Transitional Living
The Transitional Living program is designed to prepare the mentally alert, physically and/or sensory disabled person to live as independently as possible in the community.
The program emphasizes self-directed planning and offers instruction in a variety of areas designed to enable the participant to meet the demands of independent living.
A comprehensive, well-rounded Transitional Living curriculum is prepared for the program students, including courses in self care and daily living, health care and medical issues, financial management and budgeting, civil rights law and advocacy, transportation, housing, vocational skills, and recreation, to name a few. Progress reports are prepared bimonthly and shared with the student's counselor. These are done to fine-tune the student's programming and reveal areas in which he or she needs extra assistance or training. The Transitional Living program is reviewed by an interdisciplinary team of professionals from within the HGAC.
Located in one of the dorm wings, students each have their own spacious rooms which can easily be made to accommodate their special needs. Environmental controls, lifts, and many types of adaptive devices have given the Transitional Living student a whole new perspective on gaining independence while pursuing their education. The unit is staffed by a Program Coordinator. Students are responsible for hiring their own attendant care providers, and can rely on the support of their counselors and Unit staff to assist them at any time.
Peer counselors are also available for students to discuss problems, concerns, class difficulties, health issues... just about anything. HGAC believes that a student's needs are not limited to his or her disability demands, and strives to create an atmosphere where every student has the opportunity to talk and be heard and helped, if necessary.
HGAC is unique. Very few college campuses in the state offer a totally accessible environment and such special support services. Living and working with one's peers creates confidence in the student's own abilities; giving the student control of the decision making process creates valuable life skills which will be necessary once he or she is out in the world and working.
For more information about living arrangements at HGAC, contact the Night Administrator, at 800/762-4211 extension 0621 or 814-254-0621.
