Adult Based Life Experience Program (ABLE)

ABLE LogoThe Adult Based Life Experience Program (A.B.L.E.) is the Kern High School District Special Education Adult Transition Program for students with moderate/severe disabilities between the ages of 18 to 22 years old.
ABLE Program Information (Spanish)
ABLE Student Handbook
Directions 
 
Contact Information
 
ABLE Mt. Vernon Campus
 
501 S. Mt. Vernon Ave.
Bakersfield, Ca. 93307
Phone: (661) 397-5720
Fax: (661) 397-5700
 
ABLE @ RCC Campus
 
610 Ansol Ln. 
Bakersfield, Ca. 93306
Phone: (661) 366-4401
Fax: (661) 363-0828
 
ABLE Administration
 
Kristyn Radman - Assistant Principal
Leah Wong - Coordinator
Teresa Smith - ABLE @ RCC Coordinator
 
ABLE Program Specialists
 
Dustin Wilkins - ABLE Mt. Vernon Campus
Brian Brandon - ABLE @ RCC Campus
 
Office Hours
 
Monday - Friday
7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
 
Program Hours
 
Monday - Friday
7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
 
A.B.L.E. focuses on providing functional academics, community-based instruction, job skills training and recreational activities to ensure that each student makes a smooth transition from school to post-secondary community involvement with as little disruption as possible.
 
Program Information
  • Students must live within the boundaries of the Kern High School District. 
  • ABLE follows the Kern High School District Student Attendance Calendar.
  • Students receive a Certificate of Completion upon aging out at 22 years old. 
  • Services and supports provided based on Annual & Triennial IEP Meetings.
  • Staff includes:                                                                                                                                
          • Credentialed Special Education Teachers
          • Instructional Assistant Special Needs Mobility
          • School Psychologist
          • Speech & Language Pathologist
          • Mental Health Clinician
          • Behaviorist
          • Nurse, LVN and Health Care Specialists
  • Bus transportation may be provided to and from A.B.L.E. based on IEP.
  • Breakfast and lunch are provided by KHSD Nutrition Services. 
  • Provide assistance in accessing information to Community Agencies/Adult Programs upon completion of the A.B.L.E. Program.

Students enrolled in the ABLE Program will receive instruction in the following areas:

  • Community Based Instruction (CBI): to teach age-appropriate skills in community settings which may include tours of stores and local businesses, pedestrian safety and accessing community resources to help students acquire life-skills that will increase opportunities within the general community. Instruction is based on the student’s IEP goals and objectives. 
  • Functional Academics: learning to read/recognize practical words such as functional/survival signs, food/menu words and directions. Learning number recognition, counting, use of numbers and the understanding of money and time. Instruction is based on the student’s IEP goals and objectives. 
  • Independent Living Skills: making purchases, household tasks, exhibiting proper grooming and hygiene, dressing appropriately, preparing meals, reading labels, following recipes and demonstrating appropriate eating habits. Instruction is based on the student’s IEP goals and objectives. 
  • Daily Living Skills Lab: students learn basic nutrition, food handling, shopping and preparation of small meals. Students will be taught safety, cleaning and operation of common kitchen appliances. Students will learn additional living skills such as the operation of a clothes washer and dryer, how to fold clothes and other household items. Instruction is based on the student’s IEP goals and objectives. 
  • Social Skills: public greetings, personal space, impulse control, seeking help and requesting information/services, understanding emotions. Instruction is based on the student’s IEP goals and objectives. 
  • Job Skills: pre-vocational readiness skills, interacting with co-workers/superiors on job site, task completion, vocational inventory. Instruction is based on the student’s IEP goals and objectives. 
  • Recreation/Leisure: determining and accessing preferred activities, appropriate social skills while participating in group activities. Instruction is based on the student’s IEP goals and objectives. 
 

Transition Websites

ABLE Staff 
 
Title Name Email
Assistant Principal  Kristyn Radman
Coordinator  Chad Blain 
Coordinator Kristina Treadwell
Program Specialist  Leah Wong 
Teacher Alicia Aguilar
Teacher  Tania Alanis
Teacher Grace Baldwin
Teacher Karen Covington
Teacher Kevin Crosby
Teacher Jeff Craft
Teacher Deyanira Cunningham
Teacher Claudia Esparza
Teacher Erin Finnegan
Teacher Israel Flores
Teacher Jake Fortnum
Teacher  Esteban Guzman
Teacher  Daliana Hernandez
Teacher Jessica Hernandez
Teacher  Lisa Holle
Teacher  Tim Horton 
Teacher  Gayla Kern
Teacher Mary Long
Teacher  Tim McDowell
Teacher  Erik Morales
Teacher Isabel Pacheco
Teacher  Candice Pena
Teacher Matthew Pratt
Teacher Van Roberts
Teacher  Rudy Rosales
Teacher Christopher Ruiz
Teacher LuAnn Ruoss
Teacher Amanda Fleming-Sisneros
Teacher Melissa Sitton
Teacher  Michelle Stephens
Teacher Jill Turner
Teacher Kathy Young
Teacher Marc Urmston
School Psychologist Angel Gonzales
School Psychologist Chelle Dunn
Mental Health Clinician Neil Kitchen
Behaviorist Justin Valverde
Behaviorist Qiana Roberts
Speech Therapist  Ella Vidal
Speech Therapist Mary Flicker
 
                                Jennifer Anderson - Special Education Instruction Director 
                                Jim Bennett - SELPA Director
                                Holly Mell - Special Education Alternative Programs Director