CIP at a Glance
We’re the College Internship Program (CIP) and we’ve been helping young adults on the autism spectrum and with learning differences find success in college, employment, and independent living since 1984
About CIP
The College Internship Program (CIP) is a full-year private young adult transition program for individuals 18-26 with autism, ADHD, and other learning differences offering comprehensive and specialized services. Our Center’s are conveniently located across the United States.
Summer@CIP is a two-week precollege transition program for high school age students located on hihgly-rated college campuses across the US.
CIP’s programs uniquely address the needs of adolescents and young adults with high-functioning autism, ADHD, and other learning differences by providing a comprehensive curriculum, expert staffing, and a structured weekly schedule.
We believe that a learning disability is a learning difference, and our expert staff understand and meet our young adults enrolled in the program where they are at.
Our programs focus on the generalization of specialized skills specifically for autism and learning differences. CIP students live with a close-knit community of peers within a supported apartment living setting and fully access the community around them. Each student’s unique needs are met individually as they prepare for success in independent living, college, and employment.
CIP is the result of strategies we have developed over 40 years working with hundreds of young people who learn differently and have exceptionalities, helping develop the self-knowledge and skills to live happy and productive lives.
Our vision at CIP is to challenge the norms of what people with learning differences can achieve
- Founded in 1984 by Dr. Michael McManmon to help young people on the autism spectrum, with ADHD and other Learning Differences make successful transitions from adolescence to young adulthood
- Five Center locations in Massachusetts, Florida, Indiana, and California
- Each CIP student’s vision and goals are explored and help to determine their individualized services and supports
- Residential apartment living support prepares students with learning differences and autism for independent living
- A team of staff is dedicated to each student’s personal success
Specialized Transition Programs
CIP is one of the most comprehensive transition programs in the world helping adolescents and young adults with high-functioning autism, ADHD, and other learning differences and other special needs find success in college, employment, and independent living.
Our programs have been specially designed to help these talented and unique young people learn independent living skills, social skills, attend college, and gain employment experience; in order to take their rightful place as citizens of the world.
Full-Year Programs
› Curriculum Overview
Summer@CIP
› Summer Programs
Graduate Living Community (GLC)
› Graduate Living Community
Comprehensive Transition Services
CIP’s services and supports comprehensively address most major areas of neurodivergent young adult’s transition from adolescence to adulthood. Each student’s CIP program and related services are individually based on their needs, interests, and abilities. Our services and staff meet each student where they are as they progress through the program.
Team-Based Approach
CIP’s interdisciplinary staffing model brings many perspectives and practices from various highly qualified staff members and departments together into one student-centered program experience.
Our team members come from a diverse background of psychology, counseling, teaching, administration, and related human service fields. Many have a personal connection to working with young adults on the autism spectrum or with learning differences and all share a passion for helping CIP students find success as they transition into adulthood.
History & Principles
Originally founded in the Berkshire’s of Western Massachusetts in 1984, CIP first served as a innovative community-based alternative to institutions for young adults with learning differences. The program was founded by Dr. Michael McManmon, psychologist and educator, to supply a transitional apartment program for individuals to learn the skills necessary to live independently.
Our founder, Dr. Michael McManmon, was profoundly influenced by the belief that young adults with autism learning differences must live, learn, and work in environments which duplicate normal, real-life conditions. With a late diagnosis of autism himself, Dr. McManmon has brought a unique inside perspective to our program’s curriculum and approach. With assistance from our Professional Advisory Board Members, CIP has developed one of the most specialized and comprehensive year-round transition programs in the world.
Founder’s Welcome
I am the founder of the College Internship Program (CIP), a program designed to help young people with autism, ADHD, and learning differences make successful transitions from adolescence to young adulthood. CIP gives young adults the tools to become productive members of society.
