Ms. Kelly Lambert, Assistant Director of Special Education, reported at the School Board meeting this week on the new A.C.T.I.V.E. Academy, an educational program for Abington’s young adults aged 18-21 years old at the high school with special needs. The Academy stands for “Accessing Community, Travel, Independent Living, and Vocational Education.”
Currently there are nine students in the program; projections for next year include 20 or more students. The Academy is designed to provide students with assessments, vocational training, and life and work experiences to develop skills that are necessary for adult life. Experiences are gained in the classroom as well as with organizations in the Abington and Rockledge communities. The Academy provides opportunities to learn new skills as well as the application of skills learned in the high school classrooms. The experiences in the community – which include cooking, travel and transportation, and work rotations – provide excellent opportunities for students to learn transferable employment skills while gaining confidence and developing strong self-concept as successful, responsible workers. Current worksites include: the Abington YMCA; Abington/Jefferson Hospital; Chartwells Food Service; the Registrar’s Office at the High School; and the Pupil Services Department.
Ms. Lambert reported that Dr. David Bergman oversees and supports the program; Ms. Kathleen Rafter and Ms. Caroline Gimbel are the creative, fantastic teachers, and paraprofessionals Ms. Karen Whittaker, Ms. Robin Bowman, and Ms. Elaine Rose are the “job coaches.”
A.C.T.I.V.E. Academy students shown here – Avery Shaw, Francis Nguyen, and Kaitlyn Carney – did a terrific job of working the Coffee Cart and introducing themselves at the meeting. Ms. Lambert presented a wonderful video that illustrated the program and the work in the community performed by A.C.T.I.V.E. Academy students. The video can be viewed on our website and with the materials for the April 19, 2016 School Board meeting.
Click below to watch the A.C.T.I.V.E. Academy video.