Beyond career training, IVDU students have ample opportunity to make a meaningful impact on our community. Whether through preparing Bikur Cholim food packages, transporting PT patients in clinical settings, or volunteering at local schools, our students gain a deep sense of purpose and experience the joy of giving back.
We’re proud to be the first NYS special education school to offer Drivers Ed. This program is spearheaded by an experienced instructor who gives comprehensive driving courses to mainstream schools throughout the state.
The ability to drive safely has gifted our students with an extra dose of confidence and an unmatched sense of independence.
Getting your child road-ready
Permit prep course
For students who need more than self-guided study, our 2-month prep course helps them pass with flying colors.
Rules of the road
NY’s 5-hour mandatory course is modified and geared to our students’ learning strengths.
10 hours behind the wheel
Students who successfully pass their permit test and rules of the road course go on to receive real-world driving instruction.
Our warehousing & retail internships with local businesses allow our active students to learn, grow, and thrive in positions where their zeal is appreciated and valued.
From stocking shelves to running deliveries and bussing tables, our IVDU students try their hand at multiple positions where they learn to work as a team and bring concrete goals to the finish line.
Stocking up on real-world experience
Retail
IVDU students build valuable customer service skills during internships, by helping shoppers, handling computer tasks, and managing inventory.
Warehousing
From unpacking and packing boxes in a busy warehouse to tracking inventory and working together as a team, these internships prepare our girls for success in the workplace. At various clothing stores, students gain hands-on experience sorting sizes, unpacking orders, categorizing merchandise, and organizing inventory.
Sales & service:
Our sociable students develop essential sales and customer service skills that they can apply across a wide range of industries.
Perfect for girls who love creating order, this course with professional organizers teaches our students to transform cluttered spaces into beautiful, functional environments.
From categorizing belongings to creating custom storage spaces and selecting the perfect organizational products, our students master foundational organization principles, all while gaining important life skills such as communication and problem-solving.
Creating order from chaos
Mastering the method
IVDU girls master foundational techniques like categorizing, measuring, and color-coding that help them tackle any cluttered space with confidence.
Converting chaos to calm
Once a week, IVDU girls step into crowded spaces to gain on-the-job experience. They work together to analyze rooms, optimize storage, and arrange furniture in ways that maximize both function and style.
Space makeover magic
IVDU girls learn to find and choose the best organizing products—from containers to shelving—that fit each unique space and function.
Our digital design course helps creative IVDU girls turn their artistic talents into job-ready skills. From writing professional emails to designing eye-catching posters and websites, students build impressive portfolios while mastering the skills that equip them for success in a wide range of fields.
Building tomorrow’s digital toolkit
Career-ready computing
IVDU students learn essential skills for today’s workplace, from writing professional emails to creating sharp presentations and building impressive resumes.
Brand design, decoded
Guided by our talented educators, IVDU students explore the history and psychology of logo and brand design. By studying successful brands, they learn how to create effective and visually appealing designs.
Design in action
IVDU students dive into Canva, Photoshop, and Wix, applying their skills to create real projects. The girls build mock websites and design IVDU flyers to gain practical skills and create portfolios they’re proud of.
IVDU students train weekly to assist lifeguards in real-life situations. Our girls learn water safety and emergency response skills, all while gaining crucial life skills such as practicing safety protocols and executing multi-step tasks.
Diving into lifeguard readiness
We first help the girls fine-tune their strokes, practice proper breathing techniques, and build the stamina they need to feel confident in all water conditions.
Emergency response training
Once the girls are confident swimmers, they learn to spot potential emergencies and react effectively in rescue scenarios. Using realistic training exercises, the students learn essential rescue techniques, including safe holds such as ear muffing.
First aid fundamentals
Our students get hands-on with life-saving skills beyond the pool. The girls master CPR, including rescue breathing and chest compressions, learn how to use an AED, and practice basic first aid skills like bandaging and splinting.
Each year, IVDU students attend a comprehensive course on cake and cookie decorating. Students graduate from this cohort with a working vocational skill they can apply towards starting an independent business.
A not-so-cookie-cutter curriculum
Piping
Students cover a range of piping techniques, from preparing the icing to prepping their tools and piping picture-perfect scallops, swirls, rosettes, and more.
Icing
Students learn to design creative cookie sets, prepare royal icing, create complex designs, then dry and pack them to perfection.
Fondant
Applying skill, thought, and specialized tools, our students learn to successfully prepare, shape, and work with fondant to achieve clean, professional-level results.
Every day, IVDU students take shifts preparing full and nourishing meals, which Bikur Cholim then distributes to the homebound.
Beyond acquiring multiple integral life skills, this program empowers our students with a true sense of purpose, allowing them to provide real value to the community’s most needy.
Nourishing the needy, nurturing independence
Menu planning
Under the guidance of a staff member, students plan nourishing meals that include a starch, vegetable, and protein.
Shopping
Students reference their recipes to create a shopping list, and then independently shop for each item, learning all about budgeting and planning along the way.
Food prep
Applying the knife, stove, and oven skills they mastered, our girls diligently cook, bake, and pack each meal with love, joy, and care.
For students who thrive in social environments, IVDU offers hands-on vocational training in a school setting. These experiences give our students the practical skills and sense of responsibility to support others and contribute in a team setting.
Library leadership
Our girls roll up their sleeves at local school libraries, gaining essential library management skills, from organizing collections to checking out books and assisting students.
Classroom assistants
Students who love working with young children can gain firsthand experience in a preschool environment. As paras for preschool students, IVDU students learn essential support skills while experiencing the joy of giving to others.