Life, Education, Training & Skills (LETS) Program

Program Overview

Our Life, Education, Training and Skills (LETS) program tutors adult students with intellectual and developmental disabilities in reading, math, GED preparation and basic life skills (money and time management, health and nutrition, sex education, etc.) – all important information that will help higher-functioning individuals find and keep jobs. Our literacy program differs from others in that we work specifically with individuals with disabilities for whom we create individual lesson plans. Many of our students are referred by other literacy programs that are unable to significantly improve their literacy levels. . (Literacy Mid-South's program, for instance, is not intended for lower-functioning individuals who have disabilities and learn more slowly than the average person. Many such people need one-on-one tutoring.)

Resume writing, job searching, and interviewing techniques are taught in a weekly Job Readiness class. We work with each student until his/her academic level & employment goals are attained.

Cost Info

Student and Volunteer Success Stories

The Arc Mid-South's Board members and staff recently held a high school graduation celebration for a student in its Life, Education, and Training Skills class. Christina R. obtained her high school diploma by mastering all of the academic requirements of the Gateway Exam. Executive Director Carlene Leaper said the LETS program was begun in August 2011 to fill a need.

"The graduation rate for Tennessee public high schools in 2011 was 86 percent for all students. However, the graduation rate for students with disabilities was 67 percent. In addition, 14 percent of those students with disabilities who graduated did so with a certificate of attendance, not a diploma," she said.
"That was Christina's situation. She spent 12 years in the public school system in special education classes and did not receive a diploma. So her goal from the moment she heard about our LETS classes was to obtain her high school diploma."
"What an accomplishment for her and us," Ms. Leaper said. "The Arc Mid-South did what the Memphis City Schools did not do. We congratulate Christina in her well-deserved accomplishment."