Non-degree Learning Opportunities for Young Adults with LD and ADHD Arlyn Roffman, Ph.D. Lesley University Cambridge, MA Arlyn Roffman, Ph.D. Lesley University Cambridge, MA

What about the 80% who don’t go to competitive colleges?  Too often unemployed or underemployed in low-salary positions  Tend to remain dependent on parents longer than their non- disabled peers  Too often unemployed or underemployed in low-salary positions  Tend to remain dependent on parents longer than their non- disabled peers

Practical needs:  Employment skills  Career awareness  Career exploration  Prevocational skills  Job search skills  Job maintenance skills  Employment skills  Career awareness  Career exploration  Prevocational skills  Job search skills  Job maintenance skills

Practical needs:  Daily living/independence skills  Self-care  Consumer skills  Meal planning and preparation  Housekeeping  Getting around  Basic skills for survival  Daily living/independence skills  Self-care  Consumer skills  Meal planning and preparation  Housekeeping  Getting around  Basic skills for survival

Practical needs:  Self-advocacy  Self-awareness  Self-acceptance/reframing  Awareness of legal protections afforded under the ADA and Section 504  Awareness of accommodations needed  Willingness to self-disclose and ask for needed accommodations  Self-advocacy  Self-awareness  Self-acceptance/reframing  Awareness of legal protections afforded under the ADA and Section 504  Awareness of accommodations needed  Willingness to self-disclose and ask for needed accommodations

Comprehensive college-based non- degree transition programs  Offer a normalized college experience, though not in the academic mainstream  Most are 2 to 3 years, residential, offering:  Independent living skills  Vocational skills  Consumer/money management skills  Psychoeducational offerings  A community-based transition year  Offer a normalized college experience, though not in the academic mainstream  Most are 2 to 3 years, residential, offering:  Independent living skills  Vocational skills  Consumer/money management skills  Psychoeducational offerings  A community-based transition year

Community-based independent living programs  Less academic than college-based programs  Offer training in independent living skills and vocational skills  Sometimes linked with local community college for class work there  Less academic than college-based programs  Offer training in independent living skills and vocational skills  Sometimes linked with local community college for class work there

Other options:  Community college  Open enrollment, option to take individual courses or study for Associate’s degree  Technical schools  Specific focus  Option to work toward licenses, certifications  Community college  Open enrollment, option to take individual courses or study for Associate’s degree  Technical schools  Specific focus  Option to work toward licenses, certifications

Other options:  Adult education  Individual courses  Apprenticeships  highly focused on area of interest  Military (with some restrictions)  Adult education  Individual courses  Apprenticeships  highly focused on area of interest  Military (with some restrictions)