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SOAR (Success for Occupational Area Readiness)

SOAR (Success for Occupational Area Readiness)
Lively Technical College
SOAR (Success for Occupational Area Readiness)
500 Appleyard Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32304
icon name
Program Contact Judith Husband
Program Contact Email husbandj@leonschools.net
Phone (850) 487-7456
Website Program website
Facebook link to program Facebook page

The Success for Occupational Area Readiness (SOAR) Program is an initiative of Lively Technical College and The Leon County School District. The Leon County School District is committed to providing pathways to post-secondary education for all students. The district believes that it is important to address the need for postsecondary comprehensive programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The SOAR Program will be a collaborative partnership between the school district, Lively Technical College and community partners (Vocational Rehabilitation, Capital Region CareerSource, KEYS Big Bend). This partnership will provide inclusive post‐secondary technical education in state approved career certificate programs for persons with intellectual disabilities.

The program will provide direct support for students with trained personnel to assist with social skills, technical skills, interpersonal communication, and problem-solving skills. In addition, students will receive additional assistance for skills specifically related to their program of study. To ensure student success, students will have access to support structures designed to help the student meet his/her goals. Students will have access to the SOAR Program Coordinator as well as Student Services Staff, VR case manager, and/or relevant community support agency personnel. Students will create unique student success plans with the SOAR Program Coordinator designed to ensure student success.

The overall aim of SOAR is to provide career pathways to students with intellectual disabilities in an area that aligns with the student’s field of interest. The ultimate goal will be that 100% of students who enroll in SOAR will be able to secure gainful employment in their related industry.

Workplace readiness training will be provided by the program coordinator funded through grant dollars. The curriculum covered in the workplace readiness training will include self-advocacy, employment goals, work related soft skills, managing interpersonal relationships, personal productivity, workplace vocabulary, workplace required academics, managing personal finances, effective communication, effective decision making, critical thinking and effective use of technology.

Students will have the opportunity to select career training in one of six areas: Automotive Service Technology 1, Building Trades & Construction Design Technology, Nails Specialty, Facial Specialty, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration 1 and Fundamental Foodservice Skills. During their career training, students will be fully integrated with peers without disabilities. In addition, students will receive academic mentoring from a peer in their program of enrollment. The career training will cover workplace safety and the skills necessary for entry level employment in the chosen field. While attending the career training, students will have the opportunity to earn an industry certification related to their training which is recognized by local employers. Upon completion of the program, students will be prepared to apply for competitive employment.

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
Students in this program: Have graduated or exited from high school
Number of students: 15
Affiliates
School district or agency partner: Leon County School District
Contact person: Kristy Ward
Email: wardk@leonschools.net
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
Deadline to apply to this program: May 31
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
Program length:
  • 1 year
  • Varies from student to student
Acceptance, Retention, and Completion Rates
Acceptance rate for the most recent fall term: 100.00%
Retention rate for first year students from the previous academic year to the current one: 20.00%
Cost
Average student tuition and fees for the current school year: $3000.00
Average out-of-state tuition, current year: $3500.00
Program fees: $0.00
Additional costs:
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:
  • Scholarships
Scholarships available: FCSUA Program fees vary based on the program selected.
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
Percentage of academic time spent in inclusive courses (with students who don't have disabilities): 100%
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: Students are awarded a certificate for the program that they complete (just like every other student)
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? Students are awarded a certificate for the program that they complete (just like every other student)
Students in the program have access to the following campus-wide services:
  • Career services
  • Disability/accessibility services
  • Academic tutoring 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: 33%
Other career development activities are:
  • None
Percent of students in this program that had paid work after exiting the program: 58%
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: No
Percentage of social time spent in inclusive activities (open to all students on campus): 100%
Students may participate in the following extra-curricular activities Campus events
Students participate in these campus-wide events: College/University's Graduation