Inviting Applications for 2026 Spring Cohort: Advancing Diversity in Autism Professional Training (ADAPT) Internship Program
The ADAPT Internship at Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center (SARRC) is an educational opportunity for high school students and young adults to explore a variety of professions within the fields of autism research and services.
To learn more or apply, please contact Melissa Mitchell at [email protected].
Eligibility Requirements
- Ages 16-24 years old
- Duration: Minimum of 10 weeks
- Weekly commitment: 6-10 hours per week
- Bilingual; in any language
- Current enrollment at a college, university, or high school is desirable but all applicants 16 and above will be given full consideration
Must be flexible and willing to work within the regular office hours of SARRC (9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday – Friday); a specific schedule will be determined based on the needs of the departments included in internship rotations and the intern’s availability. An example of an intern’s schedule could be Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 2:30-5:00 p.m. Please note that the ADAPT Internship Program is available in-person only.
Application Information
To learn more or apply, please contact Melissa Mitchell at [email protected].
Hear From Past ADAPT Interns
Internship Details
Interns will complete a two-week orientation period, during which they will be exposed to all departments within the organization. Interns will then rank their preferences and will complete an eight-week assignment in the department of their choice. If interested and available, interns can extend their internship beyond 10 weeks. Departments are listed below.
Children’s Services: Interns will learn about autism-related behaviors and applied behavioral analysis (ABA), an evidence-based treatment for autism, through exposure to SARRC’s clinical programs for children.
Family & Community Services: Interns will learn about applied behavior analysis (ABA) and parent psychoeducational and training programs. They will gain exposure to staff training and consultation and will support staff and parent training programs.
Teen & Adult Services: Interns will gain exposure to support services for clients 13 years and older across a variety of programs focused on social skills, independent living, and employment skills.
Research: Interns will learn about research design through exposure to experimental and clinical trial research. Interns will also gain exposure to screening and diagnostic assessment methods and learn about diagnosis and treatment disparities associated with autism in traditionally underrepresented communities.
Development: Interns will learn how the development team plays a role in supporting SARRC’s overall strategic plan by learning about SARRC’s annual fundraising plan, fundraising ethics, and detailed steps of the fundraising cycle. Interns will also learn about database management, board development, and volunteer management.
Finance: Interns will learn about the various reimbursement methods of SARRC (client funding sources) and billing claims processes.
Human Resources & Administrative Services: Interns will assist the Human Resources Department with most functions of human resources, including, but not limited to, benefits administration, performance evaluations, Talent Acquisition process, Team Member events, records retention, on/offboarding (new hire orientation) and budget planning.