LOCAL COMMUNITY RESOURCE: Utah Valley University's Passages Program

 




Do you live in the Utah Valley area? Are you 18 or older?  Located in Orem, Utah on the north side of campus at Utah Valley University is the Melisa Nellesen Center for Autism, a two-story building that hosts the Masters in ABA program (a program for students to get certified to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)), the Autism Minor/Certification program (where students can do an internship to receive their certificate to become a Registered Behavioral Technician (RBT)), Wolverine's Elevated Program (a 3-year program for students with an intellectual or learning disability to receive one-on-one tutoring as well as a associates' degree equivalent leadership certification), and the Passages Program (which is what I am going to be discussing today).  The Passages Program is an adult-centered program for any adult over the age of 18 with an autism diagnosis (self-diagnoses may be accepted). 

While the Autism Center at UVU has been around since 2017, the UVU Passages Program was an idea that began in 2014 and was started up in August of 2015.  

I was lucky to be part of the program and my journey started in early 2023.  I have seen its exponential growth from the time I started until now.  When I first started with the program, classes were offered two days a week, there were two classes running each day, and the program was an eight-week program that started mid-semester following UVU's semester/block schedule.  Classes were 60-minutes long on Mondays with an hour for social time and then 90-minute classes on Wednesdays with a 30 minute window for socializing for the students.  Late 2023, Michael Davies took on the role as Program Director for the Passages Program.  I was a passages student intern and came up with the idea to host 2-hour classes on Mondays and Wednesdays and have 2-hour social nights on Friday nights.   The social night idea has expanded to doing different activities like swimming, going to a corn maze, playing games, going to see a movie at the theaters, doing a role play activity, etc.  Classes are offered 4-days a week on a weekly basis, but still follow the block schedule that UVU has for its semesters.   They've also added workshops for students to take such as Driver's Ed, Relationship/Sexual Health & Readiness, Living Independently, Job Readiness, College Readiness, etc. Some are offered during the day.  Students are able to choose which path/track they want to take based on where they are at.

Since Passages started in 2015, the program and Autism Center threw a 10-year anniversary Celebration Carnival to commemorate 10 years in the community.  One of the programs teachers plus the one who started it all, Jared Stewart (who teaches Autism in Adulthood for students discovering the Passages Program and Autism itself) told me that when Passages first started, it was in a different building.  A building across the street from where it is now.  He told me he is amazed on how much it's grown. 

The carnival offered a variety of games like corn hole, balloon darts, face painting, mini golf, and a few more and was held in in front of and in between the Autism Center and the McKay Education Building on Saturday June 21, 2025 from 4-7pm.  Students from previous and present Passages classes were in attendance and volunteers included student teachers in the program at the moment.

If you or anyone you know is interested in joining the Passages Program at UVU, Passages Program LINK HERE (click the link provided).  From there you can contact Michael Davies to receive an interview to be accepted into the program).  As far as payments go, I would recommend getting involved with Vocational Rehabilitation Services, which covers the program at full cost. This way you don't have to pay money for the program. 


If you are not from Utah/Salt Lake County Area, I would love to hear what programs for adults they have near you that are affordable.  
Happy Monday!  Enjoy pictures taken by Doc Clegg (they/them) who works as the Administrative Office Assistant at the Center.  




Article on Passages from 2019|UVU Content Hub

If you liked this blog post, PLEASE comment down below what your favorite part was, share with your friends and family, etc.  Have any comments, questions, etc. about what you were reading? Reach out to me by messaging me on Instagram or TikTok @neurospicyblondie or email me  alyssa.onthespectrum@gmail.com.  


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