Path to Academics, Community and Employment (PACE)

Founded in 1986, P.A.C.E. at National Louis University is a three-year, post-secondary certificate program designed to meet the transitional needs for young adults with multiple intellectual, learning and developmental disabilities.

P.A.C.E. is one of the leading residential-based programs in the country that integrates employment preparation, independent living skills coaching, functional academic courses and social development into a curriculum that prepares students for independent living through experiential learning.

The program commits to educating the whole person, preparing young adults for independent living by integrating instruction in four areas:

• Functional academics
• Employment preparation
• Independent living skills
• Socialization/community living

The instructional approach at P.A.C.E. integrates both group and individual teaching across all areas of the students’ lives.  Instruction is based on the observation that students learn best when actively involved in the process and when teaching is linked directly to events and activities.

Functional Academics

P.A.C.E. students attend classes two days a week in an undergraduate university environment. Teaching and learning in a formal classroom are designed to present content and promote critical thinking skills in a structured environment. With guidance from P.A.C.E. instructors, students apply the concepts learned in the classroom to their personal situations, relationships, and routines outside of the classroom. P.A.C.E. classes serve as a space where students can discuss, role-play, and reflect upon their life-experiences, and practice their skills in new concepts. Problem-solving instruction across all areas of the program, facilitates P.A.C.E. students in becoming successful and independent problem-solvers in all aspects of their lives.

Employment Preparation

P.A.C.E. students complete three internships to accumulate over 1000 hours of actual work experience.  They prepare for employment in fields such as adult care, early childhood, food service, general office, supply and distribution, housekeeping, animal care, retail, health care and hospitality.  Employment skill development includes classroom instruction, workshops/trainings, as well as on-the-job coaching from supervisors and job coaches. All aspects of instruction are designed to help P.A.C.E. students find employment interests and skills to succeed in the world of work. The program operates from a base of more than 50 veteran career partners and continually recruits new contacts.

Independent Living Skills Instruction

Through one on one and small group instruction students work towards the development and maintenance of core executive functioning skill sets.These skills include, money management, time management, organization and personal care, each one drives the focus of Independent Living Skills Instruction. For this instruction, P.A.C.E utilizes the 21^st century housing as a classroom, which allows our students to directly apply these skills where they live. Through direct application and reinforcement by the P.A.C.E student life team, our students begin to integrate these skill sets into their personal repertoire.  

Socialization

Successful adults are socially responsible. At P.A.C.E. we hold our students to high standards to be successful at work, in the community and in their relationships. Students apply these skills in real-life situations in all P.A.C.E. learning environments, interacting with peers in the dorm, with coworkers and with the P.A.C.E. team on a daily basis. Planned activities that encourage social interaction and community engagement are an important part of P.A.C.E. at NLU. Students receive direct and guided instruction in improving their social skills and P.A.C.E. provides a unique real world arena for our students to put theory into practice every day. In addition, students learn to navigate means of public transportation to travel throughout their community.

Extended Programming

P.A.C.E. Bridge

The P.A.C.E. Bridge is an optional one year program for students to gain more independent daily living skills while residing in an integrated 21^st century student housing apartment facility. Students work up to four days per week and receive individualized job coaching with the ultimate goal of secured paid employment.  Students participate in social planning with P.A.C.E. Year 1 and Year 2 students and they continue to develop Self-Determination and Interpersonal Skills with the support of P.A.C.E team members.

P.A.C.E. Transition

Graduates of P.A.C.E. can also choose to practice the next steps of independent living through this advanced level of instruction. Students in the P.A.C.E. Transition Program receive instruction in apartment living, seeking and maintaining paid employment, weekly seminar classes, socializing and using community resources.  Over the 2015-2016 the transition program is being redesigned as a two year optional program that supports the further development of individual student needs. P.A.C.E. Alumni can select from a menu of services to help continue support their individual needs in Independent Living Skills, Self-Determination and Interpersonal skills and Employment skills.