The Pre-College Summer Program is centered around transition planning, tailored to each student’s needs, and incorporates academic classes focusing on literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking. Social-emotional development is also supported throughout the program.
Five Core Components
- Job Exploration Counseling: Students explore different career paths, identify their interests, and recognize their strengths.
- Work-Based Learning Experiences: Students engage in hands-on learning opportunities to build real-world skills.
- Counseling for Higher Education: Guidance is provided to help students explore options for comprehensive transition programs and postsecondary education at higher education institutions.
- Workplace Readiness Training: The program includes training to develop social skills and independent living abilities, essential for workplace success.
- Self-Advocacy and Person-Centered Planning: Instruction in self-advocacy is provided, and students receive peer mentoring.
Preparing for Lifelong Skills
One of the core components of the program is career and vocational exploration, with a strong emphasis on New Jersey Pre-Employment Transition Services. These services help students develop essential work skills, understand workplace expectations, and prepare for future employment opportunities. Additionally, the program provides instruction in self-direction and self-determination, helping students develop skills to effectively manage their personal and professional lives.
Program Benefits
Postsecondary and “transition to adult life” education has been shown to improve the likelihood of youth with intellectual disabilities and/or developmental disabilities successfully transitioning to adult life.
While there exists a variety of post-secondary and transition education models, over the past decade there is a movement to expand the postsecondary education options for youth with intellectual disabilities to include participation in programs within institutions of higher education.
These higher education options are located within university and college settings and reflect a variety of program types offering degree, certificate, or non-degree status and can be either residential or nonresidential.
Fully Staffed Program
- Program Administration
- Two academic instructors
- Five in-class teaching assistants
- Two Campus Life Coordinators (living on-campus)
- Four residential assistants (living on-campus)
- One nurse (administers prescribed medicine only)