With donor support, IPS plans to offer two pilot programs for young adults in Northern Virginia during the fall of 2022. Our goal is to offer students from the ages of 18-30 an introduction to carpentry and an opportunity to learn social and communication strategies to carry into their daily lives. Over a 4-week period, each pilot program will host 6 students with our unique curriculum that focuses on teaching foundational carpentry skills the first half the day and soft skills in the latter half. The pilots will allow us to collect data on student profiles, classroom size, teaching methods and other supports necessary to teach effectively to ultimately launch our year-long carpentry program in the fall of 2023.  In May 2022, IPS will begin accepting online applications for the pilot programs. A team of disability professionals, including an occupational therapist and a speech-language pathologist, as well as a licensed carpenter, will screen and assess applicants for their motor functioning and communication skills. Applicants will be notified of admissions decisions beginning in June 2022.