Adult Based Life Experience Program (ABLE)

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:
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- Credentialed Special Education Teachers
- Instructional Assistant Special Needs Mobility
- School Psychologist
- Speech & Language Pathologist
- Mental Health Clinician
- Behaviorist
- Nurse, LVN and Health Care Specialists
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- 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
- Community Agencies & Transition Planning Resources padlet: https://padlet.com/Special_Education_Transition/bbgh4d49wuds8oxh
ABLE Staff
Title | Name | |
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