News 12 New Jersey tagged along with students from Bulldog Academy as they visited LifeTown, a multimillion-dollar educational center in Livingston on Thursday, February 27. During their visit, the students enjoyed an immersive, real-world environment where they practiced life and job skills in an encouraging and safe place.
Bulldog Academy is part of the Rutherford school district and operates out of the lower level of the Rutherford Public Library. Since 2017, the program has served students with special needs who are ages 18 to 21, preparing them for independence as they transition from student to young adult. Bulldog Academy empowers students by teaching them how to be independent and helps them cultivate not just life skills, but also job skills that help them find and keep gainful employment.
This visit to LifeTown helped reinforce the skills learned through the program. Life Village, one of the main components of LifeTown, features a Main Street complete with storefronts such as ShopRite, Regal Bank, a doctor and dentist office, pet shop, salon, laundromat, and more. There are crosswalks and traffic lights and everything else to bring the 53,000 square-foot facility to life. Students learned how to use the “cash” they got at the bank to shop at the stores, and had to figure out how to budget, manage their time, and book appointments.
Twelve young adults are enrolled in Bulldog Academy, which is now in its third year. Bulldog Academy also serves students from nearby districts including North Arlington, Woodbridge and Lyndhurst.