Because our students deserve it all!
L.I.F.E. is excited to offer many enhancement programs! From Adaptive Karate to Adaptive Art and Music we want to give our students everything! Each program is customized for the needs of each classroom and each student.
ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMS
Adaptive Gross Motor Program
Classrooms receive individualized gross motor lessons to promote participation and improvement in recess and physical activities led by our Gross Motor Activities Coach.
Adaptive Karate Program
Classrooms receive individualized Karate lessons to promote coordination, discipline, and self-esteem given by Master Walter of Red Bear Karate for Kids.
Adaptive Art Program
Classrooms receive individualized art lessons to learn art concepts, explore art mediums, develop skills, and express creativity led by our Adaptive Art Activities Coach.
Inclusive music experience
Integrating music, reading, and fun
Fostering communication with AAC
Breathing techniques for regulation
Incorporating Core Words of Week
Adaptive Music Program
Classrooms receive individualized music lessons using music therapy and music education approaches to promote progress in total communication skills, general music knowledge, and meaningful social interactions. Sessions are led by our Adaptive Music Facilitator who is a certified Music Therapist and Speech-Language Pathology Assistant.
To learn about our 1:1 Music Therapy services check out Music Therapy
Social Emotional Learning Program
Classrooms receive individualized SEL lessons. All L.I.F.E. departments participate in this program to support the concepts across campus.
Regulated Classroom Program
L.I.F.E. believes it is important to help all students exist in a calm ready-to-learn state (regulated). Our teachers utilize frequent movement breaks throughout the day as well as provide a calm corner students can use when they need help to calm themselves. We also have a specially designed sensory gym to help students achieve a regulated state.
Wednesday Hot Lunch Program
On Wednesdays students can choose to receive a hot lunch. Our employment program takes orders, shops, prepares, and delivers the lunches to classrooms. Along with the entree the lunch includes a different fruit and vegetable each month to promote healthy eating. Staff follow mealtime guidelines to assist students in learning dining skills and promote trying new foods.
Total Communication Program
Our Total Communication Campaign launched this school year with the objective of ensuring that all our students have the ability to get their wants and needs met in a socially appropriate way. We recognize the differences between each student and encourage all staff to model multiple modalities to increase communication (including American Sign Language, Picture Exchange, AAC, etc). There is no one correct way and here at L.I.F.E. we want all of our students to be heard!
Flexible Seating Program
L.I.F.E. believes it is important for students to have a range of seating options throughout the day (flexible seating). We have an inventory of many options including floor cushions, flex seats, wobble stools, therapy balls, bean bag chairs, chair swings, wobble discs, and more.
Assistive Technology Program
L.I.F.E. recognizes that many of our students could benefit from assistive technology. Some examples include using a more supportive chair with hip and trunk supports, using a stander in the classroom part of the day, using a special pencil grip to help with handwriting, having access to fidgets to help with attention, and much more. We are developing a very robust AT Loan Library to support all the needs of our students and we provide ongoing education to staff. We work as a team with students’ therapists, teachers, and family to determine the best way to support each student.
Adaptive Toys Program
We have an adaptive toy library. Our teachers/therapists can check-out and rotate toys for students to ensure they remain interesting to a student. We thank the Rother family for their generous donation in memory of their daughter Brooklyn, which has made this adaptive toy library possible.
The Listening Program
All our teachers have the ability to utilize The Listening Program with students they believe may benefit. Our occupational therapists also serve as resources for this program.
SPECIALTY ENVIRONMENTS
We have numerous specialty environments to support our programs including a sensory gym, swimming pool, splashpad, sports court and more.
ACADEMY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMS MEMBERS
Role:
As the Director of Student Services, I have the honor to help families onboard their child/ren to receive an education at L.I.F.E. I oversee parts of the enrollment process including tours, placement assessments and recommendations as well as help families secure the appropriate scholarships to afford their child the opportunity to receive the private education they deserve. I oversee and assist teachers to best serve and meet the needs of each individual child. This includes writing relevant goals, choosing appropriate curriculum, making modifications and accommodations. I help ensure we are catering to each student’s learning styles and abilities and that the progress is being tracked along the way.
Role:
- I support all the L.I.F.E. Academy classrooms with students that demonstrate behaviors and do not already receive Behavioral Programming and Support (BPS). I help teachers and staff to determine the function of a child’s problem behavior and how to appropriately address the behavior.
Education:
- M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis, Arizona State University, May 2014
- B.S. in Family Child Science, New Mexico State University, May 2011 Special Certifications:
- Arizona Board of Psychology Licensed Behavior Analyst, Oct 2017
- Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), August 2017
Career History:
- I began working at L.I.F.E. in October 2014 with the BPS department as a 1:1 provider. In January 2016 I began working as a program manager. In August 2017, I sat for my BCBA exam and passed. In December 2018, I began working in the Academy to provide behavior support to the students and teachers. Prior to coming to L.I.F.E. I worked as a Family Support Specialist at Healthy Families Arizona doing parent education.
Training Philosophy:
- I feel that the greatest success I have in this position is when I get to see the clients initiate and respond to social interactions. Celebrating all victories is important no matter how big or small they seem. To know that we are making a difference in these children’s lives is why I do what I do.
Personal:
- I am from El Paso, Texas. My mom and 3 sisters still live in Texas and I get to see them on holidays. When I am not at L.I.F.E. you may find me at concerts, particularly country, and cheering on the Dallas Cowboys during football season.
Role:
As the Adaptive Music Facilitator, I provide music therapy and music education for the academy classrooms. By incorporating speech goals such as developing expressive and receptive language, the music intervention can help address functional communication skills and focus on meaningful social interactions. I also work in the therapy department part-time as a speech-language pathology assistant.
Education:
- Speech Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA), Northern Arizona University, 2019
- Music Together Teacher Training and Internship, 2016
- B.M. in Music Therapy, Radford University, 2001
Career History:
While providing skilled music therapy services to children with developmental disabilities for over a decade, I’ve had the opportunity to use interventions to motivate children toward reaching their highest potential. During my career, I have worked in the medical setting, day treatment clinics, and home-based therapy. After completion of coursework for Speech Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) certification through Northern Arizona University in 2019, I have worked in the public school system and private school for children with autism.
Teaching Philosophy:
I am passionate about combining my skill sets by customizing speech therapy goals and music curriculums for each classroom. Striving for quality music therapy with a speech therapy focus translates into practicing core words and encouraging academic concepts through spotlighting different instruments. Creating meaningful peer exchanges are fostered through social groups such as handbell ensembles and drum circles as well as engaging students through movement and sensory activities.
Personal:
Besides my passion for making music, seeing live music, and generally all things musical, I enjoy cooking and the outdoors. Running and hiking are frequent activities, as well as overlanding and camping with my husband, two kids, and dog.
Contact Us for More Information About L.I.F.E.
call us at 480-621-8361 EXT 136 or complete this form