Ceremony held for first graduating class of New Leaf Hardesty Transition Academy

TULSA, Okla. — Friday was the inaugural graduation ceremony for an academy designed to teach people with developmental disabilities how to live and work on their own.

FOX23 has told you about the New Leaf Hardesty Transition Academy .

It’s a two-year program where participants learn skills to live independently and help them get a job.

According to Program Director Nuceka Chatman, this graduation is just the beginning.

“So we're really excited about the 12 that came forward and completed the process with us. But now it's not over, this is just the next stage of their life. They got some of these things checked off. So now it’s time to prepare them for the next stage and we're excited to see what's going to happen to them,” Chatman said.

The program had many happy and smiling faces who were all excited to get out into the workforce or their new apartments.

FOX23 spoke with one of the graduates who had some encouraging words for future applicants.

“I definitely suggest you do it. If you want a job, a good competitive workforce wage and you want to be independent and be on your own. Then do the transition academy because it's gonna get you those two outcomes,” Jake Spencer said.

For more information on the academy, click here .