---
date: "2025-08-17"
speaker: "Jay Cross"
organization: "Founder, Autism Resource Center of Kansas City"
topic: "Programs for Autistic Adults 18+"
blurb: "Jay Cross founded ARCKC in his son's honor. Program for autistic adults 18+ focusing on prevocational training, social skills, and health & wellness."
---

# Jay Cross - Programs for Autistic Adults 18+

**Date:** 2025-08-17  
**Organization:** Founder, Autism Resource Center of Kansas City

> Jay Cross founded ARCKC in his son's honor. Program for autistic adults 18+ focusing on prevocational training, social skills, and health & wellness.

## Notes from August 17th - Jay Cross - Autism Resource Center

[Autism Resource Center of Kansas City](https://aarckc.org/)

### Overview:
- A **Pre-Vocation program** — works with local businesses to provide meaningful employment to adults 18+ with Autism
- There are 29 day programs in Kansas City Metro and **none of them have BCBAs or OTs on staff** for adults with Autism
- Supported Employment model (similar to [Sherwood Autism Center](https://sherwoodcenter.org/))
- Partnered with Lifetime Fitness to employ adults with autism while their parents worked out

### Funding History:
- Initially worked with Down Syndrome Innovations (DSI)
- Then Church of the Resurrection (95th and Antioch) offered a Mon/Wed program
- Now privately financed; Jay working to diversify funding
- Currently in application process to become approved Pre-Vocational program with Kansas Medicaid

### Program Details:
- Services on Tuesday/Thursday
- Building located on 87th and I-35
- Offers: Prevocation training, social skills therapy, health & wellness training
- Staff: 3 BCBAs, 1 OT, 1 SLP (will look for PT next year)
- Target: Adults with **Level 2 autism** (mid to high functioning)
- Business partners: Turnstyles thrift shop, furniture store in Grandview, Element Gym (79th and Quivira), farm on 159th and Quivira
- Unlike Farmer's House, they will **not** have a target titration term