The L.I.V.E.S. Program

The L.I.V.E.S, or Learning Independent Vocational & Educational Skills, is a college preparatory program for students who have developmental and/or intellectual disabilities here at SUNY Geneseo. As the name suggests, students learn various critical skills for college life and beyond, including social and monetary skills. They also engage with other subjects, such as math and science. The main goal of this program is to help its students succeed in life.

The L.I.V.E.S. Program contains a wide variety of subjects but fits around one main theme: succeeding in the outside world and in a job setting. The program has courses in basic subjects, such as history, current events, math, journaling and science. The more in-depth classes discuss money management for situations involving finances.

Skills involving social interactions between co-workers and introducing yourself are taught as well. The skills the program teaches include how to fill out a resume, how to hold yourself in an interview, working and studying hard, and possibilities for internships.

Some students in this Program partake in college classes via auditing. These classes allow students to sit in on a class and learn about the subject they are auditing. It is optional to participate in assignments and tests in the class, but some students such as Douglas Schlenker, who is a member of the L.I.V.E.S. program, likes to complete all assignments. 

The L.I.V.E.S. Program goes on different trips every year. This includes a trip to Vitale Park located on Conesus Lake in Lakeville, NY. Vitale Park is a great place to go fishing, and docks and boats are available for pedestrians. Stokoe Farms is another field trip where students get to pick pumpkins and go into a corn maze. The L.I.V.E.S Program has also gone on a trip to Highland Park located in Rochester which is home to the Lilac Festival in May. 

Additionally, the program went to Letchworth State Park to visit the Autism Nature Trail. One thing students did was build structures out of materials found in nature. The students also saw a bench that was donated by the Norfolk Southern Railroad that a local BOCES organization, refurbished out of the old railroad bridge that once spanned the upper falls. The L.I.V.E.S. Program enjoys these field trips and is excited to do them again in the future.

The L.I.V.E.S. Program gets to participate in a variety of activities, but the all-around favorite is Festive Fridays. Festive Fridays are opportunities for the students to take part in on-campus activities. These activities include outdoor games such as kickball, collaborating with clubs, eating lunch on Main Street, and dance lessons. 

Shania Guyett and Sarah Pope shared their thoughts on Festive Fridays saying “These are the things that we like to do on Festive Fridays…we like to hang out with friends because there are so many things to do with them.”

The students at the L.I.V.E.S. Program enjoy their time as part of the program, but there could be more to add to this beneficial organization. The average number of new members per year is three, and more people joining the program would be helpful for both those who are struggling, and for the program to grow in numbers. New classes for the students would be helpful for the individuals wanting to attend more. Students have been interested in joining clubs, but aren’t always able to join. Including lenient times for clubs would be helpful for program members. The L.I.V.E.S. Program also needs more volunteers to help out with the program. 

Independence is also a huge thing for students, and the more people who become independent on campus, the better. The program recently found out that there are similar programs at other colleges, and the students would love to interact with other students in these programs. The L.I.V.E.S program would love to accomplish all these goals in the future, but they need help. Spread the word! Volunteer or ask to interact with similar programs in other colleges. These programs are doing their best, but they can’t do it alone. Please support them by whatever means possible. 

This article was written by members of the L.I.V.E.S. Program, in collaboration with The Lamron on a Festive Friday.