Following the right step to change careers into web development.

I want to make sure that I'm coving all my bases to do all the right things to make the transition into web development. I'm the sole supporter of a family of 5 currently working a 40 hr / wk job in the hospitality industry in Las Vegas making around $20 hr. Let's just say I'm EXTREMELY MOTIVATED to change careers into web development. I started going to college for Management Information Systems with an focus on programming for AS400 mainframes back in 1999 and completed 3 semesters before dropping out and joining the Air Force for some years. Now I'm kicking myself that I didn't stay in programming as now I would have over 10 years experience and life supporting my family would be much easier. Hindsight is 20/20 ;-)

I'm just over halfway done working my way through the PHP web development track and should be done with it in about 4-5 weeks. I've created a github account and will be posting some projects that I'm working on up there for review. I've also be scouring the web for web development jobs here in Vegas to get a feel for the job market.

I'm thinking that I will pick up an internship at a small dev shop to get some hands on experience and to add projects to my portfolio. I have to find an internship that I work around my current work schedule but on internship.com I've found a few in which you can work mostly remote from home and have weekly meetings at the office to go over progress. While this would be perfect for my work schedule I'm worried that the lack of collaboration may limit the progression of my web development skills.

I've also thought of either picking up small jobs independently and working through them for added practice or even reaching out to some non-profits to offer web development services for free just build up a solid portfolio of work in order to get a permanent gig or to get enough experience to pick up good contract independently.

I forgot to add that I've got tons of books to read and other resources to continue my learning when I'm done with treehouse.

My goal is to be fully transitioned into web development in the next 6 months or by the end of this year as an absolute drop dead date. Am I missing anything that I should be doing?