Cody Krener, a sophomore, motions to Elliott Venable, a member of the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 LIFE program.
小蝌蚪APP淗ey, E, come check this out,小蝌蚪APP Krener calls, referring to Venable by his nickname. The two have been friends since kindergarten at Our Lady of Fatima School.
Both glance at Krener小蝌蚪APP檚 cell phone and smile. Perhaps it小蝌蚪APP檚 at the music video on the screen. Or, maybe they小蝌蚪APP檙e remembering the time Krener showed Venable 28 randomly selected country music videos, and Venable named each artist and song correctly.
小蝌蚪APP淓濒濒颈辞迟迟 really likes country music,小蝌蚪APP Krener says, provoking a laugh from Venable.
The pair hammed it up at a recent gathering to celebrate Venable小蝌蚪APP檚 and three other students小蝌蚪APP successful completion of two semesters in the Learning Is For Everyone (LIFE) program. It was started last fall for students with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities.
Venable, Brooke Hebert, Charli Weber, and Robert Zepernick are the first students participating in the program. They take classes designed and taught specifically for them, audit regularly scheduled classes with other students, and attend campus events and social activities. Each student is accompanied by an academic mentor, such as Krener.
The LIFE Program is modeled on similar programs at universities such as Clemson and George Mason. It小蝌蚪APP檚 designed to give students an academic foundation, work experience, and social opportunities that will help them prepare for careers.
It also fulfills a need that wasn小蝌蚪APP檛 being met in the Acadiana region, said Dr. Jim Henderson, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at the 小蝌蚪APP.
The 小蝌蚪APP conducted a 小蝌蚪APP渘eeds assessment,小蝌蚪APP before launching the LIFE Program. It consulted with family members of potential students and community members, such as school counselors.
小蝌蚪APP淭here are some terrific programs that provide educational opportunities for students with disabilities at the K-12 level, including at St. Thomas More Catholic High School. But there were no higher education programs to help student development,小蝌蚪APP Henderson said.
At St. Thomas More, Krener and Venable participated in the Options Program, the school小蝌蚪APP檚 academic program for students with developmental disabilities. Both, Krener recalled during a recent interview, also were members of the football team. Krener was a defensive end and special teams player. Venable dressed out for practices and games.
小蝌蚪APP淓濒濒颈辞迟迟 had his own play every Thursday at practice. He would run for a touchdown,小蝌蚪APP Krener explained.
Now, Krener works with Venable and other LIFE students. He said helping students be a part of the 小蝌蚪APP community is as important to him as teaching academics or life skills.
小蝌蚪APP淲e try to get the students involved, just like any other college student,小蝌蚪APP said Krener, 20, a secondary education major. 小蝌蚪APP淲e eat lunch in the Student Union, and we take them to different places, like the library, or sporting events.小蝌蚪APP
LIFE Program director Mary-Carolyn Duffy said students complete an introductory semester of orientation-style courses to help them get familiar with campus, then audit classes.
小蝌蚪APP淚t could be either actual academic courses that are offered by the 小蝌蚪APP, or continuing education courses,小蝌蚪APP Duffy explained.
Each student小蝌蚪APP檚 individual curriculum is tailored to reflect their interests, and potential career goals.
Venable, who likes sports and fitness, will audit a kinesiology course that blends classroom instruction and weightlifting this fall, for example. Fellow LIFE member Robert Zepernick, who小蝌蚪APP檚 interested in photography, will audit a digital photography class.
Students also attend 小蝌蚪APP渓ife skills小蝌蚪APP sessions four days each week, for several hours, in Lee Hall. Those sessions are conducted by Duffy, with help from Krener. Students 小蝌蚪APP渨ork on skills to help them become more independent, things like counting money, or mastering a calculator, or ordering in a restaurant,小蝌蚪APP Duffy said.
Internships in campus offices and departments are a possibility for LIFE students who don小蝌蚪APP檛 already have jobs.
Warren Hebert, the father of LIFE Program member Brooke, said her social skills have always been strong. He credits her position as the youngest of five children, and the Options Program at St. Thomas More.
小蝌蚪APP淏ut we小蝌蚪APP檙e seeing even more development here at UL,小蝌蚪APP Hebert said. 小蝌蚪APP淏rooke小蝌蚪APP檚 gaining more independence, and her social skills are continuing to evolve. Her communications skills are continuing to grow, too. She小蝌蚪APP檚 starting to show a dry sense of humor, which is something we haven小蝌蚪APP檛 seen before.小蝌蚪APP
The LIFE Program was started in the Fall of 2014. The first four students were from St. Thomas More, where Duffy was a special education teacher for five years.
Based on its success, as many as four more students will be able to enter the program this fall. 小蝌蚪APP淔our at the start of each fall semester will be the maximum for now. We want to build a strong core before we consider expanding,小蝌蚪APP Duffy said.
To be eligible for the LIFE Program, students must have finished a high school special education program.
Prospective students and their families complete a comprehensive application and interview process. That process includes at least three recommendations, including from teachers and someone who knows a student outside of an academic setting. 小蝌蚪APP淚t could be a coach, or a family friend,小蝌蚪APP Duffy said. 小蝌蚪APP淲e want a well-rounded view of who that person is.小蝌蚪APP
A team of 小蝌蚪APP administration, faculty and staff members makes admissions decisions. That team includes representatives of the College of Education, and Office of Disability Services, Duffy, and Henderson.
小蝌蚪APP淚 feel really strongly that we are serving the community, and, by being inclusive, providing a better education for all of our students. That is the role of a university,小蝌蚪APP Henderson said.
小蝌蚪APP淭he balancing act is, because the LIFE Program receives no state funds, we must rely on a blend of private donations and tuition, which is higher than that for undergraduates, while still making the program affordable.小蝌蚪APP
Tuition for the program is $3,324 per semester for each student, who takes specially designed courses and audits no more than six credit hours of regularly scheduled courses most semesters.
Henderson said that as the LIFE Program develops and grows, it could potentially qualify for federal assistance programs that would assist low-income students.
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Photo:
UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 new LIFE program recently held an end-of-the-year reception at the Alumni Center on St. Mary Boulevard. Shown, from left, are: front row, LIFE students Elliott Venable, Brooke Hebert, Charli Weber, Robert Zepernick and LIFE director Mary-Carolyn Duffy; back row, academic mentors Janson Delaney, Natalie Richard, Evan Tatford, George Rees, Cody Krener, Hailey Ortte, and Dr. James Henderson, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs.