Independence College

Independence College is best suited for students who:

• have completed 12th grade
• are 18 or older
• have a developmental disability
• are motivated to live independently
• can stay safe without 1:1 supervision
• can complete tasks without constant prompting
• do not have a recent history of self harm or violence towards others
• can manage their daily living activities independently
• can reliably and accurately communicate their needs
• can use basic technology
• can learn and retain skills

Independence College by On My Own of Michigan® has been carefully designed to give students:

• a college-like experience in a safe, supported environment,
• the skills necessary to successfully live on their own long-term as well as gain and maintain competitive wage employment of their choosing, and
• a community of supportive peers.

Independence College by On My Own of Michigan® is a two-year program consisting of four semesters (Fall + Spring of each academic year.) Students must enroll in the full two-year program. Optional summer programming will also be offered.

While attending Independence College, students will live in an apartment, learn independent living and employment skills during the day, and engage in structured social activities on nights and weekends.

Each student will have an individualized learning plan, receive hands-on classroom and in-home instruction, participate in supervised community-based learning and work experiences, and complete at-home skill practice.

Independence College curriculum includes:

• life skills
• employment skills
• safety
• money management
• health and wellness
• communication and socialization
• transportation
• foundational skills like functional reading, language and math

Upon graduation, students will be prepared to continue living on their own and maintain meaningful employment.

If this describes what you're seeking, Independence College by On My Own of Michigan® may be right for you!

The safety of our students is paramount.

Here are just a few of the practices we've implemented with safety in mind:

• we provide in-person 1:1 and group instruction to students for an average of ten hours per weekday
• we check-in with students virtually at least once on weekends
• students have access to our staff 24/7 through our emergency phone line
• we continuously teach safety skills and role play scenarios to test those skills
• all staff go through a rigorous background screening process
• all students and staff are required to be up-to-date with the following vaccinations:
  • Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (DTP, DTaP, Tdap)
  • Polio
  • Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)
  • Hepatitis B
  • Meningococcal Conjugate
  • Varicella (chicken pox)
  • COVID-19 (including at least one booster dose)
  • an annual flu vaccination is encouraged but not required
• we monitor community spread of viral illnesses like COVID-19 and require mask wearing when cases are high

Independence College by On My Own of Michigan® costs $40,000 per academic year, for a total investment of $80,000.

Tuition includes:

• shared housing
• healthy meals
• our customized two-year curriculum taught by experienced educators every weekday
• an individualized learning plan to support each student's long-term goals
• work-based learning experiences of the student's choosing
• weekly community outings and activities
• weekend virtual check-ins with staff
• 24/7 emergency phone support

Tuition payments may be made:

• in a lump sum at the start of each academic year (July 1st; a $250 annual discount applies to this option)
• in two equal payments each academic year (July 1st and January 1st; a $125 annual discount applies to this option)
• in ten equal payments each academic year (July - April)

Payments may be made through:

• check
• credit card (a 3.5% processing fee applies)

Applications are due by March 1st to be considered for enrollment in the next class of students starting in September. We do not offer new student enrollment in the Spring.

Applications can be submitted by following these steps:

• First, complete our online application form here.
• At the same time you complete your application, please submit your non-refundable application fee (click the button on the application page to be brought to our payment page.)
  • Applicants who have previously attended a session of Independence Prep pay an application fee of $50.
  • Applicants who have not attended a session of Independence Prep pay an application fee of $225. This fee includes a supervised overnight independent living experience with other applicants to give us a chance to see if our program will meet your needs.
• Once we receive your online application and application fee, we'll contact you to schedule an interview with our staff. If you haven't attended Independence Prep, we'll also give you the date of our next overnight independent living experience.
• Once these steps are complete and we've been able to confirm you meet our eligibility criteria, you'll receive an official acceptance to Independence College!

To learn more, RSVP for an upcoming information session:

• December 5th at 5:30 pm (Zoom)
• January 12th at 6 pm (in-person)
• February 7th at 5:30 pm (Zoom)

If you can't make an information session but have questions, please contact Director of Education Emily Lourim at emily@onmyownofmi.org or (248) 649-3739 x 221.