Tucked away in the suburb of Nahoon in KuGompo City, something quietly powerful is taking shape — a space where vulnerability is met with patience, and potential is nurtured with intention.
The College Street Adult Centre, officially opened in February 2026, is more than just a facility. It is a response to a question many families of young adults living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) know all too well: what happens next?
For years, education systems have been designed to support pupils up to the age of 18.
But adulthood does not arrive with a guarantee of readiness, especially for people who may not yet be socially or emotionally equipped to navigate the world of work.
For many, the transition can feel abrupt, even isolating. It was this gap that College Street School could no longer ignore.
“We were placing learners into workplaces, but some were simply not ready to leave that protected environment,” said Tanille Clayton, manager of College Street Adult Centre.
“We needed to create something that meets them where they are.”
What followed was not a quick fix. It took months of planning, resources, and determination to bring the vision to life.
Today, that vision stands as a safe, structured environment where young adults are not only supported, but seen.
Step inside the centre, and the atmosphere is immediately different.
There is rhythm in the movement sessions, in the quiet focus of hands shaping sensory materials, in the laughter that punctuates a cooking activity. It is a place where growth is not rushed, but guided.
Participants spend their days engaged in a variety of programmes designed to build both life skills and confidence. From arts and crafts to food production, from sewing to basic budgeting, each activity carries intention. There is also a strong emphasis on entrepreneurship — an opportunity for individuals to create, sell, and understand the value of their own work.
On one table, jars of colourful sensory rice catch the light. Nearby, neatly packaged playdough and calming bottles await their next buyer. These are not just products, they are tangible proof of capability.
And for some, the impact stretches beyond the centre’s walls.
One young woman, currently part of the programme, has already stepped into the world of work, securing a part-time role caring for two children.
It is a milestone that speaks not only to her growth, but to what becomes possible when support is sustained beyond the classroom.
Clayton said resources remained limited, and the need for partnerships was ongoing.
She said the centre was actively exploring opportunities for Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) accreditation — a move that could provide formal training pathways for individuals who may never obtain a matric certificate, but are nonetheless capable of contributing meaningfully to society.
There is also a deeper mission at play, which is now shifting how communities understand autism. For too long, misconceptions from harmful myths about causes to the stigma of being “different” have shaped the narrative.
The team at College Street Adult Centre is working to change that, one conversation at a time.
“With more diagnoses, this is something that will affect the broader community.
“Acceptance and involvement are not optional, they are necessary,” said Clayton.
