Nineteen-year-old Wei, a young adult with developmental disabilities, starts his mornings with a 6:30 AM alarm that gets snoozed a few times before he’s out of bed at 7:12 AM, ready to pursue his professional goals. Wei is a client of The Arc San Francisco. Through our Workforce Development Program, he secured a paid internship at the California Academy of Sciences. Five days a week, he puts on his uniform, and his dad drives him to work.

Wei makes sure he arrives to work on time and presents himself responsibly. These are skills he learned through The Arc SF’s transition-age youth workshops. “If you’re not on time,” he says, “you could get F-I-R-E-D if it keeps happening.” He takes pride in showing up well-groomed and in uniform, knowing it’s important to “dress nice” and look professional.

The Arc SF maintains a vital internship partnership with the California Academy of Sciences, where Wei receives daily support and feedback tailored to his growth. Staff and peers at The Arc SF have helped him build job skills and navigate workplace expectations.

He has learned to return from breaks on time, ask for help before taking on tasks outside his scope, and avoid impulsive comments. His mentor, Cas, an older intern, also provides guidance. The internship is customized to support Wei’s development, and he plans to transition from custodial work to Guest Experience.

The Uncertainty Before the Opportunity

Before Wei had the chance to build these habits, his future was uncertain. His mom, Kelly, was deeply concerned. She knew that without a clear next step after graduation, Wei risked more than boredom. He could lose momentum, confidence, and self-esteem. He could regress and face growing anxiety about entering the real world and workplace.

Determined to prevent that, Kelly began reaching out. A full year before Wei graduated, she contacted four different organizations, including The Arc SF.

Despite her efforts, Wei was placed on The Arc SF’s waitlist, left wondering, “Am I gonna get in or not?” It’s a question that reflects the uncertainty faced by so many families today.

Wei and part of his support team at The Arc San Francisco!

While Kelly was worried about Wei being left behind, The Arc SF’s Intake Coordinator, Vanessa Baioco, helped move his intake forward with care and urgency. Vanessa didn’t just answer questions. She called regularly with updates, responded quickly and thoroughly, and helped find creative solutions so Wei could start as soon as a slot was available. Kelly shares, “I had a lot of questions. Sometimes five or six a week. Vanessa always responded with great detail and helped us feel seen and supported.”

Transportation wasn’t immediately available, but Kelly and her family found creative solutions to get Wei to work. Their persistence helped move his intake forward and ensured he could begin services as soon as a slot opened.

Kelly also stayed proactive, communicating regularly with The Arc SF, GGRC, and the transportation company to keep Wei’s case moving forward. That persistence helped bring Wei’s intake to the forefront and ensured he could begin services as soon as possible.

Today, that shift is clear.

Wei has grown in confidence, emotional regulation, and independence. He is navigating real workplace challenges and taking pride in his role.

Ask him about the hardest part of his internship, and he’ll tell you: “When I clean all the bathrooms and then I go back and they are dirty again. I think, oh darn, I just cleaned that.”

It’s a relatable frustration and a sign of a truly engaged working adult.



As Kelly puts it, “I really feel like you guys care. It’s not just a program. You care about the person and what they need and try to help them.”

Workforce Development at The Arc San Francisco is about more than job placement. It’s about helping people build the skills, confidence, and support systems they need to move forward.

But not everyone has access to that support right away.

Many adults with developmental disabilities are still waiting for services, navigating uncertainty as they look for their next step.

Wei’s story shows what can happen when that opportunity becomes available.

A Future That Feels Possible

From wondering if he would get in, to showing up to work every day with purpose, responsibility, and pride.

Because a job is more than a paycheck.

It’s routine.

It’s confidence.

It’s independence.

It’s a future that feels possible.