Welcome to Unlocking Gems National data shows after high school one third of autistic young adults are disconnected from employment or education. With aging caregivers, who experience significant stress as they work to secure their children’s long-term safety, stability, and independence, we aim to be an answer to this CRISIS. APPLY NOW That’s exactly why Unlocking Gems exists. Welcome to Unlocking Gems Welcome to Unlocking Gems APPLY NOW
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Faith Based

Divine support rooted in purpose and compassion.

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Transition Support

Helping high-functioning
individuals navigate life after high
school.

Group 1597884985 Who We Are

You’ve Always Known There Was More to Your Person’s Story

You watched them grow up different, not less, just different. You saw the spark in them that the school system couldn’t quite reach. You’ve spent years advocating, waiting, and wondering what comes next.

That’s exactly why Unlocking Gems exists.

We’re a faith-based ministry walking alongside autistic youths with lower support needs and the families who love them, offering real guidance, real community, and real hope for what life can look like after high school.

READ OUR FULL STORY
Group 1597884985 What We Offer

Six Ways We Show Up for
Your
Family

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Case Management

Your young adult receives wraparound support—from assessment and guidance to referrals, coordinated services, and if necessary advocacy for community and medical resources.

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Individual & Parental Coaching

Your young adult gets focused one-on-one coaching, and you get real support, personalized guidance, and resource navigation built for parents and guardians.

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Functional Life Skills

From hands-on cooking classes to money management basics, we build the everyday skills that turn dependence into confidence, one practical lesson at a time.

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Personal Growth & Community

Professional makeovers, scripture-based reflection, and monthly scouting activities, because confidence, faith, and community are just as essential as any vocational skill.

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Vocational Guidance

We build each participant’s resume step by step across all four months, then connect them with local job opportunities matched to their individual strengths and goals.

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Specialized Referrals & Testing

Depending on the candidate’s health insurance and needs, we connect participants directly to qualified ABA therapy providers, other specialty providers with plans underway to offer specialized diagnostic aptitude testing to uncover each person’s unique abilities if a candidate had never had one.

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Group 1597884985Why Unlocking Gems

Tired of Programs That
Treat Your Child Like a Number?

We were too. So, we built something different.

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Personalized, Not Packaged

We learn who your young adult actually is before we ever make a recommendation. Their program reflects their gifts, not a generic checklist.

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We Protect, Not Just Support

We actively advocate for participants’ well-being, including pushing back against over-medication that masks gifts instead of nurturing them.

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Faith Is the Foundation

Everything we do is rooted in the belief that God placed something specific inside every person, and our job is to help uncover it.

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This Work Only Grows When the
Community Grows with It

We can’t do this alone, and honestly,
we don’t want to. Here’s how you can
be part of what God is building here.

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Become a Volunteer

Show up consistently for young adults who need steady, caring people in their corner. Your time is one of the most powerful gifts you can give.

Sign Up Today
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Donate Now

Every dollar goes directly toward discovery, coaching, life skills, vocational training, and community for those who need it most.

Invest in Potential
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Partner With Us

If you represent a church, business, or organization that believes in this mission — let’s talk about what we can build together.

Start a Conversation
Group 1597884985TESTIMONIALS

What Families Are Saying