Special Needs Students Create Art as Fundraiser and Self Expression

May 20, 2013 - PRLog -- Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, Inc. held their annual Breakthrough Awards luncheon on Friday, May 10th. Displayed on each table (33 altogether) were hand painted vases, filled with beautiful white and blue hydrangeas. What made these vases unique is that they were painted by the students of the Goodwill L.I.F.E. Academy, a charter school for students ages 11-22 with developmental disabilities. The vases were sold to event attendees with proceeds going directly to the school.

“Art projects provide the students with an opportunity to express themselves,” says L.I.F.E. Academy Principal Lynn Pottorf. “Some of our students have limited ways of communicating. Creating an art piece allows them to show feelings and talents we might not otherwise see. Knowing their work has value and meaning to others was an extremely important part of this project.”

The L.I.F.E. Academy focuses on academic, life, and vocational skills to prepare the students for life after graduation. The proceeds from the vases, totaling $1,290, will go directly to Community Based Instruction for the L.I.F.E. Academy students.

“Life skills lessons begin in the classroom,” explains Pottorf.  “However, they must be reinforced and practiced in settings outside of school. Taking students into the community provides opportunities to incorporate the skills into decision making, communication, and problem solving in real life situations.”

The school is currently gearing up for its move to the future Goodwill Opportunity Center, which will feature larger classrooms, increased accessible technology, and more. The school is expected to be finished by the start of the 2013 summer.

The Goodwill L.I.F.E. Academy is a tuition-free, open-enrollment school for students with developmental disabilities.  The school’s curriculum is designed to promote self-advocacy, and develop life skills for independent living, by focusing on academic skills, daily life skills and vocational/workforce skills.

For more information about the Goodwill L.I.F.E. Academy, please visit the school’s website at www.GoodwillLIFEAcademy.org or call Principal Lynn Pottorf at (239) 334-4434.