Schools

L.I.F.T. Program Helps Special Needs, Autistic Students

"Our extended-school-year program is extending academic, behavioral and social services for autistic and life-skills students with severe communication and development issues," the organizer said.

It was only to be a short walk from South Central Elementary School to the fire station in .

Bob Chuey had planned it for weeks, but he was worried the walk with 25 children and staff would not go well. He had filled his backpack with Band-aids, water, and emergency numbers—as well as a full charge on his cell phone.

“I knew that some of our children could run, refuse to walk or just wander off,” said Chuey. “I was wrong. All our kids followed directions, listened to the adults and the trip was wonderfully incident-free.”

Find out what's happening in Canon-Mcmillanwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The children, some who are non-verbal, were all special needs and autistic students in Canon-McMillan’s elementary and intermediate schools taking part in Camp L.I.F.T. (Learning Is Fun Together), the new extended-school-year program.

“The fire chief went down the pole for the children, showed them equipment and so much more,” Chuey said. “Even the walk there ended up being fun.”

Find out what's happening in Canon-Mcmillanwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Chuey, who has experience as a school psychologist and special education teacher, is the special education coordinator for the Canon-McMillan School District.

The program runs through Aug. 9 at , where about 70 percent of the participants attend school during the school year. The goal is provide academic, social and behavioral instruction to prevent regression over the summer recess.

The program is therapeutic because of the occupational, physical and speech/language instruction by professionals certified in those areas.

Each week the programming is geared to a theme: building with Legos; community helpers/safety; literacy; health and wellness; nature and animals.

Three special education teachers are each teaching a different level of programming covering a wide spectrum of needs and abilities.

Chuey has been working on organizing this project for nearly a year.

“We wanted to provide services that rivaled those we had contracted with outside of the district; in other words, we wanted to provide an opportunity for Canon-McMillan students to attend an extended school year within the district.”

Chuey explained that the program needed teachers and staff who were both compassionate and caring, but also had to know how to effectively teach students who present with a complex mix of challenges and strengths.

“From the start we wanted to base the program on weekly themes. That allows you to teach without being repetitious and gives the camp an identity,” said Chuey. The students are in the program from 8:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays.

There is an event or field trip each Thursday. One example is on Thursday, when Eruption Athletics will be working with the students. Eruption Athletics is an organization founded by Joe Jelinski and Chris Engler, which empowers special athletes through exercise.

“Our extended-school-year program is extending academic, behavioral and social services for autistic and life-skills students with severe communication and development issues,” Chuey said. “It is rewarding to see the students (ages 6-12) thrive in this program and maintain or add to their progress so that they will be prepared for a new school year.”

Editor's Note: Thank you to the Canon-McMillan School District for providing this story and graciously allowing us to run it for our readers! -amanda


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Canon-Mcmillan