LIFE Giving Opportunities to Students with Disabilities

By Mason Votes Content Editor Christian Yingling

George Mason University’s Learning Into Future Environments Program admits six to eight new students each year in what is a highly selective process. This four-year program allows students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to gain a full college experience through classes like astronomy, employment opportunities, horticulture and exploratory mathematics time and measurement. LIFE Program students also have the opportunity to live on campus.

The LIFE Program, which began its pilot year in 2001, is a part of the Helen A. Keller Institute’s work with the College of Education and Human Development. Since its pilot year, the LIFE Program has worked with approximately 35 students who were picked for their potential to successfully achieve their program goals, their learning needs and desires, and their families’ commitment to the program’s goals. The program prides itself on its commitment to personal attention, seen even in the program’s small class ratio—one teacher for every four students.

“I just cannot find words strong enough to describe how much I love what the Mason LIFE program has enabled our students to do,” said Jenn Labbe, a job coach with the program.

For junior Erin Thompson and alumni Adam Toobin, the program has truly enabled them to make an impact. They both are advocating on behalf of their community. Thompson spent last summer visiting Virginia legislators in Richmond, lobbying to have the phrase “mentally retarded” expunged from legislation. She has documented her experiences in an article she wrote for Broadside, on the left.

Toobin is currently working as an intern for Senator Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. Toobin, who has cerebral palsy, desires to “show disabled people that they can bring something to the world as well,” he said in a recent interview.

The internship program was launched this year and is available to LIFE Program students who have graduated with a certificate of completion. The internships are designed to give hands-on experience in the students’ desired fields of occupation. Before students graduate, they also work for on-campus employers during their junior year and for off-campus employers during their senior year.

“I feel that the office environment energizes me to the fullest of my capabilities,” Toobin said, “Working gives me a great way to give back to the whole world.”

Toobin and Thompson have been recognized for their efforts. Toobin was discovered by the Obama campaign because of his work with Congressman Jim Moran’s campaign; Thompson was just given the Secretary of Labor’s New Freedom Initiative Award by President George W. Bush. The award is presented annually to individuals, non-profits, small businesses and corporations demonstrating outstanding and innovative work to further employment opportunities and environments for people with disabilities.

Each week, the students are given what is called a “probe assessment,” which measures their development in the areas of reading and math. These results are used to quantify their academic progress.

LIFE Program instructors are Mason graduate students who study special education. The program also allows undergraduate minors in special education to observe and assist.

For more information on the program, visit its website: http://masonlife.gmu.edu.