Director: Patricia Giner
pginer@chancelight.com
School Calendar
Welcome! The Atlantis Academy L.I.F.E. Program (Living Independently with Fundamental Experiences) teaches young adults over the age of 18 with autism spectrum and related disabilities the necessary skills they need to live a more independent life both in the home and in the workplace.
Join us for an Open House:
School Director
Patricia Giner
pginer@chancelight.com
For more than two decades, Patricia Giner has dedicated her career to Atlantis Academy, serving in various roles throughout the years. Prior to her current role as director of the L.I.F.E. program, she served as director of education and community outreach and director of development and admissions for Atlantis Academy. Before joining Atlantis Academy, Patricia taught in the first inclusion classroom in a private preschool in Coconut Grove, Fla. She also served as a child advocate for Dade County Public School Chapter One Handicapped Students, a national director of admissions for College Living Experience and an independent educational consultant for students with special needs.
She received degrees from Barry University in Miami Shores and the University of Miami and a certificate in Cuban-American Studies from the University of Miami. She is also certified in Guardian Ad Litem training in Dade County and in Early Childhood Education and Advocacy & Self-Determination Skills. For the past 15 years, she has served as a Child Development Advisory Council Member for the University of Miami Mailman Center and a board member for The Coalition of McKay Scholarship Schools, in addition to several other professional and civic organizations.
Frequently Asked Questions about Miami L.I.F.E. Program
Yes. Students at the L.I.F.E. Program can continue accessing their state-funded scholarships until they reach the age of 22. Our staff can help guide our students toward different funding options that may be available for some students over age 22. Please contact the L.I.F.E. Program for more information.
Yes. In addition to increasing students’ independence in the home and workplace, an important component of the L.I.F.E. Program is enhancing our students’ social skills. The L.I.F.E. Program provides weekly and monthly social activities, such as going to the movies and dining at local restaurants, that help students build meaningful relationships that last for years.
The L.I.F.E. Program teaches young adults the necessary skills they need to live a more independent life, both in the home and workplace. Our dedicated team offers individualized support services and focuses on improving the independent living, social, vocational and educational skills needed to be successful and independent after high school. Our model blends classroom instruction, workplace experiences and social enrichment opportunities to help equip students for the real world.
The L.I.F.E. Program provides a comprehensive experience to prepare young adults for employment and independence after high school. The unemployment rate for young adults with disabilities is close to 90%, but the skills our students gain in the L.I.F.E. Program prepares them to defy those odds. Our proudest moments are when students exit the L.I.F.E. Program because they have secured full-time employment, often with benefits.
However, success may be defined differently based on students’ and families’ personal goals, desires and expectations. Upon admission to the L.I.F.E. Program, each student completes a personalized learning plan with L.I.F.E. Program staff that outlines individual goals and benchmarks needed to achieve those goals.
For tuition details on the L.I.F.E Program please call:
Miami: 305-456-9578
Coral Springs: 954-752-7571
The L.I.F.E. Program has a number of business partnerships where students learn critical job skills needed in the workplace. The L.I.F.E. Program successfully develops collaborative partnerships with local hospitals, universities, tourist attractions and other businesses in the community to provide young adults with a variety of real-world vocational experiences. In these environments, we customize programs that focus on work skills development, community networking, job coaching, job training, and career assessments.
Students and young adults ages 18 through 21 with varying abilities may apply for the L.I.F.E. Program. Our most successful students have a desire to receive transition services in a setting outside of a typical school, have exhibited a need and a desire for greater independence, and will benefit from participation in a variety of workplace internship experiences.
The L.I.F.E. Program is an intensive, post-secondary program experience that helps young adults bridge the gap between school and employment. Participants can expect a blend of classroom instruction, work experience, and social enrichment opportunities to help equip them for the real world. Students of the L.I.F.E. Program benefit from services unique to our program, and gain new skill sets that prepare them for the next chapter of their lives.
Vocational & Educational Skills
- Work skills development
- Computer training
- Functional reading, writing, and math skills
- Community networking
- Job coaching services
- Job training
- Career assessments
Independent Living Skills
- Household organization
- Personal hygiene
- Financial skills management
- Safety skills
- Transportation system navigation
- Health and fitness
- Meal preparation
Social Skills
- Self-determination and self-advocacy skills
- Social media safety
- Meaningful relationship development
- Community access
- Weekly activities
The L.I.F.E. Program is offered in Miami and Coral Springs. The Miami L.I.F.E. Program has its own dedicated building, and the Coral Springs L.I.F.E. Program is located on the Atlantis Academy Coral Springs school campus.
