Preparing Young Adults for Greater Independence
A hands-on program for young adults ages 18–26 who are ready for more independence, responsibility, and direction — but need support figuring out how to get there.
Fall 2026 • Yorktown Heights, NY
What happens after high school?
Your young adult may be getting older—but are they becoming more independent?
Managing responsibilities. Following through without constant reminders. Making decisions. Handling frustration. Building routines. Setting goals. Understanding their own strengths and challenges. Figuring out what comes next.
These skills don’t always develop simply because someone turns 18.
Ready for More — But Not Sure How to Get There
Many young adults want more for themselves — more independence, more responsibility, meaningful work, stronger relationships, and a greater sense of direction — but aren’t quite sure how to turn those goals into action.
They may have many of the individual skills they need to move forward, yet struggle to bring those skills together when navigating the expectations of adult life.
Your young adult may:
- Want greater independence, but still rely on others to initiate tasks, make plans, or keep them moving forward.
- Know how to do many things, but struggle with when to start, what comes next, or how to follow through.
- Be successful when routines and expectations are clearly structured, but have difficulty creating that structure for themselves.
- Want to work, participate more in the community, or take on greater responsibility, but struggle with the organization, communication, flexibility, or problem-solving needed to make that happen.
- Have meaningful goals and interests but need support turning “I want to…” into “I know how to…” and eventually “I did it.”
- Be caught in that difficult space where they are ready for something more, but the next step isn’t clear.
That’s where Achieve Life Academy comes in.
Building the Bridge to Greater Independence
Achieve Life Academy is a hands-on program designed to help young adults bridge the gap between having skills and independently using those skills in everyday life.
Through structured experiences, real-world challenges, guided problem-solving, and reflection, participants practice the executive functioning and self-management skills required to take greater ownership of their adult lives.
We don’t simply teach young adults what to do.
We help them practice recognizing what needs to be done, figuring out how to get started, developing a plan, adapting when something doesn’t go as expected, asking for help when needed, and following through.
Because greater independence isn’t built by knowing more.
It’s built by learning how to act on what you know.
Program Overview
This Isn’t Another Life-Skills Class
Achieve Life Academy uses real activities and experiences to develop the executive functioning underneath successful adult performance.Many young adults complete school services without a clear direction for employment or independent living. Many students leave school with great foundational skills, but are not yet ready for independent life, and would benefit from additional structure, routine, and guided exposure to workplace tasks.
Knowing how to make a meal, follow a schedule, be a contributing part of the community, complete a work task or manage money is important. But one thing that i’ve found most important is: Finding your purpose.
Adult independence requires something more.
Can I recognize what needs to be done?
Can I get myself started?
Can I organize a plan?
Can I solve a problem when something changes?
Can I ask for help appropriately?
Can I follow through without someone constantly directing me?
The Achieve Life Academy is a hands-on transition program for teens and young adults who need additional support preparing for the responsibilities of adult life. Through structured community experiences, guided challenges, and real-world skill development, participants build confidence, independence, self-determination, and the executive functioning skills needed for success at home, in the workplace, and in their communities. Rather than simply teaching life skills, our Academy challenges young adults to develop the responsibility, resilience, and problem-solving abilities that create lasting independence and prepare them for life beyond high school.
Program Snapshot
Program Length
10 weeks
Schedule
2 days per week (Monday-Wednesday)
Daily Hours
Approximately 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Location
Yorktown Heights, NY
Cohort Size
8–10 participants
(Small cohort sizes allow for individualized observation and support.)
Who This Program Is For
This program is designed for young adults ages 18–26 who have meaningful strengths and abilities but may need additional structure, practice and guidance to translate those abilities into greater everyday independence. Appropriate participants:
• Have either completed school or are working towards transitioning out of school
• Are not yet ready for independent living and require support with vocational or independent living activities
• Need opportunities to develop work routines and stamina
• Are motivated to be an active participant in the community
• Would benefit from clearer insight into strengths and next steps
Program Focus
Participants participate in structured classroom and activity-based environments designed to promote self-determination, goal awareness, and executive functioning skills required for adult life
Participants may work on:
- Planning and completing multi-step activities
- Managing time and schedules
- Preparing food and completing household responsibilities
- Setting and working toward personal goals
- Navigating community-based activities
- Practicing workplace expectations and responsibilities
- Managing money and making purchasing decisions
- Communicating needs and asking for assistance
- Working collaboratively with others
- Responding to unexpected problems or changes
- Identifying personal strengths and obstacles
- Creating strategies for greater independence
What Participants Will Gain
Participants build executive function awareness, community readiness skills, and self-determination skills necessary for adulthood.
Program Leadership
The Achieve Life Academy is led by Justin Lundstedt, OTR/L, founder of Achieve Life OT & PT.
Justin is an occupational therapist with extensive experience supporting adolescents and young adults with executive functioning challenges, transition planning, and vocational readiness development.
“Throughout the years of working with adolescents and young adults, I keep seeing the same problem: capable young people approaching adulthood without enough opportunities to actually practice being adults. They had received years of services and support, but many still struggle with initiation, responsibility, decision-making, problem-solving, routines, and figuring out what they want their adult life to look like. I created Achieve Life Academy to work directly on that gap.”
Through his work in school-based and community settings, Justin has observed that many young adults fall into an “in-between” stage during the transition to adulthood. These individuals may want to pursue competitive employment but are not yet fully ready for traditional job placement programs, or they may not fit neatly within existing vocational service pathways.
Important Note: The Achieve Life Academy is an educational life skills and transition program. Participation in this Academy is not occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, behavioral therapy, counseling, or any other healthcare or therapeutic service, and should not be considered a substitute for professional therapeutic intervention.
Program Availability
Enrollment is limited to the first 8–10 participants in order to maintain a structured and supportive learning environment.
Families interested in learning more about the program or determining if it may be a good fit are encouraged to reach out by completing the Inquiry below or using the contact information provided.
Contact
Justin Lundstedt, OTR/L
Email: jlundstedt@achievelifeot.com
Phone: 845-656-6433