Licking Heights is preparing students for life–no matter what their unique needs may be.
Thanks to a partnership with the New Albany-based nonprofit LifeTown, 23 special education students at Everest Elementary will learn about real-life situations and experiences in a sensory-friendly environment. This includes kindergarten through fourth graders. Students will be accompanied by three teachers and nine paraprofessionals they regularly work with during school hours and will go to LifeTown three times this year–once in March, April and May. Each visit will last two hours.
LifeTown predominantly focuses on developing skills for independence and career readiness for students with specialized physical, emotional and mental needs. It is a 5,000 square foot indoor village where students are given sample money and visit different stores, offices and agencies to shop and spend. Students travel on bikes and the space is designed to be accessible and sensory-friendly.
Places students can visit at LifeTown include a grocery store, pet store, doctor’s office and movie theatre. Students learn traffic safety as they travel throughout the village and use ATMs to withdraw money from the facility's bank. Visits are tailored to each student’s grade level, maturity level and specific needs.
To prepare students for their LifeTown visits, intervention specialists have created lessons about life skills like counting money, budgeting, needs and wants and the basics of self-care.
Ashley Miles, an intervention specialist at Everest Elementary, says LifeTown also teaches her students the basics of politely interacting with other people. She appreciates the hands-on, practical element of teaching students social and emotional skills, especially when they may need additional support.
“Finding a creative way to teach students and unlock their potential is the best way to teach children with special needs. So using a variety of real-life experiences instead of just basic lesson plans,” Miles says. “Some kids need more practice at independence, and the roleplaying of everyday life is more than just being around it.”
Everest Elementary principal Colleen Wildenhaus developed the partnership with LifeTown and is looking forward to providing students with a field trip that both suits and celebrates their unique needs. Wildenhaus also says the school will provide financial support to families who may not be able to cover the $15 cost for three trips.
“I visited LifeTown five years ago through a different district, and I thought it was such a great opportunity and environment,” she says. “Since then, I’ve wanted that opportunity for our students. Now as a principal, I can make it happen.”
Previously, Wildenhaus worked as an intervention specialist and elementary teacher. Her passion is providing all students with the opportunity to equitably play, learn and make memories with their peers.
“I hope these trips provide an opportunity that some of our students might not have had before and provide them with the ability to be independent in an environment that is sensory-friendly and safe,” she says. “All students need fun learning experiences, and this is an opportunity for our students to do something they don’t usually get to do.”
Next school year, Wildenhaus plans to continue Everest Elementary’s partnership with LifeTown and hopes to take students every month. Miles says trips like these are an excellent way to build trust between students and teachers and get students comfortable with new environments.
“LifeTown starts each visit with making sure our kids feel special, even with the challenges they face. Throughout the visit, staff keep reiterating how special they are,” Miles says. “I love watching my students’ energy and how they want to explore and just how happy they are. I like that they get to have the opportunity to experience something like LifeTown. Any kid would love it.”