Boston Center for Independent Living

TAP assists youth between the ages of 14-22 who are still in high school to set goals and connect to supports and services that will assist them in life after high school. Through the five core services (Information and Referral, Skills Training, Advocacy, Peer Mentoring, and Transitional Services), TAP aims to empower youth to make decisions about their lives, no matter what their disability is, so that they can make a smooth transition into adulthood.

During these key transition years, TAP staff assist youth with disabilities in planning for life after high school by assisting them to find housing, apply for college, request accommodations, search for jobs, solve transportation issues, and obtain appropriate equipment. BCIL provides guidance with the Individual Education Plan (IEP) and Individual Transition Plan (ITP) processes. As our services are consumer controlled, it is up to the youth to set their goal and work with staff on how that goal will be accomplished.

Some examples of goals within the five core services are:

Skills training assists young people in learning how to

• budget money and balance a checkbook
• apply for college
• request accommodations
• obtain a driver’s permit

Peer mentoring helps young people sort through questions such as

• Do I disclose my disability when I first apply for a job?
• How do I deal with Internet dating?
• What are appropriate boundaries to establish between myself and my PCA?

Boston Center for Independent Living Website