FIND YOUR PATH

How Can You Adult Easier At TFL?

IN-HOUSE COMPUTER TECH TRAINING

If you’re interested in tech, look no further. You can earn industry relevant certifications in things like computer coding, software design, web development, graphic design or other tech related marketable skills. TFL is a licensed technology vocational school.

If tech isn’t your thing, we still have you covered:

TRADITIONAL COLLEGE

Get comprehensive support while you take classes at nearby Utah Tech University.

APPRENTICESHIPS

Develop hands on work experience with a career mentor in a specific field.

TRADE SCHOOL

Receive mentoring as you train at Dixie Technical College or other local courses.

JOB EXPERIENCE & INTERNSHIPS

Get help to find meaningful career opportunities. In other words, not just fast food.

Meanwhile Be Mentored In All Areas With TechieForLife’s Therapeutically Sound Wrap-around Support

Get Involved

STUDENT COMMITTEE

Have the opportunity to serve on TFL’s Student Committee. Then, you can be directly involved in the planning and implementation of the TFL approach. In addition, develop your leadership and communication skills, as well as, practice resolving conflicts and supporting others.

CLEANING COMMITTEE

Plans and coordinates cleaning assignments for the apartments and here at TFL campus.

Get Involved

STUDENT COMMITTEE

Have the opportunity to serve on TFL’s Student Committee. Then, you can be directly involved in the planning and implementation of the TFL approach. In addition, develop your leadership and communication skills, as well as, practice resolving conflicts and supporting others.

CLEANING COMMITTEE

Plans and coordinates cleaning assignments for the apartments and here at TFL campus.

ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE

Plans and coordinates weekly activities. For example, game nights, BBQ’s at the park or lake, hikes, laser tag, bowling, movie nights, etc. Secondly, helps plan monthly overnight adventure trips. For instance, river rafting, horseback riding, camping, attending comic or gaming conventions, etc.

FOOD COMMITTEE

Coordinates and oversees weekly food related planning. Such as, scheduling shopping trips and going over cooking team assignments. (Each cooking team plans, shops, prepares, serves, and cleans up a meal for the other students once a week).

SUPPORT WHEN YOU NEED IT

Mentoring

Benefit from the support you need when you need it. College-aged peer mentors are here to walk with you while you navigate day to day life.

TFL mentors will spend time with you. They can offer a listening ear. Most importantly, they want to understand your goals and challenges so they can help you with your individual plans.

STUDENT LIFE

TFL Campus

Enjoy a comfortable place to hang out with friends at “The Loft.” There are snacks, comfortable couches, big screen TV’s, computers, a common area, and other rooms.

ACTIVITIES

Fun and challenging activities are an important part of life at TFL. Start building friendships. Participate in weekly activities planned by our Student Committee. For example, some favorite ones are pizza movie night, game tournaments, lake trips, hiking, bowling, rappelling, rock climbing, and laser tag.

Get out for monthly adventurous overnight trips or experience. For instance, attend the FanX convention in Salt Lake City. Go river rafting in Moab. Stay at a mountain cabin. Horseback ride through the beautiful Southern Utah wilderness and camp in the desert.

Indeed, these are just some of the cool life experiences that can be shared while at TFL.

LIFE SKILLS CLASSES

In order to make the transition to independent living easier we offer life skill classes. Here are a few of the important topics you’ll be able to learn more about:

  • Daily living skills (shopping, budgeting, hygiene, etc.)
  • Social success (communication, dating, nuance, etc.)
  • Physical wellness (exercise, diet, image, etc.)
  • Emotional health (insight, balance, empathy, etc.)

COLLEGE CAMPUS

Let us help you get involved. Join groups and activities at Utah Tech University. You might even take a class just for fun and growth.

HEALTH & FITNESS

Be supported in healthy living. Go to the gym several times a week. Be challenged with fun contests. Enjoy being active with friends.

COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERING

Stay involved in the community. Make a difference and volunteer at the local food pantry, Habitat for Humanity, or the animal shelter.

THERAPY

If therapy would be beneficial, see one of the highly recommended therapists TFL contracts with for services.

ACROSS FROM UTAH TECH UNIVERSITY

Student Housing

Living in and maintaining your residence is an important aspect of independent adulthood.

You’ll live across the street from Utah Tech University in our student housing. 24-hour support is available.

Our Eccles and Atwood houses are conveniently located within close walking distance of Utah Tech and TFL’s campuses. They’re nicely furnished with two beds to a room, a spacious kitchen, living room, bathrooms, and a washer and dryer.

Use the house for sleeping, meals and down time. Additionally, TFL’s campus provides a comfortable space for you to hang out and socialize. It has high speed WiFi, big screen TV’s, computers and gaming.

FINDING YOUR PATH TOGETHER

Who Our Students Are

TechieForLife students aspire to become more socially connected and independent while they find their educational/career path.

Typically, TFL students are young men and women, ages 18-30ish. They come to our school from diverse backgrounds.

Students are at various stages in their career and life development. Some students may need to finish high school, others want to start college, and some come with a college degree.

While, some students may need a first job, some are ready for an internship, and others are looking at career placements.

Student Profile

Neurodivergent or “Quirky”


Average to High IQ or “Gifted”


Non-traditional Learners


Learning Differences


Processing Issues


Twice Exceptional Students (High Ability with Challenges)

Rigid, Avoidant, Stuck, Resistant


Executive Function Deficits


Organization & Time Management Issues


Need More Comprehensive Academic Support


Emerging Adults

Haven’t Finished High School


Haven’t Been to College


Have Attempted College & Ready to Try Again


Completed College & Need Help with Next Step


Traditional College Isn’t for Them- Need a Path for What They’re Interested in & Good at Doing

Student Profile

Neurodiverse or “Quirky”


Average to High IQ


Non-traditional Learners


Learning Differences


Processing Issues


Twice Exceptional Students (High Ability with Challenges)


Rigid, Avoidant, Stuck, Resistant


Executive Function Deficits


Organization & Time Management Issues

Need More Comprehensive Academic Support
Motivational Struggles


Emerging Adults


Haven’t Finished High School


Haven’t Been to College


Have Attempted College & Ready to Try Again


Completed College & Need Help with Next Step


Traditional College Isn’t for Them- Need a Path for What They’re Interested in & Good at Doing

TFL Students Often Need Support With

Developing a Sense of Self & Identity


Overcoming Painful Shyness or Social Isolation


Expanding Healthy Social & Life Coping Skills


Improving Self-confidence & Building Resilience


Regulating Emotions & Reducing Impulsivity


Developing Independent Living Skills


Transitioning to Higher Levels of Freedom & Responsibility


Activating Intrinsic Motivation


Managing Over-dependence on Digital Gaming & Social Media

Bridging the Gap Between Individual Potential & Actual Potential


Managing Work or School & Basic Daily Commitments


Learning Accountability


Balancing School/ Work/ Life


Managing Stress


Managing Free Time Productively


Exercising & Eating Nutritiously


Improving Hygiene & Sleep Schedule

TFL Students Often Need Support With

Developing a Sense of Self & Identity


Overcoming Painful Shyness or Social Isolation


Expanding Healthy Social & Life Coping Skills


Improving Self-confidence & Building Resilience


Regulating Emotions & Reducing Impulsivity


Developing Independent Living Skills


Transitioning to Higher Levels of Freedom & Responsibility


Activating Intrinsic Motivation

Managing Over-dependence on Digital Gaming & Social Media


Bridging the Gap Between Individual Potential & Actual Potential


Managing Work or School & Basic Daily Commitments


Learning Accountability


Balancing School / Work / Life


Managing Stress


Managing Free Time Productively


Exercising & Eating Nutritiously


Improving Hygiene & Sleep Schedule

WALKING WITH YOU ON YOUR JOURNEY…

WALKING WITH YOU ON YOUR JOURNEY…

Not All Students at TFL Have a Diagnosis but Some Common Ones Could Include:

ANXIETY | DEPRESSION | OCD | NVLD
AUTISM (WITHOUT INTELLECTUAL DISORDER) | ADD/ ADHD
PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER NOS, OR PDD NOS

FAQ

Yes, we are all gender and welcome LGBTQIA+ students.

We currently have up to 30 students in our main school, as well as, 12 in our independent condos. Furthermore, students don’t need to be a “techie” to be accepted at TFL. Not only do we offer in-house intro and more advanced certifications, but we also mentor students in a variety of individualized (including non-tech related) educational/career paths.

Students are typically in our main school course for about a year. However, some may need more or less time depending on their individual needs.

TechieForLife Sample Schedule

Most students move to our independent housing when they are successfully attending classes at Utah Tech and/or maintaining employment and are ready for more independence with mentoring. Some students move back home. While others are ready to move into their own apartment when they finish at TFL.

TFL’s global tuition includes:

  • Housing (2 beds to a room)
  • Food
  • Activities, gym membership & monthly overnight adventure/trips
  • Communal items all students use for example: Laundry detergent & toilet paper
  • Mentoring
  • Life skills classes
  • Life coaching
  • TFL’s in-house tech certification courses
  • Vocational support, job search, career planning, internships, apprenticeships, job coaching
  • College & trade school support (including tutoring if needed)
  • College class enrollment management
  • One session of contracted therapy a week (if needed.) 
  • Appointment management
  • Cell phone plan

We are not a licensed therapeutic program. However, we do include one session a week of contracted therapy in our tuition for students who need it. Unfortunately, we do not qualify for insurance reimbursement.

There are two beds to a room and four rooms to a floor. Each floor has a kitchen, living room, two bathrooms, and a washer/dryer in the Eccles house.

In the Atwood house there are two beds to a room and eight rooms in the house.

Students have roommates in order to practice the valuable social skills of getting along. While students may not bring a pet, they may take turns caring for TFL’s emotional support dog, Roo. Mentors live on-site. They can be contacted by phone for emergencies 24/7.

Many students come to TFL with what parents would describe as screen/gaming overuse. When neurodivergent young adults have not been able to get their social/emotional needs met they often find online options to be a less threatening social environment. When students enroll at TFL, our primary focus is to help them feel safety and belonging. As they participate in our mentoring supports they subsequently become less dependent and more balanced in their screen use. 

In order to discourage isolating we do not allow computers, WiFi or TVs in student housing. These features are freely available in The Loft, where students are encouraged to gather together.

If a student is struggling with getting up in the morning, we mentor them through that. We connect with them to better understand their struggles. Then we collaborate with them to find long-term solutions. We may pause their phone service if it’s too distracting for them at night. As soon as they can show up on time the next morning they get it turned back on.

Our students come from all over the country. Our students come from at-home living, supported apartment living, other programs, wilderness programs, etc. We don’t endorse or proselytize a religion. However, we will support each student’s religious preferences or otherwise.

Mentors transport students to activities and on errands.

Supplemental transportation:

  • If a student has a car or would like to have one, they can discuss permission and arrangements with our Executive Director.
  • Many students opt for an electric scooter to easily travel between TFL’s campus “The Loft,” the student houses, and Utah Tech campus.

We do not accept students who are unwilling to come and be mentored. We do not accept students who have a severe intellectual disability. Students must be ready for a college living experience. Furthermore, safety is of upmost importance. Consequently, we don’t accept students who are violently aggressive, act out sexually, actively use illegal drugs, or would threaten the safety of our other students and mentors.

Contact us to set up a call or Zoom.

If your young adult sounds like a good fit we’ll set up a Zoom call to interview your young adult. Provided that the interview goes well, we will invite you to come tour in person. (In case of extenuating circumstances we can arrange a virtual tour.)