STRIVE Support & Training Resources for Independence & Vocational Education

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301-292-7600 10903 Indian Head Hwy. Suite 201 Ft. Washington, MD 20744 www.striveincld.org

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) about STRIVE

General Questions:

Cornerstone Residence Questions:

What is STRIVE? Why was STRIVE started? When was STRIVE started? Who was STRIVE started for? What are the goals of STRIVE? How are these goals accomplished? Program Components and Services Provided How is STRIVE unique? Where are STRIVE courses offered?

What is the goal of Cornerstone Foundation? How are the goals of Cornerstone Foundation accomplished? Why was Cornerstone Foundation started? When was Cornerstone Foundation started? What is the philosophy of Cornerstone Foundation? What makes Cornerstone Foundation unique? Who was Cornerstone Foundation Residential Program started for? How do the goals of Cornerstone interface with the goals of the STRIVE Program at the College? Phases of the Cornerstone Foundation Residential Program Travel directions to the Cornerstone Residence from the Beltway

What is STRIVE?

STRIVE, Inc. is a private non-profit organization of parents and professionals dedicated to providing opportunities for young adults with learning disabilities (LD)to transition from school to post-secondary training, employment, and successful community living.

STRIVE courses are offered through Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale, Virginia.

STRIVE is a non-credit, CEU, certificate granting, college campus and community based career life planning program. The program prepares LD students for the challenges of adult living in the following areas:

• career life planning
• community based training, involvement, and employment
• community service learning recreation and leisure
• social skills
• academic referral
• residential living

Why was STRIVE started?

Non college bound young adults with significant learning disabilities need transition services and continuing life long education, training, and support just as much as their counterparts who are going to post secondary "academic" institutions. Yet, young adults with moderate to severe LD may not find an "academic" college program to be a viable option. STRIVE provides an alternative "college-based" experience.

For college bound LD students, STRIVE provides a life line that anchors them in a strong support system if they should feel tossed about in "turbulent academic seas" or need a stable, social support network to improve or establish a social life.

When was STRIVE started?

STRIVE was founded in 1990 as a continuation of "Project LIVE" (Learn, Intern, Validate for Employment in 1981) by Dr. Jean E. Robinson: inspired by her daughter Kim, who has significant learning disabilities, and dedicated to LD young adults who needed an alternative, non traditional, comprehensive college program. STRIVE enhances the development of employment, independence, life skills, relationships, and other adult living objectives, including services defined in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 1992 (IDEA, formerly PL 94-142) such as:

Who was STRIVE started for?

STRIVE's Target Population:

• LD Adults with moderate to severe LD
• Persons 18 years or older who received special education services while in high school in self-contained classrooms or were mainstreamed with resource assistance
• Persons with a documented diagnosis of LD without a significant behavioral disorder as the primary disability
• Persons with a tested abilities in the low average intelligence range
• Persons with potential for average intelligence given the right combination of individual commitment, timely intervention and appropriate supportive environment
• Candidates who might find an academic college credit program too challenging
• College bound LD students who need a support group

What are the goals of STRIVE?

The acronym STRIVE stands for Support and Training Resources for Independence and Vocational Education.
The goal of STRIVE is to assist and empower young adults with LD to:

• realize their full potential
• enrich their lives and relationships
• become successfully employed
• live independently in the community and
• establish and maintain successful and fulfilling lives.

How are these goals accomplished?

STRIVE bases its programs upon the individual's personal preferences, needs, abilities and interests while:

• respecting the individual's rights to make personal choices
• teaching executive processing skills
• setting and achieving goals
• encouraging the young adult to participate as a partner in program development

Program Components and Services Provided

STRIVE - is a 5 STEP PROGRAM

1 2 = 3 4 5
A N C P R
(*or AN (nandale) provides CPR - life enriching and sustaining programs for LD students!)
(1) Apprenticeships (Training and Employment Sites)
(2) Non credit = bridge (14 courses) - Strive Courses
(3) Credit Courses - Strive Courses
(4) Parent Education and Support
(5) Residential Program

How is STRIVE unique?

• Offers an alternative to the college credit program for high risk LD students prone to "falling through the cracks"
• Stepping stone to credit program
• "Jump start" into launching a career
• Only totally supervised college and residential program available for learning "d-is-able-d" individuals in the metropolitan DC area
• Supportive, nurturing environment and professional staff
• Makes college accessible and gives LD persons a "college based" experience they would not have received otherwise
• Provides a bridge linking students to the credit programs, residential services, partnerships with businesses and community and college resources.
• Includes community and "college-based" involvement, support, training and employment
• Options for continuous, life long outreach support services, and inclusion in community life
• Enables and empowers LD adults to acquire skills to became successfully employed and live independently in the community
• Provides multisensory, experiential learning methods

Where are STRIVE courses offered?

Classes are administered through:
Continuing Education
Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) - Annandale Campus
8333 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA 22003-3796

For course listings --
NVCC - Annandale Campus - Continuing & Community Education Website:
www.nv.cc.va.us/annandale/continuing
Strive Course Listings:
www.nv.cc.va.us/annandale/continuing/fall-strive.html

To register or for more information phone (703) 323-3168

What is the goal of Cornerstone Foundation?

The goal of the residential program is to empower and support LD adults to increase personal autonomy and achieve a self-determined, valued, and independent life-style as well as, provide training and assistance in community living and personal, vocational, recreational, spiritual, and social skills to enhance and promote maximum inclusion and community involvement.

How are the goals of Cornerstone Foundation accomplished?

Cornerstone Foundation is committed to assisting learning disabled adults 18 years and older in transitioning into shared housing in the community. There are four sequential components of the program which include:
(a) Phase I - Totally supervised housing with a 24-hour rotating live-in counseling staff,
(b) Phase II - Semi-supervised residences with "drop-in" counseling services,
(c) Phase III - Total independent living with no ongoing support services except on an "as needed basis",
(d) Phase IV - students still needing total supervision continue in Phase 1 or move into Phase IV,
(e) Phase V - Life-long, optional, outreach support services.
The program is dedicated to provide "continuous life-long support" for learning disabled adults in their "supported independent living residences" in the community and foster the development of networking and life skills training while teaching them to advocate for the enforcement of their rights which open the doors of dignity and independence.

Why was Cornerstone Foundation started?

Cornerstone Foundation was started to enhance the independence, community inclusion, and quality of life of Learning Disabled adults as they transition into shared housing in the community and to provide answers to the questions faced by STRIVE parents who needed to plan for the day when they would no longer be able to care for, support, nurture and guide their adult offspring.

When was Cornerstone Foundation started?

Cornerstone Foundation, a supported Independent Living Residence for Learning Disabled Adults, was founded in 1997 by Dr. Jean E. Robinson; inspired by her daughter Kim, who has significant learning disabilities and dedicated "to the glory of God" as a living memorial in loving memory of her revered and beloved Grandparents Amelia M. and Edward P. Fisher.

What is the philosophy of Cornerstone Foundation?

Cornerstone Foundation, is an independent living residence for learning disabled adults and a vocational independence assistance program which:

1. builds self esteem, self advocacy, and confidence through education, community service and involvement, work and friendships
2. teaches skills in accessing community and college based resources and support systems
3. enables participants to become involved, employable and live more independently in the community.

Cornerstone Foundation makes available to all residents the opportunity for spiritual growth and participation in religious services that celebrate Christian life and traditions. Cornerstone is a Christian organization with an ecumenical and interfaith outlook. Non-Christian residents are assisted in the practice of their own faith.

What makes Cornerstone Foundation unique?

Cornerstone, Supported Independent Living Residence, is the only one of its kind for the adult LD population in Northern Virginia and the metropolitan area. The Residents participate fully in the STRIVE courses at Northern Virginia Community College campus in Annandale, Virginia. The program is geared to applicants who wish to maintain an independent lifestyle in a structured supportive environment while utilizing community and college resources. Participants obtain growth in education, recreation, community service, career life planning opportunities and spiritual development.

The house is a stunning five bedroom colonial with front porch backing wood Glen Lake, (3 levels, 3,000 sq. ft.)

• 6 residents plus a live-in counselor
• rotating residential staff
• 5/6 bedroom walk-out basement community house
• all meals included in the residential cost per student
• a vehicle for transportation needs
• access to neighborhood pool and tennis courts
• independent living skills instruction
• access to public transportation
• opportunity to live with dignity and independence

Who was Cornerstone Foundation Residential Program started for?

Candidates with the following characteristics:

• LD Adults with moderate to severe LD
• LD Persons 18 years or older who received special education services while in school in self-contained classrooms or mainstreamed with resource assistance.
• Documented diagnosis of LD without a significant behavioral disorder as the primary disability
• Tested abilities in the low average intelligence range or
• The potential for average intelligence given the right combination of individual commitment, timely intervention and appropriate supportive environment
• Show evidence of psychological maturity and stability and no evidence of conditions that could interfere with successful program completion.
• Have a commitment to work, building friendships, personal independence and self-management

How do the goals of Cornerstone interface with the goals of the STRIVE Program at the College?

The acronym STRIVE stands for Support and Training Resources for Independence and Vocational Education.
The goal of STRIVE is to assist and empower young adults with LD to:

• realize their full potential
• enrich their lives and relationships
• become successfully employed
• live independently in the community and
• establish and maintain successful and fulfilling lives.

The Cornerstone Foundation Residential Program provides the following:

• link to the STRIVE non-credit, CEU, certificate granting, college campus and community based career life planning program.
• community and college based involvement, education, service, training and employment.
• multisensory, experiential learning methods
• time management training
• Executive processing skills training setting goals, steps to achieve goals, monitoring progress towards goals.
• supportive, nurturing environment and professional staff.

Phases of the Cornerstone Foundation:

Phase I STRIVE's CORNERSTONE FOUNDATION is a totally supervised transitional adult residence for young adults with learning disabilities to increase their personal autonomy and succeed in work and independent living by establishing a successful and fulfilling life.

Residents receive training and assistance in, job placement, and support through work experiences, recreation and leisure, basic life skills training, counseling, networking, community involvement, and satisfactory interpersonal relationships.

While preparing for a career and life in a community setting the young adults generally live in this residential phase for two years, though this length may vary depending on the individual's needs, before moving into the outreach phase.

STRIVE's vision is to have 4 basic levels (phases) in the program ranging from totally supported to almost entirely independent. Individuals receive services depending on their individual needs. As their skills and confidence grow they move to a more independent level.

The Outreach Program

Phase II - Semi-supervised residence with drop-in counseling services.

Phase III - Total independent living with no ongoing support services. Although STRIVE is "on call" for services if needed in Phase III this is paid for on a "fee for service" basis. Even residents at this level will check in periodically with outreach staff, though no formal individual programming takes place.

Phase IV - Students still needing total support/supervision might continue in Phase I or move into Phase IV which is similar to Phase I above, The Residence. It is expected that some STRIVE adults may need life-long support.

Phase V - Life-long, optional, outreach support services are available on a "fee for service" basis.

Travel Directions to the Cornerstone Residence from the Beltway

Exit Braddock Road west (6 miles past Kings Park, University Mall and George Mason University).
Left on Ox Road. (Sign, Fairfax Club Estates.)
Left on Adare Road.
Right on John Ayres.
Right on Goldeneye to 10616 Goldeneye Lane.

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