ACCESS Program | UC Davis MIND Institute

Thank you for your interest in the ACCESS Program at the UC Davis MIND Institute. To help streamline scheduling and ensure families are connected to the most appropriate services, a referral through the MIND Institute Massie Family Clinic is required before program applications can be provided.

If services are billed through insurance, the referral must be submitted by your child’s primary care provider or a referring clinician. We are unable to accept self-referrals in these cases.

How to Submit a Referral

Your child’s primary care provider or referring clinician may submit a referral using one of the following options:

• Submit a referral online through the UC Davis Health Physician Referral Center
• Call 800-482-3284 for assistance

Once the referral has been received and processed, our team will review it and contact your family with the next steps, including application information if appropriate.

Learn more about what to expect after a referral is submitted.

Program Overview

The ACCESS Program is a 20-week group intervention designed to support neurodiverse adults, particularly individuals with autism, as they build skills for adulthood.

The program focuses on:

• Coping and self-regulation skills
• Planning and executive functioning
• Social and communication skills
• Participation in work, education, and community settings

Groups include 10-15 participants and are led by a licensed clinical psychologist, with support from MIND Institute faculty, staff, and trained volunteers. The program is currently offered in a hybrid format (in-person and virtual).

Social Partner Component (Required)

Each participant selects a social partner, such as a parent, family member, peer, or support professional.

Social partners:

• Attend a concurrent support group
• Learn strategies to help participants practice skills in real-life settings
• Share experiences and problem-solve with other social partners

Schedule

• 20 weekly sessions
• Runs from late June through Nov.
• Tuesdays, 4:15-5:45 p.m.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age Requirement: Participants should be between 18 and 45 years
• Diagnosis: A formal diagnosis of autism is not mandatory. Individuals with other diagnoses facing challenges in coping skills, career planning, executive functioning, and social skills are welcome
• Educational Achievement: Participants must have graduated from high school, obtained a GED, or received a certificate of completion
• Verbal Ability: Participants must be verbal and capable of engaging in full sentences with others
• Behavioral Expectations: Participants should not exhibit violent behaviors or aggressive tendencies
• Cognitive Ability: Participants should have an average or above-average IQ

Financial Assistance

A limited number of need-based scholarships may be available. Please contact our team for additional information.