Find Independence at TechieForLife
Enrolling at TechieForLife you’ll benefit from comprehensive support.
Our program offers a variety of options allowing for individualized and flexible career plans:
- Computer tech training: TFL’s in-house vocational technology program is designed for students to earn industry relevant certifications in:
- Computer coding
- Software design
- Web development
- Graphic design
- Other computer tech options
- Computer coding
- Traditional college: Comprehensive support for students enrolling at nearby Dixie State University (DSU).
- Trade school: Support for students enrolling locally at Dixie Technical College or other local programs.
- Apprenticeships: Hands on work experience with a career mentor in a specific field.
- Job experience and internships: Meaningful career opportunities not just fast food.
Admittance into TFL’s tech training program can lead to internship/job placement with ongoing occupational support.
(Further, this offering also makes for a great transition into other options.)
Be supported in all areas with TechieForLife’s therapeutically sound wrap-around program.
Student housing
Live in Dixie State University (DSU) approved privately owned student apartments with 24-hour on-site support available.
They are conveniently located within walking distance of DSU and TFL’s campuses. These nicely furnished two bedroom apartments accommodate four students. Each apartment includes a spacious kitchen, living room and a bathroom with a washer and dryer.
Use the apartments for sleeping, meals and down time. TFL’s campus provides a comfortable space for hanging out and socializing. It has high speed WiFi, big screen TV’s, computers and gaming.
Student Committee
Have the opportunity to serve on TFL’s Student Committee. You can be directly involved in the planning and implementation of the TFL program. In addition, develop leadership and communication skills, as well as, practice resolving conflicts and supporting others.
Committee Chair
Responsible for leading the committee and acting as a liaison between students and TFL directors.
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 like river rafting, horseback riding, camping, attending comic or gaming conventions, etc.
Food Committee
Coordinates and oversees weekly food related planning. For instance, scheduling shopping trips and going over cooking team’s assignments. (Each cooking team plans, shops, prepares, serves and cleans up a meal for the other students once a week).
Cleaning Committee
Plans and coordinates cleaning assignments for the apartments and TFL campus.
Mentoring
Benefit from the support you need when you need it. Peer mentors are here to “walk with” you while you navigate the experiences of day to day life.
Your personal mentor will regularly take you to lunch and offer a listening ear. Most importantly, they want to understand your goals and challenges and help you with your individual plans.
Student Life
TFL Campus
Have a comfortable place to hang out with friends at TFL. Enjoy snacks, comfortable couches, big screen TV’s, computers, a commons area and side rooms.
Activities
Fun and challenging activities are an important part of life at TFL. Build friendships through participation in weekly activities planned by the Student Committee. For example, some favorite ones are pizza movie night, game tournaments, lake trips, hiking, bowling, rappelling, rock climbing and laser tag.
Monthly, get out for an adventurous overnight trip or experience. For instance, go to the FanX convention in Salt Lake City, river raft in Moab, stay at a mountain cabin, horseback ride through the beautiful southern Utah wilderness and camp out in the desert.
These are just some of the rich life experiences that can be shared while at TFL.
Life Skills Classes
Four days a week, classes are held to learn more about important daily life skill topics.
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 with groups and activities at DSU or even take a class just for fun and growth.
Health and fitness
Be supported in healthy living, with a gym membership. Come to the gym several times a week. Be challenged with fun contests and rewards for growth.
Community volunteering
Stay involved in the community. Volunteer weekly at many places, including the local food pantry, Habitat for Humanity or the animal shelter.
If therapy would be beneficial, see a highly recommended therapist. TFL contracts with therapists right next door at Justin Stum’s office True North Counseling and Psychiatry.
Therapy
Who our students are
TechieForLife students have the same aspirations: to become more socially connected, independent, and find the right career path.
Typically, TFL students are young men and women, ages 18-30ish. They come to our program from diverse backgrounds. Many are at various stages of their career and life development. Some students need to finish high school. Some come already having a college degree.
Student Profile
Neurodiverse or “quirky”
Average to high IQ
Non-traditional learners
Learning differences
Processing issues
Focus problems
Twice exceptional students (high ability with challenges)
Rigid, avoidant, stuck, resistant
Immature or delayed
Executive function deficits
Organization and 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 and ready to try again
Completed college and need help with next step
Traditional college isn’t for them- need a path for what they’re interested in and good at doing
TFL students often need support with:
Developing sense of self and identity
Overcoming painful shyness or social isolation
Expanding healthy social and life coping skills
Improving self-confidence and building resilience
Managing anxiety and depression
Regulating emotions and reducing impulsivity
Developing independent living skills
Transitioning to higher levels of freedom and responsibility
Activating intrinsic motivation
Managing over-dependence on digital gaming and social media
Bridging the gap between individual potential and actual potential
Managing work or school and basic daily commitments
Learning accountability
Balancing school/ work/ life
Managing stress
Managing free time productively
Exercising and eating nutritiously
Improving hygiene and sleep schedule
Not all students in TFL’s program have a diagnosis but some common ones could include:
Anxiety
Depression
OCD
NVLD
ASD L1, High Functioning Autism/ Asperger’s or similar
ADD/ ADHD
I had a great experience as a student. They really helped me get on my own feet and start living the healthy, independent lifestyle I wanted. The faculty is helpful and invested, and it felt almost like another family.
TFL Student
Who We Are
As founding partners of TFL, we are first and foremost family oriented parents, who are professionals. We have parented our own young adults and teens. We want for TFL’s young adult’s the same quality of life as our own children. Safety and success are extremely important.
Jason is an experienced mental health clinician of 15 years. His previous experience includes work in group homes for very difficult boys, a Juvenile Probation Officer, and eventually as a licensed therapist and Clinical Director at Kolob Canyon RTC. His expertise includes parenting difficult adolescents and transitioning young adults.
Most significantly, he and his wife were foster and adoptive parents of special needs boys. Two of them have significant issues in the areas TFL focuses on. Both are transitioning slowly, with setbacks, but overall progressing into adult life. Jason knows what neurodiverse young adults like those with Autism struggle with and need. He understands what parents are going through. His passion is for this specific work and focus.
Tech Advisor, Co-Founding Partner
Eric Pedersen has served as a faculty member in the Computer and Information Technology Department at Dixie State University since 1989.
He is currently the Dean of the College of Science & Technology. He teaches web development and tech entrepreneurship at DSU.
In addition to his academic career, Pedersen is a successful entrepreneur co-founding companies and also on the board for many tech startups locally.
Admission
TechieForLife’s global tuition of $8,400 per month includes housing and food with an average 12 month stay. (Travel between home and personal extras are not included.)
With open enrollment students are accepted at any time, although TFL prefers to only accept three new students a month. This is to keep the peer mentoring model balanced.
In addition, for students who complete the TFL program and wish to stay connected, affordable options in TFL’s Graduate Program are available.
For more information and to see what TFL students are up to please visit:
Would you like to see if TechieForLife might be the right fit? Contact us here.
TechieForLife (TFL) is a co-ed, residential postsecondary school with a wrap-around career support program in beautiful St. George, Utah. Students with neurodiverse social, emotional and academic challenges such as autism receive mentoring so they can build social connections, confidence and independence. Licensed as a vocational school, TFL offers in-house computer tech training, college or trade school help, apprenticeships, internships and job support for individualized paths forward. At TFL, students have a place to belong and support to succeed.