Youth Services
BEYOND Program
The Building and Encouraging Youth Opportunities in North Dakota (BEYOND) program is a 15 week, interactive training program designed to prepare students with disabilities for adulthood.
BEYOND provides students with the training and resources needed to make independent living decisions following high school. Program curriculum involves skills training on topics such as disability awareness, self-advocacy, employment, education, housing, fiscal management, transportation, healthcare, communication, and recreation.
Each lesson is facilitated by Independence, Inc. staff at participating high schools throughout the region.
Program Outcomes
98%
of students with disabilities enrolled in the Independence, Inc. BEYOND program graduated high school in 2019.
1200
students with disabilities served since 2011.
Youth Independent Living Skills
Our highly skilled Youth Transition team offers one-on-one and group independent living skills instruction to students with disabilities outside of the classroom environment.
Training topics:
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Personal Care
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Food Preparation
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Money Management
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Employment Readiness
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Post-Secondary Transition Planning
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Transportation
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Driver's Permit Exam Preparation
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Public Transit
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Ride Sharing (Lyft/Uber)
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Youth Hangs
Youth Hangs is a virtual program designed to support high school students feeling emotionally overwhelmed and socially disconnected by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Program participants meet on a weekly basis to play games, share ideas, socialize, and engage in online activities facilitated by the youth transition team. The program is available to teens with and without disabilities enrolled in high schools throughout our service region.
Career Connections
Career Connections is an experiential learning program for transition-age youth enrolled in special education units throughout our service region. The program provides students with disabilities the opportunity to explore industries of interest and prepare for life following high school graduation. Program participants have the opportunity to engage in interactive activities and connect with local employers to learn more about their desired career path.
Due to the lingering pandemic, Career Connections is currently only offered through video-conferencing platforms. Our hope is to begin offering in-person employer site tours and hands-on experiences in the Summer of 2021.
