Our Message to Students & Parents
Students: You are a seeker, and you have a unique Learning Identity. We welcome you, no we do more than that, we Celebrate you! We embrace your Learning Diversability! Creating our website, we mean Your website, has been a labor of love. Our Vision is to provide the compass and the roadmap, to help you navigate your future. With the Right Information and support, figuring out the Right-Fit next steps in your pathway to higher education will be an engaging process that leads to a positive outcome.
Parents: You are the most important partners for your students throughout the college planning process! You have raised them, nurtured them and given them tough love to help them reach this season of their development. We are here to help you, to help them, to LAUNCH!
Interested in finding a Professional IEC (Independent Educational Consultant) to partner with your family in the college planning process?
Contact the IECs who we promote on the website, and see more listings in the “Business Directory,” under the “More” tab.
Step 1: Explore Higher Education Pathways
Transition Programs/Post Graduate Years
High School graduates who don't yet have the readiness for a 2 year or 4 year degree can attend a transition program or complete a post graduate year which will serve as a springboard for higher education.
Internship/Travel GAP Year Programs
High School graduates who are seeking travel and/or internships can engage in these experiences to help guide them onto a career path and/or higher education.
Certificate Programs Under 1 year
High school teens who have or haven't graduated may choose a Certificate Program because it's the shortest and least expensive route for attaining job skills and gainful employment.
Associates Degree
High school graduates who are college bound and seeking a 2 year Associates Degree that is stand alone or the foundation for pursuing a 4 year Bachelor's Degree.
Bachelor's Degree
High school graduates who aspire to attend college for at least 4 years and receive a Bachelor's Degree.
Step 2: Website Resources
Recommended Assessments
Assessments help you to develop self-awareness regarding your strengths, skills, personality, aptitude and more. You can use a variety of assessments to develop your holistic and personal profile. This information can empower you to identify your pathway towards the pursuit of a right-fit career!
LDND Free Videos
Our Foundation has developed these brief yet information videos on a wide variety of topics pertaining to your pursuit of Higher Education. Find videos that meet you where you are, and utilize the information to progress through each stage of the process!
LDND Free Articles
Our Co-Founders have written articles on a variety of topics related to learning differences and Neurodiversity. Check them out here!
Links for Organizations
Find organizations that support your particular learning challenges, and find great resources!
Parent Educational Program
Are you a homeschool parent, stay-at-home parent, or otherwise engaged parent who wants to facilitate your teen's planning for higher education and/or future career? Check out our PEP: Parent Educational Program!
Business Directory
Use this directory to find professionals to support your needs. This directory includes: IECs, SLPs, OTs, Neuropsychologists, Executive Function Coaches, Essay Coaches, Financial Advisors, and other professional practitioners, businesses, services and products.
Step 3: Career Path and Action Plan
Investigate Careers
Begin your search on the O*NET. It is the nation's primary source of occupational information. It contains information on hundreds of standardized occupation-specific descriptors. The FREE website was developed under a sponsorship by the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration through a grant to the North Carolina Department of Commerce. It is the Occupational Informational Network. The url is: onetonline.org
Select Careers of Interest
On the O*NET, complete the Interest Profiler Assessment to Identify careers that resonate with your : personality, skills, interests, values, salary goals, work environment, and other lifestyle factors. Then use the information to find career matches, and research them. Choose a few that appeal to you.
Determine Education / Training Required
Find out if the career you want to pursue requires specific training, a degree, what type of degree, state licensure, federal license and national accreditation/certification. Also determine if there is a set number of hours required as part of an internship or practicum.
Review Schools / Training Programs
Determine if you are able to do training/education online or in-person. Perhaps this is something that you can train for at no cost to you in the military. Consider timeline, financial factors and if relocation is necessary for training/education and/or employment. Explore courses, curriculums, and training formats.
Vette Programs of Interest
Research schools/training programs online: via websites and also discussion boards of students who have attended. Contact programs and/or institutions of higher learning to arrange in-person visits. When on-campus, talk to students, faculty and staff to find out positives/negatives. Determine if the program is a right-fit for you!
Application Process
Determine the application deadlines and work backwards to create your own tasks/timeline for the process. Gather documents such as: high schools transcripts, standardized test scores when necessary, recommendation letters and any other required documents. Find out fees involved and if you qualify for fee waivers, VA Benefits or Unemployment Benefits. Determine if there are essays required and if an interview is required. Identify how you will apply; via an online application or via mail in. Plan to complete and submit the application one month prior to the deadline.