Students in the B.E.S.T. program (Building Essential Skills Together) work on academic, vocational, leisure, and life skills necessary for success after school in independent or partially independent living and working communities.  Students learn these skills through a variety of hands-on, experiential activities such as identifying community and emergency signs and symbols, understanding environmental print, preparing for emergencies, cooking, following a schedule, engaging in hobbies, and practicing a variety of job and vocational tasks. Social skills are emphasized through collaborative decision-making and problem-solving, working in groups, and practicing conversational skills in restorative circles.