"GAP" Experience

What is a GAP Year?

A Gap year is a year between high school and other post-secondary opportunities that includes college, vocational training, or employment.

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What are the Benefits for the Student?

• Recharge your academic battery
• Gain life experience
• Build self confidence & independence
• Gain skills. Add to your resume
• Give back (volunteer service)
• Further your interests through hands on learning
• Find your passion
• Create a relevance of your classroom study to the world

Why Not Go Straight to Community College?

After the enormous support throughout high school that students with autism or asperger's have received, it is unrealistic for some students to be able to maneuver college on their own. We will be helping them learn how to navigate a college campus and teach them how to manage the unstructured nature of their time between classes. In addition, we will also focus on introducing the extracurricular activities available to them on campus.

What are the Components of the Basic Program Covered under Regional Center

• Santa Monica Community College – the students will be participating in one class of a non-academic nature, as well as counseling classes through the Office of Students with Disabilities.
• Business Traineeships – Students will work in several local businesses that will afford them experiences in many areas including customer service, office skills, computer skills and technical skills such as programming as well as working with people.
• Americorps – Operation Safe Corps - this component of the GAP year will connect participants with the American Red Cross where their training will be focused on Disaster Preparedness and presenting Disaster Preparedness Trainings to other individuals with disabilities. At the end of this program, individuals will have the opportunity to apply to become an Americorps Volunteer.
• Micro-Enterprise/Customized Employment – Students will learn the elements of running their own business by participating in FACT's eco recycling micro-enterprise. They will be learning about business plans, advertising, and customer relations as well as to be part of a board of directors and make decisions that affect the group

What Additional Activities can the Student Participate In (at their own expense and through scholarship)

• Travel – A central feature of most gap year programs is travel and it will be part of FACT's GAP year program as well. The destinations will be determined by the group and will depend on the receipt of grants and other fund- raising efforts.
• Weekend program – This will involve an overnight stay in a residential hotel with recreation and volunteer opportunities
• Residential option – Those living too far to commute or wanting to live away from home may wish to live together in a rented house with the support of a residential advisor (college student) and cooked meals. Supported living may be provided through RC under a separate vendor number

How Does this Compare to Other Programs?

There are many programs developing to support individuals with disabilities after high school. Some in the Los Angeles area include Advance LA, Nexus, Inclusion Films and Exceptional Minds. These are all programs that consumers can access for many years. Generating All Possibilities, FACT's GAP year, is a year long program which exposes students to a wide range of experiences and gives them a greater understanding of the possibilities that are available to them. When completed they will be able to choose a program or other opportunity that is most suitable to them for the years to come.

What Would a Typical Week Look Like?

The student will be typically spending one day at SMC, and half days at local businesses, as well as the offices of our Micro Enterprise. One day will be spent with the Red Cross as well as some additional time out with Americorp Volunteers developing innovative ways of presenting the Disaster Preparedness Program. There will be travel time as well as group social time in the community.

Sample Schedule

2011/2012 Dates

July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012 or August 1, 2011 through July 31, 2012

Generate All Possibilities for Your Future.  Call (310) 475-9620 Ext. 3