Special education occupies a large part of the mission--and budget--of many school districts. With learning disabilities such as ADHD and dyslexia each estimated to affect more than 10 percent of the school-age population, special education teachers have their hands full helping those students navigate increasingly rigorous, state-mandated curricula. An equally daunting challenge, though, is how to serve a growing student population with more severe learning problems, from intellectual disabilities (the term officially established in 2010 by Congress to replace mental retardation) to autism, a spectrum of cognitive and behavioral conditions that affects an expanding number of youngsters. Helping students with intellectual disabilities and autism to make the transition from high school to self-sufficiency and employment has proved a challenge for special education departments. Since 1990, districts have been required to provide such services under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act. The more districts can show success with these young people, the greater their potential will be realized and the more involved and supportive families and communities will become. This article describes some innovative programs that create a different trajectory to the world of work and continuing education for students with autism, intellectual disabilities, and other learning problems. (Contains 8 online resources.)