept central?
What do you share with family, and who decides?
What do you not do, and when would you suggest a licensed professional?
How do you work with clinicians or transition staff already involved?
How are fees structured, and can we change plans?

Common questions

Do you need an autism diagnosis to work with a mentor?

No. Mentoring is practical, goal-based support rather than a clinical service, so no diagnosis is required.

Is mentoring the same as therapy for autistic young adults?

No. Therapy is clinical care from a licensed professional. A mentor helps with goals, routines, work, school and independence, and can coordinate with a therapist with the young adult’s permission.

Can parents be involved?

Yes, as the young adult chooses. Parents can join the intro call and, with permission, receive regular progress updates.

Do you offer in-person mentoring?

Yes, in Los Angeles. Video sessions are available anywhere in the United States, scheduled in your local time zone.

Get started

Wondering whether mentoring fits your son or daughter, or yourself? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.