Press Release

For Immediate Release

April 1, 2026

Foothill College’s Tool for Transition and Work Program, Serving Neurodivergant Students, Receives State Approval for Certificate of Achievement in Independence and Career Readiness

New transcriptable certificate formally recognizes the work neurodivergent students do to build independence, career readiness, and readiness for adult life

Los Altos Hills, CA — Foothill College’s Tools for Transition & Work (TTW) program has received state approval for a new Certificate of Achievement in Independence and Career Readiness, marking a significant milestone for the long-standing program.

The new certificate establishes TTW as a state-approved, transcriptable, one-year program. Through an intensive, cohort-based sequence, students complete more than 40 units focused on communication, digital literacy, financial and life skills, health and wellness, work experience, and personal development. The curriculum emphasizes executive functioning, self-advocacy, and workplace readiness to support independent academic and career pathways.

This approval represents the culmination of a five-year effort to modernize and streamline the program, bringing together faculty and students from across the college to create a more intentional and cohesive pathway for neurodivergent young adults. The updated structure also strengthens inclusive teaching practices across disciplines.

For years, TTW has supported students in building skills for employment, further education, and independent living. The new Certificate of Achievement now provides formal college recognition for that work.

“While the TTW program has successfully supported students for years, the creation of a transcriptable certificate is a critical next step,” said Benjamin Kaupp, faculty lead for TTW. “This gives students formal recognition for work that has always mattered. It says clearly that growth in independence, self-advocacy, executive functioning, and career readiness is real college achievement.”

As a state-approved Career Technical Education program, TTW is also recognized as a structured workforce pathway, signaling to employers and the broader public that students are completing rigorous, career-oriented college work with real-world outcomes. To the college’s knowledge, TTW is the first state-approved, transcriptable, one-year Certificate of Achievement intentionally designed around independence and career readiness for neurodivergent young adults.

The new certificate reflects Foothill College’s belief that preparation for independent adulthood is meaningful academic work. With this approval, independence, self-determination, and readiness for adult life now carry the formal recognition of a college credential.

About the Tools for Transition & Work Program

Foothill College’s Tools for Transition & Work (TTW) program is a year-long, cohort-based program for neurodivergent young adults. It supports students in developing academic, professional, technological, and personal skills needed for college, career, and independent adulthood through a structured, comprehensive curriculum.

Media Contact:



Simon Pennington, AVP College and Community Relations, Marketing and Outreach

Foothill College

12345 El Monte Road

Los Altos Hills, CA 94022

650 949 7033

penningtonsimon@fhda.edu