Life Launch is an innovative, multi-faceted program that prepares young adults who are blind or visually impaired, with multiple disabilities, for independent living through hands-on work experience, concrete skill development, and real-world community engagement.
Classes will begin July 2025
Suggested two-year enrollment
Students build a strong foundation of essential skills for independent living and employment readiness — including communication, travel training, problem-solving, time management, self-advocacy, finances, and technology.
They also explore careers via volunteering, find strengths, and set personal goals.
In the second year, students use their skills in real-life internships, job shadowing, and community service.
We focus on planning for the future, offering post-secondary education and job training options. Personal mentoring helps set clear post-high school goals.
The Life Launch Program includes transition counseling and support in the years after graduation, ensuring continued connections and success.
This includes coaching, progress monitoring, resource coordination, and job placement assistance.
From the start, students are immersed in understanding Apartment Living, Activism, Financial Literacy, Nutrition & Fitness and more. Students receive one-to-one support in Assistive Technology, Job Coaching, Transition Counseling, Vision Services and Orientation and Mobility.
Our historic Life Launch building has been updated with state-of-the-art classrooms, comfortable common areas, and a large, accessible teaching kitchen where students learn to use appliances and prepare homemade meals.
By providing a comprehensive and supportive environment, Life Launch equips students with the practical skills and confidence needed for successful independent living. Join our Transition Center Director, Alexandra LaVoie, on a tour of the building.
There is no deadline to apply, we offer rolling admission. If you are interested in referring your student, please contact the admissions team.
Life Launch is considered an out-of-district school placement for students in their final years of high school. Tuition is generally supported by the sending school district.
Yes, however Life Launch is a five day / week residential program. Out-of-state students must be able to return home on Friday afternoon, and return to Perkins on Monday morning each week.
Your child’s educational team will be determined by your child’s learning profile. We have specialists in orientation and mobility, speech and language pathology, physical and occupational therapy, individual and group counseling and assistive technology. They are the best in their fields and all share a common goal: to educate and prepare our students for independence today and later in life.
Students receive both small group classroom instruction and individualized services based on their education plan. They also participate in work-based learning opportunities such as job shadowing, internships, and skill workshops, designed to build employability and workplace readiness.
Our independent living curriculum is taught in a dorm-style setting and includes budgeting, meal preparation, housekeeping and travel, often with guided practice in the community. Throughout the week, students plan and attend local outings and events where they practice accessing resources, building self-determination skills and making community connections.
At Perkins, we’re changing the way people think about preparing students with disabilities for their post-secondary journeys — in college, employment, and the community.
Sign up then visit our Transition Center to stay up to date about our latest programs, research, and resources.
