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Educational Program
A certified special education teacher will oversee the lesson plans for a modified curriculum for a maximum of 8 - 10 clients in a classroom in the morning, and trained teaching assistants and paraprofessionals will work under the direction of the special ed teacher to implement the lesson plans. The teacher, teaching assistants and paraprofessionals will work with speech, occupational, and physical therapists to integrate their services into the classroom experience. Therapists will be hired as contractors and paid on an hourly basis for individual one on one and group sessions on a weekly basis.
Each client's cognitive, social and emotional development, recognizing multiple intelligences, is nurtured. Different and appropriate learning styles are provided, according to individualized needs.
Community Based Program
The community based program is a learning and social inclusion experience to provide each client with a feeling of belonging and acceptance in an atmosphere where there are high expectations. The program functions to facilitate transitions in three core areas: community and recreational participation, independent living, and employment.
- Daily living skills are addressed in community settings and within the classroom. Examples include cooking, laundry, money counting, menu preparation, grocery shopping, travel, field trips to theater, museums, concerts, and shopping malls.
- Social Skills: buddying and mentoring by nondisabled peers, who teach, socialize and engage clients in sports, lessons, recreation, etc. to develop a "Circle of Friends". Clients will participate in activities that are based around a common theme or culture that is being studied in the classroom. For example, when clients are learning about Latin America, they may try Latin American foods, learn salsa dancing, enjoy latin music, and read stories about the region.
- Leisure and Recreation: Art, Theater, Dance, Music, Yoga, Massage Therapy, Aroma Therapy: experiencing the textures, rhythms, visual, auditory, tactile, physical sensory stimulations and integration. Examples include group activities, educational field trips, greenhouse and nature studies, and personal health education.
- Vocational and Work Experiences: supplementing our program with other organizations' community volunteer and paid work sites based on client's choice, needs and interests.
Extended Day Services
Extended day services will not be offered at the start up of the program and will be introduced as needed and desired by families over time. The extended day service part of the day will provide a wide variety of leisure, social and recreational activities to clients. These services will be offered for a fee to clients and families. |
