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GT IndependenceWhere We ServeNorth CarolinaStudent Support for Beyond Academics

Student Support

Partnering with Beyond Academics, a Branch Program of Think College at UNC Greensboro

Chase Your Dreams Without Worries

Beyond Academics is a program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are interested in furthering their education. Beyond Academics’ four-year Integrative Community Studies certificate emphasizes self-determination, life planning, and career development.

Each Beyond Academics student develops a personalized plan to optimize their educational and life experiences in the program.

How Student Support Works

Chasing your dreams is important. And as a student, the last thing you need to worry about is how and when you’re getting the support you need. That’s why your support should happen your way—and be frustration-free. With self-directed support through GT Independence, you make all the important choices. Like who to hire to provide support, what support you want, and when you want it.

At GT, our job is to make being a Beyond Academics student as easy as possible for you. That’s why we take care of all the details involved in your support, like new employee paperwork, taxes, and paychecks. Plus, we’re here to answer all your questions—and get give you access to helpful tools like the Caregiver app and GT Portal. 

You deserve the freedom to do what you love. GT is here to make that easier.

“With self-direction, your aide can go with you to school and sit there in the classroom with you. They can help if needed or be a part of your virtual learning, depending on what you’re doing at the time.”

Parent
North Carolina

Why Choose GT?

  • We’ve Been in Your Shoes

    People with disabilities own and lead GT, and we have focused on self-direction since our start in 2004. We understand that directing your own care can feel complicated, but we are here to walk you through the process—from start to support.

  • Self-Direction Is All We Do

    GT is an FI company that focuses all our attention on one thing: self-direction (also called consumer-direction). Our people understand how self-direction works in North Carolina and in states all across the country. We serve thousands of people nationwide, helping each person live the life of their choosing.

  • Customer Service That Cares About You

    Our customer service team is here to help you live life on your terms. Your North Carolina team is trained on the ins and outs of your state. This ensures you always have access to the information you need to make informed decisions. Plus, we can support more than 200 languages on request. Our goal is to find solutions that fit your life, and we know that doing so well is a team effort.

  • Tools and Resources Designed for the Details

    Get access to tools that make your life easy. The GT Portal helps you access reports and keep track of time worked. And the Caregiver app lets your workers log their hours and check the approval status of their time entries right from their phone or tablet. We take care of the details, so you can focus on living your life.

Support That Fits Your Life

GT Independence is a fiscal intermediary (FI) company that supports your student life. You decide what kind of support you want. And we handle the details. For example, you hire people you know and trust as employees (also known as providers or caregivers). We help you by taking care of all the necessary paperwork, such as timesheets, paychecks, taxes, and insurance.

To make things easy, we offer two types of self-direction—also called self-direction models. You get to choose which model best fits your life. 

Fiscal Employer Agent Model

With this model, you’re the boss. We just take care of the taxes and paperwork. This model is also called Sole-Employer.

What You Can Do With the Fiscal Employer Agent Model 

  • Control Your Support

    You have full employer authority. This means you can hire, manage, and fire your own workers. You can also control when and where you receive support.  

  • Select Pay and Benefits 

    You’re in charge of choosing how much to pay your workers—and you can select benefit options for them. 

  • Track Time on Phone or Tablet

    Your workers can easily track time on their phones using the GT Caregiver app.  

What We Do For You 

  • Payroll & Taxes 
    We take care of all your payroll, along with state and federal taxes. 

  • GT Portal 
    Use the GT Portal to access reports. You can also use Find a Caregiver on the GT Portal to locate potential backup workers near you. 
     
  • Background Checks 
    We process your worker’s background check and send you the reports.

Agency With Choice Model

With this model, we partner with you to manage your support. We still take care of all the taxes and paperwork, but we’re more involved with the management side of things. This model is also called Co-Employer.  

What You Can Do With the Agency with Choice Model

  • Choose Your Workers 

    You can choose your own workers (as long as they meet Agency with Choice requirements.) 

  • Be Your Own Boss 

    You’re in control as the managing employer of your workers. We are here to support you. 

  • Train Your Employees 

    You know you best—so you’re in charge of training your employees. We help you make sure that all training is up-to-date and compliant with Agency with Choice requirements. 

What We Do For You 

  • Set the Wage Rate 
    We set a wage rate for your workers that is fair and reasonable. 
  • Worker Qualifications
    We help determine the qualification of workers. All workers must meet Agency with Choice qualifications.
  • Payroll & Taxes 
    We take care of all your payroll, along with state and federal taxes. 

  • GT Portal 
    Use the GT Portal to access reports. You can also use Find a Caregiver on the GT Portal to locate potential backup workers near you. 
     
  • Background Checks 
    We process your worker’s background check and send you the reports.

Want to customize your self-direction model?

Make Managing Your Support Effortless 

Core Support

$150/month

  • Customer Support 
  • Time-Tracking App 
  • Worker Payment 
  • Taxes 
  • Reporting 
  • Management of insurance 
  • Secure GT Portal 
  • Find a Caregiver 

Get in Touch

Optional Add-On – Support Specialist

$200/month, as needed 

Worried about being your own boss? Get someone who can walk you through the process. The support specialist (also called an independent facilitator or community navigator) helps you manage your support. 

Want to manage it all yourself? Check out the optional Employer Training add-on. 

Get in Touch

Optional Add-On – Employer Training

$2,500/one-time training cost 

Take a 3-month, intensive training course on how to manage and control your care. GT will walk you through 11 training modules that help you prepare for being an employer. 

Would you rather have someone advise you through the process? Check out the optional Support Specialist add-on. 

Get in Touch

Hourly Cost Calculator at a Glance

Gross Hourly Pay Rate F/EA Model Without Worker’s CompensationF/EA Model With Worker’s CompensationAgency with Choice
$ 12.00$13.43$14.19$16.00
$13.00$14.55$15.31$17.33
$14.00$15.67$16.43$18.67
$15.00$16.79$17.55$20.00
$16.00$17.91$18.67$21.33
$17.00$19.03$19.79$22.67
$18.00$20.15$20.91$24.00

Your GT Contact

Portrait photo of Raquel Barbour

Raquel Barbour

Director of State Services

Phone: 1.919.631.9735
Office: 1.877.659.4500
rbarbour@gtindependence.com