Minnesota Independence College And Community

TO TRANSFORM LIVES OF FAMILIES & INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY THE AUTISM SPECTRUM & LEARNING DIFFERENCES.

MINNESOTA INDEPENDENCE COLLEGE AND COMMUNITY (MICC) COLLEGE PROGRAM TEACHES THE CORE SKILLS THAT WE BELIEVE ARE ESSENTIAL TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY WITHIN A COMMUNITY. WE PROVIDE INSTRUCTION AND SUPPORT ON INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS, EMPLOYMENT SKILLS AND SOCIAL SKILLS, USING A HOLISTIC, STRENGTH-BASED MODEL OF EDUCATION. IN 2020-2021, THE COLLEGE PROGRAM SERVED INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE LEARNING DIFFERENCES OR AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS PLUS THEIR IMMEDIATE AND EXTENDED FAMILIES.FOR THE PAST 25 YEARS, MICC HAS BEEN PERFECTING AN EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE MODEL OF TRANSITION INTO ADULTHOOD FOR THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE SERVE. THE COLLEGE PROGRAM STUDENTS LIVE IN APARTMENTS ON OUR CAMPUS, WHICH ALLOW INSTRUCTORS TO TEACH INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS IN THE TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT THAT OUR STUDENTS WILL TRANSITION TO UPON GRADUATION FROM THE PROGRAM. THE SKILLS WE TEACH RANGE FROM BASIC COOKING, CLEANING AND ORGANIZATION TO BUDGETING, MEDICATION MANAGEMENT, TRANSPORTATION AND ROOMMATE DYNAMICS. OUR GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT OUR COLLEGE PROGRAM STUDENTS ARE FULLY PREPARED TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY AFTER GRADUATION FROM OUR PROGRAM. WITHIN THE COLLEGE PROGRAM, MICC OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A GREATER IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY BY OFFERING SUMMER PROGRAMS TO HIGH SCHOOL AND TRANSITION AGE INDIVIDUALS WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES AND AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS. THE PROGRAMS ARE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO WORK ON SKILLS SIMILAR TO THE COLLEGE PROGRAM, BUT IN A LIMITED TIME FRAME. WE PROVIDE AN EXPERIENCE THAT INCLUDES SKILL BUILDING IN THE AREAS OF VOCATIONAL, HEALTHY LIVING AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT. THIS INCLUDES WORK EXPOSURES TO OUR PARTICIPANTS VIA OUR CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS IN THE COMMUNITY. MICC KNOWS THAT SUMMER PROGRAMS AND POST-SECONDARY OPTIONS ARE CRUCIAL FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES AND AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS IN ORDER FOR THEM TO FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION AND TRANSITIONAL SUCCESS.

THE COMMUNITY PROGRAM IS A LIFELONG SUPPORT PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES AND AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE COLLEGE PROGRAM. PARTICIPANTS LIVE INDEPENDENTLY IN THEIR OWN APARTMENT OR HOME, USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, AND ARE EMPLOYED COMPETITIVELY IN THE COMMUNITY. THE COMMUNITY PROGRAM PROVIDES ONGOING SOCIAL PROGRAMMING AND PERSON-CENTERED INDEPENDENT LIVING SUPPORTS TO HELP PARTICIPANTS BUILD AND MAINTAIN LASTING FRIENDSHIPS AND FOSTER POSITIVE AND SAFE HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHOICES. ADDITIONALLY, PARTICIPANTS RETAIN ACCESS TO THE CAREERS PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES ONGOING SUPPORT TO PARTICIPANTS AT WORK OR WHO ARE LOOKING FOR THE NEXT STEP IN THEIR CAREER. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2005, THIS PROGRAM HAS HAD A STEADY INCREASE IN PARTICIPANTS. THE COMMUNITY PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY SERVING 92 ADULTS, PLUS THEIR IMMEDIATE AND EXTENDED FAMILIES, AND WE ANTICIPATE CONTINUED GROWTH WITH EACH NEW GRADUATING CLASS.

THE ABILITY TO LIVE AND WORK INDEPENDENTLY IS THE HEART OF OUR PROGRAM. THE CAREERS PROGRAM ASSISTS PARTICIPANTS THROUGH AN INDIVIDUALIZED PERSON-CENTERED APPROACH TO OBTAIN ACCESS TO VOCATIONAL SERVICES, SUPPORTS AND RESOURCES OF THEIR CHOICE TO ACHIEVE THEIR DESIRED OUTCOMES. WE HELP PARTICIPANTS DEVELOP THE SKILLS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THE JOB SEARCH PROCESS, OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT AND DEMONSTRATE THE BEHAVIORS THAT WILL HELP THEM GET AND MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT. CAREER EXPLORATION RESULTS ARE COMBINED WITH JOB DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO HELP PARTICIPANTS FIND THE BEST EMPLOYMENT FIT FOR THEIR SKILLS, ABILITIES AND INTERESTS.THE SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAM IS AN ADDITIONAL COMPONENT OF OUR CAREERS PROGRAM THAT IS ENDORSED BY CENTURY COLLEGE. THERE ARE FOUR CHOICES FOR TRAINING: RETAIL, CULINARY, HOSPITALITY AND HEALTH SERVICES. IT IS A TRAINING PROGRAM THAT HAS TWO PARTS: AN IN-CLASS LEARNING PORTION AND A PRACTICUM PORTION THAT TAKES PLACE IN THE COMMUNITY. THE SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAM ASSISTS A PERSON PREPARE FOR SEEKING EMPLOYMENT TO ACQUIRE THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT. TOPICS ADDRESSED IN CAREERS COURSES ARE JOB RESEARCH, WORK BEHAVIORS, DEVELOPING PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES, COVER LETTERS, COMPLETING APPLICATIONS, INTERVIEWING, DISABILITY AND THE WORKPLACE (ADA), WORK SKILLS/ABILITIES AND INTERESTS, JOB SEARCH PROCESS, EMPLOYMENT PAPERWORK AND WORKSITE SAFETY. THE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO MEET THE WORKFORCE NEEDS IDENTIFIED BY EMPLOYERS WITHIN INDUSTRY SECTORS. LOCAL EMPLOYERS UNDERSTAND THE POSITIVE IMPACT THE REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE CAN PROVIDE, AND THE ON-SITE INSTRUCTORS PROVIDED BY MICC HELP OUR STUDENTS INTERPRET THEIR REAL WORK EXPERIENCES IN REAL TIME. WE MEASURE OUR SUCCESS BY THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS WHO ARE EMPLOYED AND LIVE INDEPENDENTLY IN THE COMMUNITY. AT THE END OF THE 2020-2021 PROGRAM YEAR, 98% OF ELIGIBLE COLLEGE STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPANTS RECEIVING CAREERS SERVICES WORKED IN THE COMMUNITY.