Post High School Programs & Advisors
Parent Q&A
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My 16 year old son has ADHD and Learning Disabilities. Academics have always been hard for him. He has an IEP and is getting through high school, but not thriving. Traditional academics are not his thing (at least not right now). He'll likely graduate with a modified diploma. He is bright and has many strengths, but will not have the pre-requisite classes to attend a 4 year college, and will also likely not be ready academically to handle that kind of environment. Even community college may be an academic stretch, although a program with strong disability services might be okay.
His passion/dream is to be a pilot. This is likely not possible because of his ADHD (he currently needs medication to function at school and this is a rule out for pilot license). He knows this and is open to another aviation career/job, but doesn't have a lot of ideas. His high school is full of college bound high achieving students, and school counselors are not as focused on other post high school opportunities. I would love to find a counselor to work with him on-line who understands teens who are not strong academically, but have other talents, and someone who really knows what other options are out there. I'd like him to have help exploring the post high school options that might be the best fit for him, and someone to walk him through the steps that are necessary to help him get to whatever post high school goal he comes up with. He might be a good candidate for some kind of technical program in aviation, for an apprenticeship program, for community college, for a gap year work or program to gain independence and confidence, for getting a job and learning how to manage a budget and begin to live independently. I don't know what all the options are, and I think that these conversations would also work better between my son and an objective adult.
I am not pushing any agenda for him, except to gradually build some kind of plan over the next 2 years, so that he'd got something to do when he graduates that he feels is meaningful.
Do you have an on-line counselor recommendation for non-traditional career/academic guidance. I'm not looking for a life-coach person--the issues are not a lack of motivation, but lack of ideas for what options are out there that would be a good fit. Thanks so much!
Feb 14, 2022 -
Our HS senior is clear he does not want to go to college next year, or perhaps any time soon, which is fine with us. At the same time, he does benefit from structure - which could mean anything from a job or internship to a gap-year program. Can you recommend counselors who help seniors like him think through their alternatives, or specific programs that our son (interested in fashion design, social justice, and biking) might be interested in?
Jan 17, 2022 -
Parents,
can anyone recommend a top notch post high school transitions program in the Bay Area? I’m Looking at either public or private. We are in the Acalanes school district and expect to go to DelValle, but are open to other options. Even ones out of state. However, my child will be graduating with a certificate of completion, not a high school diploma. I am not looking for a college transition program.However, being able to take a community college course would be a plus to keep active with typical students.
thank you.
Jan 15, 2021