Specifications include, but are not limited to: The contractor shall provide workforce transition/placement services and independent living skills and life skills training program services for the gifted autistic population in southeast Missouri utilizing a giftedness assessment for the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (hereinafter referred to as the state agency) in accordance with the provisions and requirements stated herein. For purposes of this document, the term “autistic” shall be deemed to include any or all of the “autism spectrum disorders”. For the purposes of this document the term “giftedness” shall be defined as one or more savant-like skills, defined by the current autism research literature, and the feasible correlation to workplace skills stemming from that giftedness. It is the intent of this document, that the contractor concentrate and maximize participant skills and talents, with input from the participant with autism and the participant’s family/guardian (if available) at every level of the planning and service process. The contractor shall use a model of giftedness assessment and shall access and identify the potential participant’s level and area of giftedness, and functioning level to determine if the potential participant qualifies for the program. The contractor shall use the findings from a model of giftedness assessment to determine how to shape those gifts/skills into marketable employment skills, independent living skills, and other criteria determined by the contractor as needed. The contractor shall implement an independent living and life-skills training program for participants. The contractor shall agree and understand that for purposes of the contract, independent living skills shall include, but not be limited to, appropriate social skills, appropriate social interactions on the job, and independent daily living skills, (such as bathing, personal hygiene, dressing, shopping, banking, budgeting, using public transportation safely, recreation and leisure activities). The contractor’s independent living skills and life-skills training program must incorporate within all curriculum, all training materials, and all supportive materials a comprehensive manner of adaptation for “social thinking,” for individuals determined to be on the autism disorder spectrum. The contractor shall provide support and shall manage the services described herein as minimum components/services for the participants by providing individualized evaluation and instructions in work force transition skills and independent living skills and life-skills training program services as described herein. The contractor shall record and maintain notes on the status of each participant’s progress in electronic format. Unless otherwise specified herein, the contractor shall furnish all material, labor, facilities, equipment, and supplies necessary to perform the services required herein.