A pathway to independence From the cover
Life Bridges facility Real life simulation: • Apartment living spaces • Café • A commercial kitchen Workplace training: • Four training and enrichment rooms • Ofice skills room • Collaboration space • Teacher workroom • Clinic • Retail sales lab Community spaces: • Fitness area • Outdoor learning space
Latest update
The new campus was designed to provide hands-on experience in professional settings, Michele Martella, CISD executive director of special programs and services, said in an email to Community Impact . It will be equipped with a commercial kitchen and oer team members hands-on experience in food preparation, service and hospitality, Stahl said in an email to Community Impact . A retail sales lab will be incorporated into the space and allow team members to develop customer service skills and learn how to manage inventory. The new campus will also feature an apartment- style living suite designed to support the development of independent living skills. The space will feature a bedroom, restroom, closet and kitchen, Stahl said. “The unit provides team members with realistic, hands-on experiences in managing daily household tasks, fostering con dence and competence in maintaining a personal living space,” he said.
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SOURCE: COMAL ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT © GOOGLE EARTH
About the program
Looking back
“This program is truly the answer for young adults to gain independent life skills and employability before they turn 22 years old. Life Bridges provides life-changing outcomes,” Martella said. And while the program continues to grow, so does the number of special education students within CISD. The number of students in special education has increased over the past decade— partially due to the recategorization of some learning disabilities, according to district data.
The Life Bridges program, which began in 2003, serves as a post-secondary transition program that aligns with federal and state requirements for individuals ages 18 and above under the Individuals with Disabilities Educa- tion Act, Martella said. There is an average of 60-80 team members who attend the program full-time, but team member enrollment is growing. Martella said the program’s enrollment has increased by 14% over the past ve years.
The new Life Bridges Campus is part of Propo- sition A within the district’s 2023 voter-approved bond. Proposition A costs $560.56 million and funds new schools, security and facility maintenance. New schools funded by the proposition include Mayfair Elementary, Middle School No. 9 and Farias-Spitzer Elementary School, as previously reported by Community Impact . In the fall of 2022, a replacement campus for the Life Bridges program was recommended by the Comal Forward Committee because of the programming it o ers—such as vocational train- ing and functional academics—and its continued growth within the community. Functional academics teaches team members how to apply their reading and math skills to real life. The name “Life Bridges” is inspired by a bridge, symbolizing a supportive pathway connecting secondary school to post-secondary independence. “Life” reects the focus on enhancing the quality of life for young adults transitioning to adulthood, Martella said.
Number of special education students at CISD
+178.78%
6K
5,506
4K
2K
1,975
0
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
NOTE: NOT EVERY SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENT IS ENROLLED IN THE LIFE BRIDGE PROGRAM. SOURCE: COMAL ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT
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