Paid Internship Program for Neurodivergent Young People

I began my journey as an intern with BroadFutures last summer. It has changed my life!

Before starting I had little to no work experience. This past summer I worked at a prestigious organization, worked with incredible BroadFutures mentors, gained confidence, made great friends...the list goes on! Often people who learn differently are overlooked but BroadFutures helps you see your differences as a strength and helps propel you forward.

This program could benefit anyone and I am beyond lucky and grateful to be apart of it.

It was so impactful that I am returning for the the winter session. There is always more knowledge to be gained from Carolyn and her great team.

My daughter’s experience as a BroadFutures intern was transformative. She arrived in Washington as a newly minted college graduate with limited work experience and very little confidence. By the end of the program she was bubbling over with confidence. The internship showed her that she could do good work, add value, engage effectively with her team, meet deadlines, and make presentations. The skills she developed during the well-organized training with BroadFutures, as well as the regular coaching, helped her make a positive impact and impression at her internship. Her experience at BroadFutures was a major springboard for my daughter. Thank you Carolyn and team! You are awesome!

BroadFutures transformed my son's life. It gave him the skills and self-confidence to succeed in ways he didn't believe were possible, and set him on a new course of academic and professional success. I can't say enough about the staff and the internships they facilitate, and most importantly the way in which they approach interns in a holistic way, seeking to improve not just their job skills but their readiness for independent and happy lives. It is not hyperbole to say that BroadFutures untaps potential in these young people that might very well otherwise go unnoticed.

Broadfutures was a very worthwhile investment in my daughter's professional development. We live in the DC area so she did not use Broadfutures for housing. Her internship was in a professional office setting, doing professional work that helped build her resume, and was an easy commute to where we live. Her supervisor used her talents well, and Broadfutures provided excellent training, mentoring, and support. My daughter also bonded with other program participants and had a wonderful summer overall.

BroadFutures is a well-run program that uses guest speakers, acting exercises, field trips, and more to help young people with learning differences gain confidence in their workforce skills and abilities. All staff members are caring, supportive, and work hard to help each intern not only succeed but thrive in a supportive community. They try to ensure that each internship fits perfectly with the individual's career interests and previous intern/work experience. The opportunities they provide for internships range from government offices, non-profit organizations, and businesses. BroadFutures is very innovative in teaching young people skills such as interviews, communication at career fairs, and how to best engage in small talk, through fun acting games and exercises.
At BroadFutures, I always felt included by the staff and community. My internship placement at a non-profit organization was a wonderful learning experience and the internship training program helped to build confidence in my workforce abilities. I would recommend this program to any young person with learning differences who wants to strengthen their workforce skills.

I was in the first BroadFutures internship program during the Summer of 2014. I interned at AES in Arlington VA. The internship was a great learning experience I worked in the Human Resources Department doing small projects. The staff was very friendly, helpful, and supportive answering questions as they arose and providing direction when needed.
The program taught me many skills that I use every day in my current job. It prepared me to enter the workforce with confidence and taught me skills to advocate for myself.

BroadFutures was a great first professional experience in DC. Having gotten to know the other interns and having been assigned an excellent and supportive personal mentor who would check in with me regularly for the duration of the program, I was assigned to intern at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The internship matched my skills and interests, and the BroadFutures team was a pleasure to work with. Even as entrances to professional life go, I consider my experience with BroadFutures to have been formative.

Coming to Broad Future's really changed how I look at the work world and life in general. After graduating college I didn't understand the difference between the work world and college. This program showed me how to manage time, organize, plan and most importantly communicate with your fellow employees. I was put into an office environment and over the course of time I learned a lot about myself. What were my strengths and weakness. What could I do to improve those weakness. Things that over time made me feel more confident about myself.
The exercises that we did as group made the experience of Broad Futures a lot of fun. These exercises didn't just make the program fun, you were learning from these games. Learning how to stay focused, learning how to make eye contact, learning how to make conversations easy and less stressful. Games that were teaching you along the way of how to operate in a working environment. One of my favorite games was "zip zap zop" which requires concentration within the group. A lot of fun, but for a person who can't keep focused this game builds brain power over time to help one stay focused.
There are a lot of things that this program provides, which also includes having professional speakers come and interact with the broad future students. Teaching them what kind of work environments are out there, what to do and what not do in a job interview. Procedures that take you step by step. I learned so much from this program. I learned especially that even when you have a disability in the work place, that doesn't define you. You can be just as unique as everyone else you work around with.