The Transition Program assists families in developing a plan for a seamless transition from school to independent adult life for young people with disabilities who need continued employment, agency support, and community and life skills training. It is our intent that students, upon exiting the program, will have part-time employment in a vocation of their choosing, volunteer opportunities and/or have increased their independent living skills.  We strive to assist students to gain skills so that they will be able to function independently or as independently as they can in the community and in the home to the best of their ability and will contribute positively to their family and to their community.

Program Qualifications

The Transition Program is a Leon County School K-12 Program located on the campus of Lively Technical College. 

School Days and Hours: Monday through Thursdays-8:30am-2:00pm

Student supervision begins at 7:45am and ends at 2:15pm.

        Transition Program Requirements
                   The Leon County Schools' Transition Program Applicant MUST meet the following criteria:

• is a resident of Leon County
• is 18-21 years of age and has deferred their Standard High School Diploma with Access Points from a Leon County High School or another public school (with appropriate documentation of diploma deferral and residency in Leon County)
• is a client of or has applied to become a client of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and has pre-employment/employment as a goal on their Individual Plan for Employment (IPE)
• is a client of or has applied to become a client of additional outside agencies as appropriate (i.e. Agency for Persons with Disabilities-APD) so that support and funding continues after the student exits the Transition program at age 22 
• has education/training, employment/volunteering, community participation and/or community living as goals on their Transition Individual Education Plan(IEP)
• has participated in work experiences (on campus or off campus) throughout 11th and 12th grade at their high school
• displays a level of social maturity and appropriate behavior conducive to being involved in an adult environment, community outings and potential employment
• is able to maintain or has documented progress towards handling personal self-care and hygiene independently.

*Each interested applicant must have a completed LCS Transition Program application as well as an LCS Transition Program Rubric completed and turned in to the LCS Transition Program Committee to be considered for the program.*

The application and acceptance process

• The student and applicant’s family fill out the Transition Program Application.  The link is provided by the student's IEP case manager.  
• A LCS Transition Program rubric is completed by the student's teacher(s)/service provider(s).  
• The Transition Program Committee reviews the application, the rubric, the student's Transition IEP, discipline and attendance data and any other support or documentation for the student.  
• The applicants will be asked to participate in a short interview to assist with identifying their employment and independent living goals.
• The Transition Program staff will meet with the students at their high schools to learn more about the student and to complete the interview.
• The applicant will be notified of the Committee's decision via email.
• Once accepted into the Transition Program, a Transition IEP meeting takes place at the student’s high school with transition-related goals and services put into place.

Once students are admitted to the program, the staff, students, outside agency supporters and families work together to help the student become  employed, participating in volunteer opportunities and as independent as possible.  Students work on their Transition goals throughout the program while participating in Career Exploration, Career Preparation and Preparation for Adult Living courses.  Students in the Transition Program require extensive support from parents/guardians/families/other support people along with the Transition Program staff.

To learn more about Fortify Florida CLICK HERE