Learning doesn't
stop at graduation.
Your next chapter starts here.
Structure, community, and a pathway forward for neurodivergent adults when school district services end.
Who Is Helix For?
Whether you're a young adult exploring your next chapter or a parent seeking the right fit — Helix was built for you.
This is YOUR place.
At Helix, you'll build real skills, make friends, and work toward your goals — at your own pace. Whether you're interested in cooking, job skills, art, or learning to live more independently, there's a program track that fits you.
See What a Day Looks LikeWhen school services end,
the learning doesn't stop.
When school district services end, families face a cliff. Without structure, skills fade. Isolation grows. Hope dims. The Helix Adult Academy is the pathway forward for neurodivergent adults.
Individualized Support
3:1 participant-to-staff ratio means every young adult gets the attention they need.
Flexible Attendance
Start with 1-2 days per week. Scale up when ready. No rigid requirements.
Real Skill Building
Not activities for activities' sake. Every program builds toward greater autonomy.
Six Program Tracks.
One Shared Goal.
Build skills. Gain confidence. Move toward independence.
Lifelong Learning
Academic skills that open doors
Reading, math, digital literacy, and critical thinking in a supportive environment. Every participant works at their own pace with individualized support.
What participants learn:
- Improved reading comprehension and fluency
- Practical math for daily life and money management
- Digital literacy for communication and research
- Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
Workforce Readiness
Real skills for real jobs
Practical job skills, workplace behaviors, and communication tools. Delivered through individualized instruction and hands-on practice.
What participants learn:
- Resume building and interview preparation
- Workplace communication and professional behavior
- Time management and task completion
- Career exploration and goal setting
Entrepreneurial Program
Turn ideas into action
Business concepts, innovation, and leadership through real-world projects that connect to each participant's unique strengths.
What participants learn:
- Problem-solving and creative thinking
- Planning and project management
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Budgeting and financial literacy
Leisure & Social
Connection and community
Social communication, emotional well-being, and recreation through clubs, arts, fitness, games, and group activities.
What participants learn:
- Social communication and friendship skills
- Emotional regulation and self-awareness
- Recreation and leisure interests
- Community participation and belonging
Visual Arts & Media Production
Find your creative voice
Filmmaking, photography, visual arts, and theater. Explore diverse artistic mediums, develop your creative voice, and bring imaginative projects to life.
What participants learn:
- Photography and visual storytelling
- Filmmaking and video production
- Drawing, painting, and mixed media
- Theater and performance skills
Lifeskills House
Independent living in a supported environment
Rotational 2.5-day residential opportunities to practice cooking, cleaning, personal care, and household management. Opening Fall 2027.
What participants learn:
- Meal planning, shopping, and cooking
- Personal hygiene and self-care routines
- Household cleaning and organization
- Budgeting and money management
Program Details at a Glance
- Schedule
- Monday to Friday, 9am - 3pm
- Flexibility
- 1-4 classes per day or per week
- Class Size
- 7 participants maximum
- Participant-Staff Ratio
- 3:1 (unless you bring 1:1 support)
- Enrollment Opens
- April 2026
- Semester Starts
- August 24, 2026
- Funding
- Self-Determination, Regional Center & Private Pay
Your Day at Helix
Structured enough to build skills, flexible enough to feel like yours.
Arrival & Check-In
Settle in, greet friends and staff. Review the day's schedule together.
Morning Workshop
Hands-on learning in your chosen program track — academics, job skills, or entrepreneurial projects.
Second Morning Workshops
Continue building skills with a different focus area or go deeper in your primary track.
Lunch & Community Time
Eat together, practice life skills like meal prep, and build friendships over shared time.
Afternoon Workshop
Dive into arts, leisure, cooking, or a second program track. Your schedule, your choice.
Second Afternoon Workshops & Wrap-Up
Finish the day with reflection, goal setting, and celebrating what you accomplished.
Marjorie McMorris
Founder & Executive Director
A Decade of Neurodivergent Education
Marjorie McMorris founded The Helix School K-22 in 2014 — a non-public school serving autistic children with distinction in the Bay Area.
The Helix Adult Academy builds on that proven foundation. Families trust us because we understand neurodivergent young adults. We've built careers supporting them. And we know that learning doesn't stop when school ends — it just needs the right environment.
Our mission: to support neurodivergent adults in leading purposeful, independent, and connected lives through lifelong learning, workforce readiness, and community-based opportunities.
Support Our Mission
When school district services end — but the need for growth, community, and structure doesn't. For many neurodivergent adults, this transition means losing the support system they've relied on for years.
Your support helps The Helix Adult Academy bridge that gap. Every contribution fuels programs that build independence, confidence, and real-world skills for young adults who deserve a pathway forward.
Ways to Support
Financial Contributions
Fund scholarships, program materials, and staff training
In-Kind Donations
Equipment, supplies, and technology for our programs
Volunteer Your Time
Share skills, mentor participants, or assist with events
Spread the Word
Share our mission with your network — awareness matters
The Helix Adult Academy is a fiscally sponsored project of The Helix School, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization (EIN: 47-3699669). All contributions are legally received by The Helix School for the exclusive benefit of The Helix Adult Academy. Your donation is fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Mail donations: Make check payable to The Helix School (memo: The Helix Adult Academy Project). Mail to: The Helix School, 161 Mitchell Blvd, San Rafael, CA 94903.
Browse Our Class Catalog
Explore classes across all six program tracks. See what a semester at Helix looks like.
View Class CatalogFrequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions we hear most from families, funders, and community partners.