Any youth or young adult with a developmental disability seeking a future of greater adult independence in the areas of employment, adult living environments and community inclusion could benefit from this program. Project LIFE is particularly helpful to those individuals who are seeking to prepare for success in Project SEARCH programs.
Project LIFE can be utilized in the high school setting with Junior/Seniors or in transition programming supporting individuals in 18-21 year olds and even beyond. Some adult service agencies are providing programming to individuals who have met graduation requirements but need Project LIFE to grow in independence.
Typically the school district or organization that signs the licensing agreement is responsible for the cost. This includes the initial fee paid to Butler Tech, the cost of staffing the program, and other residual costs such as transportation of students to community training locations, etc. The Project LIFE Specialists can assist you with examining funding opportunities that may exist in your community.
Each replication is customized, but we have found that the programs that get off to the best start are those that spend 9-12 months planning the implementation of the program prior to full roll out for students. This allows time for the Project LIFE Specialist to provide virtual start up supports and in-person training to your program team ensuring a smooth and successful implementation of your program.
The daily schedule may vary depending upon your program setting (high school vs post high school). Typically, students participate in work based learning environments for at least 10-12 hours per week. Project LIFE curriculum is utilized for at least one hour a day and time may also be needed to provide individualized instruction per IEP or ISP guidelines. Time for transportation to and from community learning settings will also need to be taken into account.