Post-Graduation Program

The Young Adult Academy (YAA) serves individuals up to 40 years of age. The program offers adult education classes as well as job skills training on campus. The Academy is structured similarly to the Total Lifestyles Program, but is more intensely focused on long-term needs, community, and independent living. Academy students live either on campus or in nearby off-campus homes, but the YAA is located in the main school building.

Students in the YAA continue to attend a school-like, “class-based” program for 6 hours each day; specific areas of focus for these classes include life skills, social skills, health and wellness, job skills preparation, and more. Many of the individuals in this program first came to KDS as students in the Total Lifestyles Program and have decided to remain in the community that provides them with individualized support. YAA students are actively involved in community activities through their residential programming and are often role models for younger students in the program.