MINNESOTA INDEPENDENCE COLLEGE AND COMMUNITY

THE COLLEGE PROGRAM TEACHES THE CORE SKILLS THAT WE BELIEVE ARE ESSENTIAL TO LIVING INDEPENDENTLY WITHIN A COMMUNITY. USING A HOLISTIC, STRENGTH-BASED EDUCATION MODEL, WE TEACH AND SUPPORT INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS, EMPLOYMENT SKILLS, AND SOCIAL SKILLS. THE COLLEGE PROGRAM PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO AUTISTIC OR NEURODIVERGENT PARTICIPANTS. SINCE 1996, MICC'S PROGRAM MODEL OF TRANSITION INTO ADULTHOOD HAS ENCOMPASSED AN IMMERSIVE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE WHERE COLLEGE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS LIVE IN APARTMENTS ON OUR CAMPUS, WHICH ALLOWS INSTRUCTORS TO TEACH INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS IN THEIR OWN HOME, WHICH SUPPORTS THEIR TRANSITION UPON GRADUATION FROM THE THREE-YEAR 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 PARTICIPANTS HAVE DEVELOPED THE SKILLS AND PERSONALIZED SUPPORTS NEEDED TO SUSTAIN THEIR INDEPENDENCE. WITHIN THE COLLEGE PROGRAM, MICC ALSO OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A GREATER IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY BY OFFERING OUR SUMMER PROGRAM. OUR SUMMER PROGRAM SUPPORTED YOUNG ADULTS TO DEVELOP VALUABLE INTRODUCTORY INDEPENDENCE SKILLS. SKILLS COVERED INCLUDE JOB SEEKING SKILLS; CAREER EXPLORATION THROUGH GUEST SPEAKERS AND INTEREST INVENTORIES; SOCIAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND FUN ACTIVITIES; PRACTICING INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS; HEALTHY HABITS AND WELLNESS ROUTINES.

THE COMMUNITY PROGRAM IS A LIFELONG SUPPORT PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR PARTICIPANTS THAT HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE COLLEGE PROGRAM. PARTICIPANTS LIVE INDEPENDENTLY IN THEIR OWN APARTMENTS OR HOMES, INDEPENDENTLY NAVIGATE THE COMMUNITY AND ARE EMPLOYED COMPETITIVELY IN THE COMMUNITY. THE COMMUNITY PROGRAM PROVIDES ONGOING SOCIAL PROGRAMMING AND PERSON-CENTERED INDEPENDENT LIVING SUPPORT TO HELP PARTICIPANTS BUILD AND MAINTAIN LASTING FRIENDSHIPS AND FOSTER POSITIVE, SAFE, AND 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 STEADILY INCREASED THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS BEING SERVED. THE COMMUNITY PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY SERVING 115 ADULTS, PLUS THEIR IMMEDIATE AND EXTENDED FAMILIES, AND WE ANTICIPATE CONTINUED GROWTH WITH EACH NEW COLLEGE GRADUATING CLASS.