Every parent is struggling right now to manage work or unemployment with everyone at home together, but parents of special needs kids have a particularly difficult job. Family routines have been disrupted, social outlets have been removed, and professional supports have been decreased or eliminated. Create a flexible routineRoutines can create structure and give your […]
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As part of our Life Skills Program, students at Gateway School have the opportunity to practice and gain confidence to face many of the daily challenges found in a home or apartment environment. Making the bed, doing laundry, using the microwave and loading the dishwasher are skills we teach in our Activities of Daily Living […]
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Your child is legally an adult, but if you have legal guardianship, you will continue to make decisions for their care and education going forward. Your child may remain in school through the ages of 21/22. As a member of the school community, your family enjoys a wealth of expertise and resources, as well as a […]
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Our mission is to help prepare our students for a full and meaningful life. In addition to traditional academics, we include instruction in practical and functional daily living skills in order to prepare students for future adult situations in the home, community, and workplace. As part of our Life Skills Program, students at Gateway School […]
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By ages 16 to 17, transition will include out of school job readiness in the community. We will take an interest inventory of the students at the beginning of the year and another at the end of the year. They will begin to develop a resume. Job skills training will begin.Travel safety training becomes important […]
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Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems are important tools to assist students who have challenges communicating and expressing their own needs, thoughts and emotions. AAC users span a full range of age, physical, and cognitive ability. At the Gateway School, our goal is for all students to become as independent as possible. Picture Exchange Communication […]
Continue readingThe transition from special needs student to functioning adults begins with indicating goals and challenges within the already existing student’s respective IEP (Individualized Education Program), begins at the age of 14. As required by a state’s specific special education rules and regulations, the IEP is usually reviewed on a yearly basis allowing the transition plan […]
Continue readingCongratulations! You now have an adult on your hands. However, this adult still needs our assistance as they transition into independent living.If they had applied for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Medicaid will come with the SSI approval. Once again, carefully review and consult with your state’s individual regulations. By now, all matters related to […]
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Special needs educators do not just take a course in teaching students with severe behavior problems, receive a certificate and then look forward to smooth sailing from there on in. 15 to 30 percent of special needs students struggle to learn due to psychosocial problems which affect attention to task and retention of material. For […]
Continue readingIn September we learned all about her class with the, “Taco All About Us” board. The students adorned the board with taco pictures and a small narrative that they wrote. The students gave us a fright using their imaginative scary stories in October with, “Do You want to Hear a Scary Story?” In November, “Shake […]
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