Aspire Living & Learning is launching its first standalone Transition Program, creating a dedicated community-based pathway for young adults with disabilities as they prepare for employment, greater independence, and life beyond high school.

Beginning September 6, Aspire will offer two connected pathways of support. The Transition Program serves students ages 18 to 22 receiving transition services through their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), while Adult Community & Employment Services support young adults ages 22 to 30 as they continue building independence through employment, community participation, and individualized supports after graduation.

Together, the programs strengthen the bridge between school and adult life by helping young adults build practical skills, explore career interests, and gain real-world experiences before and after graduation.

“The transition to adulthood is about much more than leaving school,” said Dr. Elizabeth Sellinger, Aspire’s chief of clinical and children’s services. “It’s about discovering strengths, building confidence, and creating opportunities that reflect each person’s goals. We created this program because those years deserve focused support and meaningful experiences that prepare young adults for what’s next.”

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Research from the U.S. Department of Education has consistently found that students with disabilities who participate in meaningful work experiences while they’re still in school are significantly more likely to be employed after graduation. Work-based learning remains one of the strongest predictors of successful adult outcomes.

That’s why Aspire’s program is built around learning in the community.

Participants won’t just talk about employment or independent living. They’ll practice it. Through partnerships with local businesses and organizations, they’ll explore careers, develop workplace skills, strengthen communication and self-advocacy, build independent living skills like budgeting and meal preparation, and gain confidence navigating their communities.

Every experience is guided by evidence-based practices and person-centered planning, helping each participant build on their strengths and work toward goals that matter to them.

Depending on the program, services may be funded through school district placements, DDS self-directed funding, or private pay.

Rooted in the Community

Aspire’s first standalone Transition Program will launch in Guilford, where participants will begin community-based experiences while the program’s permanent location at 89 State St. is completed later this fall.

Leading the program is Tara Beatty, a certified transition specialist and special education teacher who spent more than 25 years serving students in Guilford Public Schools. She also co-founded Guilford-based nonprofit Sound Life Connections Inc., bringing decades of experience and relationships throughout Connecticut’s shoreline communities.

“Over my career, I’ve watched students grow in ways that simply aren’t possible within four classroom walls,” Tara said. “When they’re trusted with real responsibilities and supported as they navigate workplaces and their communities, they develop skills they’ll carry with them throughout adulthood.”

Those relationships are already creating opportunities for participants. Students will begin community-based learning through local partnerships, including vocational experiences at The Wave, an inclusive gelato café and training space where they can build workplace skills in a real business alongside coworkers and customers.

The Beginning of a New Model

Launching the program in Guilford marks more than the opening of a new location. It represents the first step in a new model of transition services for Aspire.

For more than 45 years, Aspire has supported children, teens, and adults through education, behavioral health, employment, residential, and community-based day services. The new standalone Transition Program strengthens that continuum by focusing on the years when young adults are preparing to leave school and begin building adult lives.

As the program grows, Aspire hopes to bring this community-based approach to additional communities, expanding opportunities for more young adults to gain the skills, experiences, and confidence that support successful futures.

Families, school districts, and community partners interested in learning more about Aspire’s Transition Program or Adult Community & Employment Services can contact Tara Beatty at tbeatty@allinc.org or 959-279-9583.