Second Year Post-Secondary Program

The second year of the program incorporates a combination of morning LDI on-campus courses and a variety of other choices for the remainder of the class day. Depending on the program direction the student is taking, there are choices which include increased off-campus college/university courses, occupational-specific training courses, increased hours in current job, or placement into a new position that facilitates employability/career skill development. Specific scheduling and overall content is based on the student's ability to manage multiple adult responsibilities in their LDI program, outside classes, part time employment and personal lives.

Ideally, by the second year, each student has secured and is maintaining employment with assistance from LDI job development staff. All students are expected to work part-time hours which are scheduled around other class or program activities and to participate in LDI financial planning. The amount of hours on the job depends on whether a student is focused on college/technical programming or full time employment as the ultimate program of choice outcome.

Financial planning establishes the student's ability to balance a checkbook and use "Quicken" program software to track monthly income and expenses based on selected personal money management goals. An example of this would be to take on the responsibility of paying some personal expense (cell phone, internet, car insurance) to the extent the student's income allows. This process assists in helping the student with establishing credit/payment history.

The Life Development Institute focuses its 2nd year instruction on career planning through completion of the Vocational Research Project. Plus, additional classes that concentrate on post-employment strategies, intimate and interpersonal relationships discourse, and utilizing pragmatic methods to enhance executive functioning skills.

The Vocational Research Project prepares the student in developing a systematic search for a career decision or employment direction based on individual interests, abilities, values, and aptitudes. Students receive training and instruction on clarifying critical work/career values, decision making methods of "smart choices", identifying their own functional strengths and limitations, and potential employment options that suits their temperament.

Comprehensive career assessments are administered by LDI combined with other information from previously submitted evaluations and diagnostic reports. These data provide relevant information on determining potential career ladders. Further, data indicate objective profiles of the student's ability to meet institutional admission requirements, achieve classroom competencies, identify marketable skills, and develop career path options. At the same time, the information targets potential academic problem areas needing coordinated tutorial intervention to accommodate the student in the selected school or institution.

Research is conducted in the field by touring and interviewing at local vocational schools, community colleges, and employers in various fields. Student choices are validated and justified through a written proposal and multimedia presentation. It is highly recommended that enrollment decisions for placement in full-time college, vocational/technical programs, or full-time employment are not finalized prior to the completion of this study.

The following bullet points represent the most likely Vocational Research Project outcomes. Consequently, decisions on which focus, track or option the student would pursue during and subsequent to completing the second year of the LDI post secondary program could include: