Patchogue school gets room where special ed students can learn household tasks

Elementary school students with developmental or cognitive disabilities in the Patchogue-Medford school district will soon be able to apply skills learned in school directly to life at home.

The district will officially open its new daily life skills apartment classroom at Barton Elementary School in Patchogue for its Academic and Career Explorers (ACES) special education students on Oct. 18., allowing students to learn daily life skills with the individualized attention they require.

Lori Goldstein, director of special education, said the idea for the space started about two years ago when teachers shared parents’ concerns about their children’s abilities to perform household tasks.

“The teachers were like, I know they can do these,” said Goldstein. “We just have to show them.”

The ACES program serves students with developmental or cognitive disabilities, such as autism or Down syndrome. While children in general education could be taught certain skills at home, ACES students may need more practice and different methods of teaching in order to learn, Goldstein said.

For example, the curriculum provides different types of visual support as well as reinforcements to encourage students to act independently. Some children use augmentative speech, such as use of an iPad, to communicate.

“When someone has a developmental disability, we have to teach them in a different way,” she said. “So that's what we're hoping to accomplish with this space.

Inside, the classroom is designed to resemble a studio apartment, as it features a Murphy bed, dresser, floor rug, vacuum, couch, and a dining table and chairs.

It also has fully functioning kitchen equipped with an oven, electric stove, toaster oven, microwave, refrigerator, sink, dishwasher, and cooking utensils.

An operating washer and dryer will also be used as a part of the students’ lessons.

“We wanted it to feel like a home because our intention is to help kids with things that they can use at home,” Goldstein said.

Renovations for the room began at the end June, said Jessica Lukas, assistant superintendent of special education and pupil services. Formerly a music and band room, it underwent asbestos maintenance and the creation of a vent for the dryer.

“Everything is brand-new in the room,” she said.

ACES students from Barton, Tremont, and River elementary schools ages ranging from 5 to 11 years old, will frequent the room a few times a month.

The curriculum will be based on the students ages, said Lukas. For example, younger children will focus on basic tasks such as matching socks or dusting tables, while older students will learn to use the oven and prepare food.

“Our goal in special education is always to create a student that has the most independence as possible,” said Lukas. “These are skills that are necessary for life learned, long independence that’s to help the families. That's always our goal, but also to help the student be successful.”

The initiative also is a continued expansion on the ACES life skills curriculum, to build toward skills to be learned in higher grades, said Shannon Ott, director of middle school and parentally placed special education

For example, middle school students are tasked with shopping at grocery stores and work at a food pantry.

In March, the district opened a commercial kitchen double classroom at Patchogue-Medford High School, where students make coffee and food, and can even obtain a food handler’s license.

“This is more home and their daily living skills and learning what to do at home,” said Ott. “As they get older, we work towards the vocational skills for employment.”

Teachers also hope to create an after school club that integrates students in both general education and the ACES program.

“It is going to provide an opportunity for more inclusivity in the building,” said Goldstein.