Transitional Living Skills Program
The Transitional Living Skills program is for students 18 - 21 years old who have completed their high school academic requirements and are staying in school for additional instruction in the skills necessary for a successful transition to adult life. The Transitional Living Skills Program utilizes the Community Based Instruction (CBI) Model to teach students the skills they will need to be functioning and contributing members of their communities. CBI brings small groups of students into the community to practice specific job skills, life skills, and social skills while also providing opportunities to participate in recreational activities. Students participating in the Transitional Living Skills Program will receive instruction in the following areas: work – based learning experiences, job exploration, financial literacy, self-advocacy, workplace readiness, postsecondary opportunities and life skills. Students in this program will have the opportunity to use the Person-Centered Planning model to identify their future goals and develop a plan for achieving those goals.
Work-Based Learning Experiences (WBLEs) are designed to teach and strengthen specific work skills, develop workplace social skills and help students identify employment interests and preferences. Students age 18 - 21 work 2 - 4 hours per day, 4 days per week within the school or preferably at a community work site under the guidance of a mentor and with the support of a job coach. Students rotate through multiple work experiences to identify their personal strengths, interests and preferences while developing realistic future employment goals. During the student’s final year in school every effort is made to place the student in a community job that matches their strengths, interests and preferences. WBLEs are linked to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for the 21st Century Life and Careers content area and structured around an individualized student work plan and the student’s IEP.
An Educational Job Coach is a school employee who serves as a consultant to business partners and students with disabilities to facilitate the success of students participating in school and community-based work experiences. The Job Coach supplements employer provided job training when needed by the students, supports the students as they learn to advocate for themselves in obtaining the supports or accommodations they need to do their job and facilitates the development of the social skills necessary for inclusion in the workplace culture.