BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The KEY Academy is debuting a new two-year program for young adults with disabilities to help them become independent in the adult life.

What You Need To Know

  • The KEY Academy was created to help students with intellectual and developmental disabilities

  • KEY Academy will provide individuals the opportunity to learn vocational skills that can lead to meaningful employment.

  • Their email for inquiries can be accessed at key@pathforwardky.com

The KEY Academy had its open house on Friday, Aug. 25, and the goal, according to Crys Smith, the KEY Academy Coordinator, is to help teach students with disabilities subjects they didn’t learn in traditional K-12 school.

The school will teach subjects such as self-esteem, positivity, job exploration counseling and independent living lifestyles. The proposed timeline will go from Sept. 2023 to Sept. 2025.

The classroom will also outline other topics such as self-advocacy, where students will learn about self-awareness, knowing their rights and positive self-talk.

Smith will use a small classroom that holds about 10 young adults to provide quality, personable learning. 

Devon Avery, a moderate-to-severe disabilities teacher, stopped by the Academy, stating that it “sounds very promising.” 

Crys’ motivation to help these students came from personal experience. She was a middle school teacher and had to leave her job and her independence because of her health.

“To lose that, and not know if you’ll ever get it back, that’s heartbreaking,” Smith said.

And after her health improved, she got a job at the rehabilitation center, where she saw students with mental and physical disabilities thrive.

“When I saw them doing things that they didn’t think they could do, and just watching them light up, that’s a thing you can’t get in public schools, it’s just not there,” Smith said.

Smith then took care of her grandmother for several years until her passing earlier this year. After her death, Smith wanted to devote her life to taking care of others and providing opportunities.

She had little time to prepare after getting the job at the KEY Academy. But said her dedication helped her make the two-year lesson plan in less than one month.

Smith didn’t just create lesson plans for students. She made sure her classroom is a fun environment that has game and prizes to reward students and their hard work. 

To learn more about the program, you can email the school at key@pathforwardky.com.

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