Registration is open for the 2021 Independent Living Experience (ILE) through Glade Run Lutheran Services in Zelienople.

The residential program provides people ages 18 to 30 who are navigating autism or intellectual disabilities with away-from-home experience.

It's an additional level of independence preparation, according to Sheila Talarico, vice president of development and external affairs.

“It's an exceptional way for us to expand our selection of services into a slightly older market,” Talarico said.

ILE, which transition coordinator Tara Harvan initiated in 2017, is designed to fill a gap between transition programs available to students in high school and independent living.

Many programs available to school-age people — those in the age range of 14 to 21 — help to hone vocational, living and social skills.

But once students age out of those school-related initiatives, opportunities for things such as learning to live away from home decrease significantly.

“It left us wondering, 'What next?'” Talarico said.

For many participants, ILE is their first experience of living away from home.

The five-week summer program operates out of resident halls on the Glade Run campus, with nine rooms available per week.

The initiative is poised to provide independent experiences for up to 45 residents this year.

“This would be our largest (yet),” Talarico said.

ILE activities include lessons in everyday skills, such as grocery shopping and money management. It also focuses on finer skills, such as table etiquette and dating.

Harvan said aside from Glade Run staff, the program incorporates speakers and professionals who give residents inside looks at particular sets of skills.

“They're just snapshot type-of-deals,” Harvan said.

Skills are then applied to real-life scenarios. Harvan said residents and staff will take short trips to eat, shop or have fun.

Every experience is meant to show participants what they're capable of doing.

“They have probably more skills than they're aware of,” Harvan said.

The pandemic resulted in last year's ILE being canceled.

Talarico said Glade Run staff and instructors are excited to participate in this year's program, which has been adapted to the pandemic.

Glade Run staff will supervise all activities and support participants throughout the week.

Those eligible for the program must:

Be 18 to 30 years of age and diagnosed with autism or an intellectual disability.

Have the ability to self-administer all medications.

Have the ability to work in a community with a 1:5 support ratio.

There's more to the program than these basic qualifications, though. Applications dive deeper into what potential residents hope to glean from the experience.

“I'm looking at their overall goals,” Harvan said. “The goal of the program is to increase independence.”

At the end of the program, residents and their families receive a summary report.

The report details what the resident did well and which areas need to be worked on. This information can be used as guidance in the future.

Participants can apply to attend several weeks or just one.

No matter what they choose, Harvan said she hopes participants find they're able to navigate independent living.

“I want them to know it's a fun experience,” Harvan said.

Registration closes when the program is full. Waiver funding and payment plans are available.

The Glade Run Foundation has a number of scholarships this year, according to Talarico.

While the number of donors has been down during the pandemic, those who still give are giving more.

“We've been able to rely on our funders,” Talarico said.

ILE runs June 13 through Aug. 6 in five separate, weeklong sessions.

More information about the program and registration information can be found at gladerun.org/autism/ile-program.