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Okaloosa UP

Okaloosa UP
Okaloosa Technical College
Okaloosa UP
1976 Lewis Turner Blvd
Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32547
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Program Contact Cheryl Rushing
Program Contact Email Cheryl.Rushing@okaloosaschools.com
Phone 850-833-3500
Website Program website
Facebook link to program Facebook page

Okaloosa UP is a grant-funded post-secondary transition program for adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Our goal is give adults with unique abilities access to training and individualized supports that allow them to develop specific career skills. Our students are enrolled in Specialized Career Education classes and earn occupational completion points for jobs embedded within Career and Technical Education classes. Our current programs of study are Professional Culinary Arts and Hospitality and Building Trades and Construction Design Technology. Students must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma, and have a documented intellectual disability and a clear discipline/incident record. Our students must demonstrate the ability to function independently and display a level of social maturity conducive to an adult environment. Students currently spend about half the day in our classroom learning soft skills then attend an inclusive lab in the CTE program of their choice. Transportation is not provided at this time. Most of our parents drive our students. When students attend the CTE, classes they have a job coach that goes with them. The job coach is there to assist students as needed. Students must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma, and have a documented intellectual disability and a clear discipline/incident record. Our students must demonstrate the ability to function independently and display a level of social maturity conducive to an adult environment. Students currently spend about half the day in our classroom learning soft skills then attend an inclusive lab in the CTE program of their choice. Transportation is not provided at this time. Most of our parents drive our students. Students must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma, and have a documented intellectual disability and a clear discipline/incident record. Our students must demonstrate the ability to function independently and display a level of social maturity conducive to an adult environment. Students currently spend about half the day in our classroom learning soft skills then attend an inclusive lab in the CTE program of their choice. Transportation is not provided at this time. Most of our parents drive our students. When students attend the CTE, classes they have a job coach that goes with them. The job coach is there to assist students as needed.

Program information submitted: January 30, 2023

General
Public or private: Public
Type of school: Technical or vocational/trade school
Is this program a federally funded TPSID program? No
Number of students: 8
Affiliates
School district or agency partner: Okaloosa County School District
Contact person: Jon Williams
Email: Williamsj2@okaloosaschools.com
Requirements
Program serves students who have left high school? Yes, all of our students have left high school
Regular high school diploma required? Yes, a regular high school diploma or GED is required
Criteria for admission
  • Student must be 18 or older
Accepts out-of-state students? Yes
Please indicate which disabilities students in this program have:
  • Intellectual disability
  • Autism
Planned program length 2 years
Acceptance, Retention, and Completion Rates
Retention rate for first year students from the previous academic year to the current one: 100.00%
Cost
Average student tuition and fees for the current school year: $2400.00
Is this program able to provide federal financial aid as a Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP)? Yes
Students pay for the program in the following ways:
  • Private pay (student and family)
  • Scholarships
  • Grant Funding
Academic
Students enrolled in this program take the following types of inclusive courses (with students who don't have disabilities): Typical college courses for credit
More about course access:

Students spend half their day in Specialized Career Education classes and half the day in CTE courses.

Students take courses that are only for students in this program: Yes
Information on special classes:

Students take Specialized Career Education Basic and Advanced. The purpose of this program is to provide specialized career education for students with cognitive/learning disabilities who require modifications to the CTE program.

Percentage of academic time spent in inclusive courses (with students who don't have disabilities): 25-49%
Do all students in this program enroll in at least one inclusive college/university course for credit or audit each semester? Yes
Credential(s) students earn upon completing the program: Certified Okaloosa Unique Professional credential
Is the credential approved by the college/university? Yes, this credential has been through a formal approval process at the IHE
Other than the credential listed above, can students earn any other credentials that are available to all students?

Florida Safe Staff certificate

Students in the program have access to the following campus-wide services:
  • Career services
  • Disability/accessibility services
  • Access to a transcript via the registrar
  • Academic advising services (not program staff)
Employment
Percent of students in this program have paid work while attending the program: 13%
Other career development activities are:
  • Community Service
Does this program have a working partnership with VR to provide funding, supports and/or services to students in the program? Yes
Housing
Housing is provided to students: No
Extracurricular
Students participate in student organizations on campus: Yes
Percentage of social time spent in inclusive activities (open to all students on campus): 1-24%
Students participate in these campus-wide events:
  • College/University's Student orientation
  • College/University's Family orientation
  • College/University's Graduation