T-STEP – TEACCH School Transition to Employment and Postsecondary Education
The T-STEP Program is an evidence-based college class to help autistic students transition to adulthood. Through funding from the North Carolina Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities and research funding from the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, the T-STEP is offered free of charge for 16-21-year-olds on the autism spectrum who will or have received the Future-Ready Core high school diploma. The program is offered across North Carolina at AB Tech, Cape Fear, Central Piedmont, Guilford Tech, and Wake Tech Community Colleges.
2026 T-STEP Community College Sites
T-STEP Enrollment for Spring 2026
- Central Piedmont Community College
- Guilford Community College
- Wake Technical Community College
T-STEP Enrollment for Summer 2026
- Cape Fear Community College
T-STEP Enrollment for Fall 2026
- Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
- Central Piedmont Community College
- Wake Technical Community College
Wake Tech – Spring 2026
- Dates: January 27 – April 30
- Format/Location: In-Person at 6600 Louisburg Road, Raleigh, NC
- Classes: Tuesday/Thursday from 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
- 1 hour of counseling each week
- 12 hours of internship over the course of the semester (18+ only)
- Additional work-based learning
Guilford Tech – Spring 2026
- Dates: February 3 – May 5
- Format/Location: In-Person at 1201 Bonner Drive, Jamestown, NC
- Classes: Tuesday/Thursday from 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
- 1 hour of counseling each week
- 12 hours of internship over the course of the semester (18+ only)
- Additional work-based learning
Central Piedmont Tech – Spring 2026
- Dates: February 2 – April 29
- Format/Location: Online program with optional in-person components
- Classes: Monday/Wednesday from 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
- 1 hour of counseling each week
- 12 hours of internship over the course of the semester (18+ only)
- Additional work-based learning
Cape Fear – Summer 2026
- Dates: June 15-July 27, 2026
- Format/Location: Online program with optional in-person components
- Classes: Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday from 10:00 am – 11:30 am
- 2 hours of counseling each week
- Additional work-based learning
- Enrollment priority for students in Eastern North Carolina
AB Tech – Fall 2026
- Dates: September 1 – December 3, 2026
- Format/Location: Online and In-Person (207 Victoria Road, Asheville, NC)
- Classes: Tuesday/Thursday from 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
- 1 hour of counseling each week
- 12 hours of internship over the course of the semester (18+ only)
- Additional work-based learning
- Enrollment priority for students in Western North Carolina
Central Piedmont – Fall 2026
- Dates: August 31-November 23, 2026
- Format/Location: Online program with optional in-person components
- Classes: Monday/Wednesday from 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
- 1 hour of counseling each week
- 12 hours of internship over the course of the semester (18+ only)
- Additional work-based learning
- Enrollment priority for students in Charlotte and surrounding areas
Wake Tech Fall 2026
- Dates: September 1-December 3, 2026
- Format/Location: In-Person at 6600 Louisburg Road, Raleigh, NC
- Classes: Tuesday/Thursday from 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
- 1 hour of counseling each week
- 12 hours of internship over the course of the semester (18+ only)
- Additional work-based learning
Ashe | Avery | Buncombe | Burke | Caldwell | Cherokee | Clay | Graham | Haywood | Henderson | Jackson | Macon | Madison | McDowell | Mitchell | Polk | Rutherford | Swain | Transylvania | Watauga | Yancey
- Spring 2026: Central Piedmont Virtual Waitlist
- Summer 2026: Cape Fear Virtual Waitlist
- Fall 2026: AB Tech (in-person or virtual)
Alamance | Caswell | Chatham | Durham | Franklin | Granville | Lee | Orange | Person | Vance | Warren
- Spring 2026: Wake Tech (in-person) and Central Piedmont Virtual Waitlist
- Summer 2026: Cape Fear Virtual Waitlist
- Fall 2026: Wake Tech (in-person) and Central Piedmont Virtual Waitlist
Alexander | Anson | Cabarrus | Catawba | Cleveland | Gaston | Iredell | Lincoln | Mecklenburg | Richmond | Rowan | Scotland | Stanly | Union
- Spring 2026: Central Piedmont (virtual with optional in-person components)
- Summer 2026: Cape Fear Virtual Waitlist
- Fall 2026: Central Piedmont (virtual with optional in-person components)
Alleghany | Davidson | Davie | Forsyth | Guilford | Moore | Montgomery | Randolph | Rockingham | Stokes | Surry | Wilkes | Yadkin
- Spring 2026: Guilford Tech (in-person)
- Summer 2026: Cape Fear Virtual Waitlist
- Fall 2026: Central Piedmont Virtual Waitlist
Beaufort | Bertie | Camden | Cartaret | Chowan | Craven | Currituck | Dare | Edgecombe | Gates | Greene | Halifax | Hertford | Hyde | Jones | Lenoir | Martin | Nash | Northampton | Ocracoke | Pamlico | Pasquotank | Perquimans | Pitt | Tyrell | Washington | Wilson | Wayne
- Spring 2026: Central Piedmont Virtual Waitlist
- Summer 2026: Cape Fear Virtual Waitlist
- Fall 2026: Central Piedmont Virtual Waitlist
Cumberland | Harnett | Hoke | Johnston | Wake
- Spring 2026: Wake Tech (in-person)
- Summer 2026: Cape Fear Virtual Waitlist
- Fall 2026: Wake Tech (in-person)
Bladen | Brunswick | Columbus | Duplin | New Hanover | Onslow | Pender | Robeson | Sampson
- Spring 2026: Central Piedmont Virtual Waitlist
- Summer 2026: Cape Fear (in-person or virtual)
- Fall 2026: Central Piedmont Virtual Waitlist
For those seeking to learn more about the program or to move forward with registration, please email us. Our team will be happy to share additional information and guide you through the next steps.
Email TStep Program
The T-STEP was developed to support the transition to employment and post-secondary education. Participation includes skill instruction, group practice, video modeling, and role-plays. Students also receive individual career, higher education, and self-advocacy counseling. This program is available statewide in North Carolina.
Students participating in the T-STEP program will:
- Receive group and individualized sessions focused on skills to support transition to adulthood.
- Receive counseling in career exploration, higher education, and self-advocacy.
- Learn to identify skills, strengths, and supports they can use in post-secondary and employment settings.
