Transition & Employment

LVCIL provides a variety of transition and employment services for youth and young adults with disabilities. Below is a listing of the various programs LVCIL offers:

LIFE (Living Independently for Everyone)

LIFE is a school-based program for students with disabilities, any age. Individualized services are available to enhance and supplement transition services provided by the school district, including:

  • One-on-One Counseling
  • Small Groups
  • Work-Essential Skills Training
  • Person-Centered Planning
  • Transition Planning
  • IEP Consultation
  • Extended School-Year Programming

For information on LIFE, contact Laurie Newman-Mankos at 610-770-9781 x 122 or laurienewman-mankos@lvcil.org 

For more information on LVCIL’s
transition and employment programs,
contact 610-770-9781

Real World Lehigh Valley

This interactive summer program focuses on work experiences and is designed for young adults ages 16-21. The program develops and reinforces the following skills:

  • Independent Living
  • Self-Advocacy
  • Vocational
  • Leadership

This program is six weeks long, three days per week and is held at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom.

For information on Real World Lehigh Valley, contact Laurie Newman-Mankos at 610-770-9781 x 122 or laurienewman-mankos@lvcil.org 

S2L (School to Life) Group

S2L is a yearlong program for young adults with disabilities ages 14-25 who are making the transition out of high school. This youth led, youth driven program focuses on the following goals:

  • Independent Living
  • Employment
  • Advocacy
  • Leadership

Ages 16-21 for OVR funded students.

For information on the S2L Group, contact Seth Hoderewski at 610-770-9781 x 119 or sethhoderewski@lvcil.org.

April Cox, S2L Coordinator, can be reached at 610-770-9781 x 185 or aprilcox@lvcil.org

Vocational Independence Program (VIP)

VIP is a high school transition program which focuses on work-essential skills, independence, and employment readiness. The program runs five days per week through St. Luke’s University Health Network.

This program operates in partnership with school districts, OVR, and Carbon-Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21 (CLIU 21).

For information on VIP, contact Laurie Newman-Mankos at 610-770-9781 x 159 or laurienewman-mankos@lvcil.org

Skills Training

Students and young adults with disabilities will learn valuable skills to prepare for competitive employment and/or post-secondary success:

Work-Essential Skills Training (For Ages 16-27)

  • Career Exploration
  • Soft Skills Training (e.g. conflict management)
  • Person-Centered Planning

Post-Secondary Exploration and Training (Students Only, Ages 16-27)

  • Career and Training/Education Exploration
  • Post-Secondary Focused Independent Living Skills
  • Assistance with Pursuit of Post-Secondary Training/Education

For more information on Skills Training, contact Laurie Newman-Mankos at 610-770-9781 x 122 or laurienewman-mankos@lvcil.org

Career Path

Career Path is an innovative program for adults with disabilities. Career Path participants must be out-of-school and be eligible for or receiving services through OVR in Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon, Monroe, or Upper Bucks counties. Services include:

  • Community-Based Work Assessments
  • Job Development
  • Job Coaching
  • Extended Job Coaching

For more information on Career Path, contact Carly Beck at 610-770-9781 x 125 or carlybeck@lvcil.org 

SEED

SEED is a program that focuses on support services for young adults with disabilities who are students at Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC). LVCIL staff provide support for LCCC students on campus:

  • Independent Living Skills
  • Self-Advocacy
  • Person-Centered Planning
  • Coordination of College Services

For more information on SEED, contact Aaron Heydt at 610-770-9781 x 149 or aaronheydt@lvcil.org

Click here for more information on SEED

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