Overview

Independence Academy is the transition program at MRHS! We provide adult students age 18+ with personalized opportunities to:

• increase independence in daily living skills 
• develop workplace and employability skills
• participate in volunteer and work experiences
• transition from traditional schooling to a preparatory life skills program
• becoming contributing and valued members of society

Community Based Instruction (CBI)

CBI provides students with hands-on learning in natural environments. Students visit a variety of places in the community daily to work on individualized goals. CBI is crucial for generalization of functional and daily living skills. CBI provides intensive and age-appropriate instruction in:

• functional literacy
• money math
• social and interpersonal communication
• recreation and leisure
• community safety
• personal management
• transportation training
• career exploration

Work Based Learning (WBL)

WBL consists of unpaid work experiences at local businesses to provide real world employment experiences for students. Students participate in a variety of WBL experiences to develop their employability skills in natural settings. Students complete tasks at their worksites weekly and are monitored by a transition coach, a worksite mentor, and the WBL coordinator. Each student has an individualized training plan to ensure success.

WBL teaches work-readiness skills through:

• job sampling
• career exploration
• development of work preferences
• on-the-job training
• providing meaningful and authentic work tasks at real businesses