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lifePATH Foundations at Lone Star College Tomball

lifePATH Foundations at Lone Star College Tomball
Lone Star College-Tomball
lifePATH Foundations at Lone Star College Tomball
30555 Tomball Parkway
Tomball, TX 77375
Program Contact Anne Ginnett
Program Contact Email TC-lifePATH@LoneStar.edu
Phone 281-655-3607
Website Program website
Facebook link to program Facebook page

The lifePATH Foundations program is a four-semester continuing education program designed for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The program aims to enhance their independent living skills and equip them with the necessary academic, social, and workplace knowledge for entry-level positions in customer service or animal care industries.

Students focus on various aspects of independent living, including self-awareness, goal setting, effective communication, building connections with peers and support networks, advocating for their needs, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and managing finances. Social skill development, both direct and indirect, is integrated into all aspects of the program, including courses and non-course related activities

The curriculum of lifePATH Foundations emphasizes academic skills relevant to the workplace and independent living. Students learn professional communication through email, text, letters, and verbal interactions. They also gain proficiency in using technology and assistive technology to enhance their reading, writing, math, and communication skills as needed. Additionally, students receive basic financial literacy education.

For all areas: academic, independent living, social, and workplace readiness, formal instruction is provided through coursework, and students have opportunities to apply and practice these skills in real-life settings with non-disabled peers, such as Campus Job Shadow experiences, Community Internship opportunities, Student Organizations, fitness, planned activities with non-disabled students.

During the application process students discuss their education and career goals to determine whether the lifePATH Foundations program options fit into their career plans. If lifePATH Foundations is a match for student’s goals and they are admitted, they meet with a Job Coach to discuss their preferences and goals for future education and employment (1st step in Person-Centered Planning/Advising). As part of this process, they choose one of the available paths – customer service or animal care – based on their career aspirations.

Program information submitted: January 16, 2024

General
Public or private: Public
Type of school: 2-year community college or junior college
Is this program a federally funded TPSID program? No
Number of students: 19
Requirements
Program serves students who have left high school? Yes, all of our students have left high school
Regular high school diploma required? No, an IEP/non-standard diploma/certificate of attendance is accepted
Deadline to apply to this program: May 10, 2024
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
  • This program is for the IDD population.
Planned program length 2 years
Acceptance, Retention, and Completion Rates
Acceptance rate for the most recent fall term: 80.00%
Retention rate for first year students from the previous academic year to the current one: 100.00%
Notes on acceptance and attendance: Fall 2022 was the first year for lifePATH Foundations
Cost
Average student tuition and fees for the current school year: $1600.00
Is this program able to provide federal financial aid as a Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP)? Pending (we have applied to become a CTP but have not yet been approved)
Students pay for the program in the following ways:
  • Private pay (student and family)
  • Vocational Rehabilitation Funds
Scholarships available: No
Academic
Students enrolled in this program take the following types of inclusive courses (with students who don't have disabilities): Students do not take typical college courses
More about course access: lifePATH Foundations students do not enroll in courses with non-disabled students, but non-disabled students do join the lifePATH Foundations classes for components of their programs. Examples: OTA (Occupational Therapy Assistant) students spend approximately 6 hours per semester in LP Foundations classroom practicing skills the OTA students will need for certification and eventual employment. AAT (Associate of Arts in Teaching) students spend at least 3 hours per semester teaching mini-lessons and facilitating activities as part of the experience they need for their certification. lifePATH Foundations students do not attend classes with non-disabled students taking non-degreed courses. However, lifePATH Foundations students attend a 12-week community internship in multiple locations within their selected path (Animal Care or Customer Service). During the internships, students work with non-disabled community members, many of whom are also young adults. They also participate in a Campus Job Shadow experience for 12-weeks in which they work side-by-side with nondisabled faculty, staff, and peers. The percentage of Inclusive Courses listed below indicates the amount of time non-disabled students spend time in the lifePATH Foundations courses.
Students take courses that are only for students in this program: Yes
Information on special classes: Principles of Literacy Technology Essentials Personal Finance Professional Communication Transition to Career Campus Job Shadow Independent Career Study Community Internship Making Connections Self-Awareness & Personal Change Wellness Lifestyle
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? No
Credential(s) students earn upon completing the program: Occupational Skills Certificate
Is the credential approved by the college/university? Awarded by program, not officially recognized by the IHE
Students in the program have access to the following campus-wide services:
  • Career services
  • Disability/accessibility services
  • Academic tutoring services
  • Health services
  • Mental health/counseling 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: 0%
Other career development activities are:
  • Internships
  • Volunteer work
  • Community Service
Percent of students in this program that had paid work after exiting the program: 0%
Additional information about career development and work experience: Students participate in campus job shadows in various departments, group community internships during their 4th semester, and are required to volunteer at least 2 hours of community/campus service each semester.
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): 50-74%
Students may participate in the following extra-curricular activities
  • Registered student organizations
  • Student government
  • Club sports
  • Campus events
Students participate in these campus-wide events:
  • College/University's Student orientation
  • College/University's Graduation