Since 1965, the state-approved Laboure Special Education Program has helped mentally challenged and learning disabled students from the five boroughs of New York City.  Our program has a long-term commitment to teaching academic and vocational skills that help children to become independent adults.  Twenty-one teachers and 15 aides attend to the needs of the 120 students in the program.  These children attend one of five sites in Brooklyn and Queens, and represent all faiths, races, and socioeconomic groups.

Four to eight students graduate each year from the high school.  Many can go on to maintain full-time jobs, do volunteer work, or learn more skills. Barnes and Noble, Baruch College, and Burger King and other fast-food restaurants have employed recent graduates.  While in school, students have worked at the Gap, Lerners, and other clothing stores.

Our Objectives
With integrated exercises, individual attention, and hands-on activities, the teachers in the program strive to fulfill these concrete objectives:

GIVE each child a sense of self-worth and dignity.

INCREASE their social awareness and understanding.

STIMULATE moral and intellectual growth.

ENHANCE their quality of life by helping them with survival skills so that they may thrive independently and become more self-sustaining.

PROMOTE and ENCOURAGE self-help and equality of opportunity in the work force.

TRAIN young adults to handle the school-to-work transition by developing strong sequential work/education experiences for each student.