INDEPENDENCE

AT ST. JOSEPH’S we have over a century-long history of successfully educating children and youth with vision impairments—some of whom are totally blind while others have partial sight—and many of whom have multiple disabilities.

The main aim of our INDEPENDENCE PROGRAM is to equip each student with the basic skills of self-awareness, self-determination, self-care, socialization, effective communication, independence, and acceptable behavioral abilities.

OUR TEAM OF MULTI-CULTURAL SPECIAL EDUCATORS accomplish this by giving each child a comprehensive assessment, and then coordinating and implementing an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). These plans include wide-ranging activities and combine the skills of special educators, social workers, health educators, specialists and therapists.

• Music, for example, plays a key role in helping our students develop new awareness, joy and sensitivity.
• Orientation and mobility specialists teach the important skills of independent travel.
• Technology specialists reveal new potentials for accessibility.
• Speech therapists help our students improve effective means of communication.
• Occupational therapists teach functional independence skills that promote the development of fine and gross motor abilities, sensory awareness, tactile discrimination, eye and hand coordination, and pragmatic daily living activities.
• Physical therapists help students participate actively in classroom and school activities, and teach the use of adaptive equipment.
• Nursing staff responds to the health needs of each and every child and works closely with pediatric, ophthalmic, and psychological consultants.
• Social workers are a vital resource to families and staff alike.
• Residential Transitional Services are available.

THERAPISTS AND HEALTH CARE STAFF, in coordination with each student’s physician, work in close partnership with special education classroom teachers, and give pragmatic consultative services to parents.

PARTNERSHIP is a key aspect of all our programs. Students, parents, teachers, therapists, social workers, health care providers, teacher aides, supervisors, administrators, and school districts—all work together to ensure the best possible education for each and every child served. Our primary aim is to provide a wide range of stimulating, motivating, and appropriate opportunities for enabling every student to

“LEARN TO BE ALL THEY CAN BE!”