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About Positive Transitions to Work (PTW)
PBS CONSULTING offers a 2-year Transition Program for students who have graduated or aged out of high school. Instruction has a strong focus on skills leading to desired vocational outcomes. Each week, students will have 2 days of in-class instruction and a 3rd day of variable independent or project work. PTW students can anticipate frequent exposure to campus- and community-based vocational experiences and/or site visits as part of their experience. Additionally, students have the opportunity and expectation to interact with peer-mentors drawn from campus undergraduate and graduate students of the host campus. New classes begin each September and run for 24 consecutive months.
*In step with a college academic calendar, students have some weeks when classes do not meet throughout the year. The Fall and Spring semesters consist of approximately 8-12 hours per week of in-person instruction and variable independent of project work. During the Winter and Summer semesters, the in-person time may be reduced or combined with additional project work and virtual classes.
The program is designed to be eligible for funding through OPWDD self-direction budgets, but private-pay arrangements can also be made. The cost of the program is $800 per month and students are expected to commit to a full 2-year course of instruction.
Currently, in partnership with the CENTER FOR COMMUNITY INCLUSION and CELEBRATE EDU, classes are held on the campus of LIU-Post in Brookville.
*In step with a college academic calendar, students have some weeks when classes do not meet throughout the year. The Fall and Spring semesters consist of approximately 8-12 hours per week of in-person instruction and variable independent of project work. During the Winter and Summer semesters, the in-person time may be reduced or combined with additional project work and virtual classes.
The program is designed to be eligible for funding through OPWDD self-direction budgets, but private-pay arrangements can also be made. The cost of the program is $800 per month and students are expected to commit to a full 2-year course of instruction.
Currently, in partnership with the CENTER FOR COMMUNITY INCLUSION and CELEBRATE EDU, classes are held on the campus of LIU-Post in Brookville.
A Typical Week on Campus
During typical weeks, students will be exposed to:
- A series of 30 Soft Work Skills lessons focusing on individual qualities that make for a valued employee with practice & role-play of learned skills
- Career-Focused Work Life lessons designed to expose all students to the array of potential jobs drawn from 6 carreer clusters as defined by the U.S. Dept. of Labor. The 2-year goal is to increasingly sharpen each student's focus on and exposure to achievable jobs that appeal to their personal strengths and preferences
- On-campus opportunities with student mentors with a focus on applying the Soft Work Skills lessons and social connections
- Increasingly over the 2-year sequence, students will practice specific work skills and visit on and off-campus sites to see how the skills are applied in real-life jobs.
A Two-Year Experience
PTW is a 2-year experience. Students accepted into PTW are expected to make a commitment to completing the 2-year cycle.
The goal of the 2-year sequence is to have the students prepared with the knowledge, resources, and a plan for long-term supports that will equip them to secure and sustain employment and/or other meaningful valued volunteer opportunities.
The goal of the 2-year sequence is to have the students prepared with the knowledge, resources, and a plan for long-term supports that will equip them to secure and sustain employment and/or other meaningful valued volunteer opportunities.
Application and Admissions Process
- Applications are accepted year-round and reviewed monthly. Initial decisions on admission offers for each new September cohort will be made in the preceding April. Additional offers of admission may be made until a full cohort is committed.
- If a student is not offered admission in the current year, they can still be considered for the following year's cohort of incoming students.
- Many (not all) applicants will be invited to come to LIU Post to see the instructional space and be interviewed by PTW staff for consideration of offering admission. Applicants can bring guests to the interview for support (no more than 5 guests can come at a time, please). Visits will last approximately 30 minutes.
- Interviews will be video recorded for future reference for PTW staff as part of the admission offer decision process.
- Only applicants that come in for an interview can be considered for admission.
- Applicants that come in for an interview will be notified within 45 days whether they should expect an offer of admission.
- Applicants that accept an offer of admission will be charged a $250 commitment/enrollment fee to cover non-billable administration of the admissions process. This money may also be used to fund program supplies or event offerings.
Recap & Additional Details
- Small cohort groups (capped at 15 participants)
- Exposure and access to on-campus activities
- Current partnership with LIU-Post Center for Community Inclusion and their students on campus, including active Mentorship from LIU-Post students
- Tuition is $800.00 per month.
- Direct billing available for those using self-direction funding through budget line "IDGS Transition Programs for Individuals with I/DD"
- Private pay also accepted
- Active engagement and skill development for natural supports (including DSPs, if applicable)
- Transportation to and from PTW as well as to any community-outing locations is the sole responsibility of each student and their circle of support.
The PTW program does not provide for any additional educational/medical/behavioral supports beyond instruction.
Students are expected to provide these additional supports, if needed.
Students are expected to provide these additional supports, if needed.
Not all applicants are anticipated to be accepted to the program.
PBS has sole discretion in all admission decisions.
PBS has sole discretion in all admission decisions.
