1. Mason LIFE Program

2. Definition
Four-year transition and post secondary, non-degree program, educating students with Intellectual and developmental disabilities
and
Supportive apprenticeship for students who are majoring in human service studies which provides practical experience learning from, and working with, individuals with disabilities
Majors such as Special Education, Psychology, Assistive Technology
College of Education and Human Development
School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
College of Visual and Performing Arts
4 students have switched majors and 3 students have switched minors to special education

3. Academic Residential Employment Exploration Research Mental Health
Components
Academic
Residential
Employment
Exploration
Research
Mental Health

5. Vision
To be a model in postsecondary programs that focuses on research, academic progress, campus integration through catalog classes, employment opportunities, and the development of independent living skills.

6. Students (N = 55) First Years-13 Second Years-13 Third Years- 12
Fourth Years-14
Diversity Statistics
African American-14%
Asian-5%
Caucasian-67%
Hispanic-7%
Biracial-2%
Middle Eastern-5%
Interns - 3

7. Community Integration with Community Partner
Caroline Foster
Sophie Johnson

8. ServiceSource

9. Academics
Suri Raut
Molly Gorden

10. New for Fall 2015 Robin Moyher is the new Assistant Director
2 and 3 year PCP
Behavioral plans
Student Health Services
DARS Funding and challenges

11. Parent Readiness Scale Red Flag Items
Item 1 – I expect to know everything my student does at the university.***
Item 2 – I expect one-one support all day.***
Item 9 – I trust my student’s judgement.
Item 15 – Often I am in contact with my students more than 3 times a day.***
Item 19 – I believe I know what is best for my student.

12. New for Fall 2015 QRI-5better/more accurate placement for Lit. class
Track progress over the four years in program – Dr. Berkley, Ms. Gorden and Jason Sutton
FRAME – graphic organizer – EBS – T/TAC – Dr. Fontana and doc student
Reading program – Read Naturally – Anna Menditto, doc student
S.M.A.R.T. – will be mandatory (3-4 pm)
Lunch will be shortened 11:30 am- 12pm (noon)
Lunch clubs: 12pm (noon)-12:30pm

13. Courses Fall 2015 Math-Applied Math Literature-Romance
Writing-Scary Poetry
Banking- 1st year
Banking and Budgeting
Yearbook
Mason Exploration
Human Sexuality
Public Speaking
Employment Skills– 1st year
Current Events
Res. Housing
Community Access- Travel Training
Ind. Living –No-cook meals
Self-Regulation
Mindfulness
Drama
Biology
Horticulture
Fitness-Water Aerobics

15. Kudy Giwa Lawal Stephanie Boscovitch
Exploration
Kudy Giwa Lawal
Stephanie Boscovitch

16. Pathways for Exploration
Sports
and Recreation
Fitness
and Wellness
Academic and Career
Catalog, Audit, and
Special Topics Courses

17. Special Topics Courses
Acting I
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
Beginning Modern Dance
Introduction to Digital Photography
Drawing I
Drawing II
Introduction to Events Management
Environmental Science
Fundamental of Atmospheric Science
Introduction to Sports Management
Introductory Geology
Introduction to Yoga
Global Warming: Weather, Climate, and Society
Intermediate Yoga
Music - Piano and Viola
History of Computer Game Design
Newspaper Workshop
Interpersonal & Group Interaction
Popular Music in America
Introduction to Criminal Justice
Public Speaking
Radio Workshop I
Theatrical Medium

18. Concentrations
Two, three, four, and comprehensive concentrations upon graduation based upon the exploration coursework. Comprehensive Concentration in Visual Arts Comprehensive Concentration in Ecology and Environmental Science

19. Andrew Hahn Joanna Santiago
Employment
Andrew Hahn
Joanna Santiago

20. About Employment On and Off Campus Placements
Congressional Hill Internship
Supported Employment
Meaningful Employment

21. New Worksites for fall
Federal Communications Commission- International Bureau
Smithsonian Postal Museum
Green Springs Village Continuing Care Retirement Community
University Switchboard
Capitol Hill Compliance Office

22. Work Specialty Area Sports Management Public Works Customer Service
Office/Clerical
Community Outreach
Child Development
Mail Services
Library Services
Data Entry

23. Capitol Hill, Congressional Internships

24. Permon Mitchell Kenneth Johnson
Residential Housing
Permon Mitchell
Kenneth Johnson

25. Residential Housing Fall Activities Fall Class Topics Personal Hygiene
Welcome Week Comedy Show
Fair Oaks Mall Trip
Labor Day Cookout
Air & Space Museum
The National Zoo
Bowling
Movie Trip
GMU Fashion and Talent Shows
GMU Basketball/Sporting Events
Special Olympics
Halloween Costume Party
Celebrating of Birthdays
Girls Night
Brown Bag Sunday Service Project
Thanksgiving Dinner Party
Personal Hygiene
Laundry and Sorting
Recreation
Relationships Building and Boundaries
Domestic and Cleaning
Home/Fire Safety
Wellness and Nutrition
Budgeting
Recipes
Meal Planning and Preparation
Shopping
Cooking
Fellowship

26. Fall 2015 Developing independent living skills
Reading and developing recipes
Creating an inventory of items
Creating a shopping list for those particular items
Budgeting and shopping for those particular items
Preparing the meal
Increase weekend activities
Increase educational activities
Welcome commute students to weekend activities

27. Residential Housing Staff Responsibilities
Assist with cooking, shopping, cleaning, and other activities.
Encourage participation and campus integration.
May remind about medication but not administer medication.
May remind about hygiene but not physically assist with hygiene.
Mason students who are learning
and growing along side of our
Mason LIFE students.

28. Mason LIFE Sick Policy
The student must call Mrs. Atkins at to let her know. The parent(s)/guardian(s) will be called and informed of the student’s sickness.
The student will be allowed to rest until 11am.
The student and the parent(s)/guardian(s) must decide whether the student is well enough go to class, go seek treatment, or go home.
By noon, if the student is not well enough to go to class,
the student will be escorted to
Student Health Services or to Urgent Care.

29. Mason LIFE Sick Policy There is no Support Staff on duty between the
The Mason LIFE staff will follow the recommendations of Student Health Services or the Urgent Care Staff to determine if the student needs to go back to on/off campus housing, home or to the Emergency Room.
If the student is allowed to return to on/off campus housing, the student will be alone between the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. It then becomes the families responsibility to either let them remain alone or to come pick them up and take them home.
There is no Support Staff on duty between the
hours of 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
George Mason University is not equipped with a Sick Bay
In case of emergency, 911 will be called.

30. Off-campus Authorization Form for Residential Housing
Students in Mason LIFE
Fall 2015
Student Name:
_________________________________
I have permission to travel off- campus independently to the following places:
________________________
All other activities fall within Mason LIFE Residential Program and will be
accompanied by the Support Staff or a student. Permission will be sought on an as needed basis.
Student Signature:
_____________________________________
All other activities:
Parent Signature:
Date:
________________________________

31. Meal Plan http://masonid.gmu.edu/mealplans/index.html
Fall 2015
Meal Plan
Voluntary Minimum Plan
PLAN
AMOUNT
DESCRIPTION
SUPER PATRIOT
$690
75 Meals
PATRIOT
$480
50 Meals
GREEN & GOLD
$250
25 Meals

32. Criterion for Residential Housing
Must stay for a 2 hour period by self
Be able to prepare no cook meals
Have some knowledge of sorting laundry

33. Guidelines
The units are owned and maintained by Landlord or Mason. The units are operated by the Mason LIFE Program, with final decisions on room placements.
All units are “dry” meaning NO alcohol on the premises regardless of age.
Unit and room assignments are typically completed by April for the upcoming academic year.

34. Barbara Smith Renata Daum Luiza Pagonis
Mental Health
Barbara Smith
Renata Daum
Luiza Pagonis

35. New for this Semester
Zones of Regulation

36. Community Integration
Fran Johnson
Rob LeSueur
Integration within the overall GMU community through participation in clubs, organizations, events, and activities.

37. After School Activities
Monday: Fitness
Tuesday: Yoga
Wednesday: Book Club
Thursday: ArtStream
Friday: Bowling

38. Social Interest Inventory

39. “Wherever we are, it is our friends
that make our world.”
~ Henry Drummond
Social Captains
Goal: To provide students with the opportunity to learn the social skills needed to make positive and active choices for their leisure time activities and to connect with others who have similar interests.
A long-term, longitudinal study outlined in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (2013) found that young adults with developmental disabilities (especially ASD) had difficulty making and maintain social connections once leaving high school. In fact, nearly 40% were not receiving phone calls and over half were not being invited or participating in social events. We want to be sure that our students have the opportunity to learn the skills they need to make these connections and have lives full of friendship and fun after graduating from Mason LIFE.

40. Here are the basics….
Each housing unit will have two Social Captains to help plan and promote social & community integration group activities. Commuter students will have their own Social Captains.
Social Captains will switch on a semester basis. Pairs are matched to provide peer mentoring opportunities.
Captains will plan at least one social event for their unit each week. They will meet with Ms. Johnson and Mr. LeSueur once a week to choose which activity they want to plan and will have the support of the residential staff to help with organizing and promoting their activity among their housemates and friends.
They can choose a scheduled activity or plan something new!

42. Cost of Attending
Academic Tuition
Fall 2015/Spring 2016 tuition rates: In State: $19,800/year Out-of-State: $26,000/year
Residency On-Campus
9,760/year is the room fee, $11,000/year is the support fee for a total cost of $20,760 per year
Residency Off-Campus
Residential Support Fee: $8,700/year = $4,350/semester and the cost of rent. This is about $950/month for a total cost of $20,100 per year
Rent is paid directly to the Town House Owner.

43. Financial Assistance
Mason LIFE Scholarships (about $1,500 per student each semester from private donations)
Approximately $50,000 a year awarded
Veteran’s benefits (pay full tuition, not housing/meals)
Federal financial aid/Pell grant (based on federal criteria thru FAFSA )
Virginia Prepaid Education Program (VPEP)
Pays only tuition portion of the Mason LIFE Program cost of attending
DARS for VA Domicile

44. Financial Aid Award runs over the academic year
Can not guarantee when placed in account
To avoid late fees, pay in full
Overpayment will be by check or direct deposit

45. Research Dr. Berkeley, QRI, Literature
Dr. Fontana of TTAC with Graphic Organizers, FRAME
Human Growth and Sexuality-Dissertation Pilot
Dr. Barthold– SASICSE Model-Goal Setting in the workplace
Graff Parent Readiness Scale (Clemson, Utah State University, and Kennesaw State University)

46. Program Resources
Director Coordinators and Clinical Psychologist Liaisons Office Manager/HR Liaison SPED Managers Overnight Support Staff Senior Support Staff Senior Support Staff Support Staff Support Staff

47. Family Responsibilities
Encourage student to ask for help
Contact SPED Managers
Promote resources such Coordinators or Liaisons for assistance
Contact overnight support staff
Promote resources such as RAP meetings
For appointments, contact Mrs. Atkins
Schedule yearly Person Centered Planning Meetings

48. Person Centered Planning
Tuesdays at 10 or Noon
1st years mandatory in beginning of fall
4th years mandatory in spring prior to graduation
2nd and 3rd years in late fall and early spring

49. Ideal Characteristics
Knowledge of self
Knowledge of family
Knowledge of the broader community
Desire to continue learning
Desire to be at George Mason University
Desire (with support) to try new activities and join clubs or organizations

50. Skills
Ability to transition from place to place independently (after being taught)
Ability to use cell phone
Beginning awareness of making purchases or handling small sums of money or ability to use debit card

51. Timeline Applications will be posted November 6th
Applications due on January 15th
Interview February/ March
Decision by April 15th
Commitment Letter and deposit on June 1st
New Student Open House June 24th

52. State of the Art Conference
November 12 and 13, 2015

53. Furnace Hills Coffee

54. Contacts Assistant Director: Robin Moyher rmoyher1@gmu.edu
Web:
Phone (703)
Director: Heidi J. Graff
Assistant Director: Robin Moyher
Office Manger : Stephanie Atkins
University Coordinator: Kudy Giwa Lawal
Academic Coordinator: Suri Raut
Employment Coordinator: Andy Hahn  
Residential Housing Coordinator: Permon D. Mitchell