"SPECIAL" EDUCATION

As the parent of a child with a visual impairment and possible additional disabilities (such as learning or orthopedic impairments), you would naturally want your child to have access to the same educational opportunities as any other child.

SPECIAL EDUCATION at St. Joseph’s is exactly what the term implies—education for children with special needs. ‘Special’ means your child receives custom-designed education best suited to her or his unique needs. Special also means our child’s parents receive the support, guidance, learning and resources they need to better understand their child’s challenges, choices and potential. At St. Joseph’s we provide a wealth of opportunities to ensure each child becomes “ALL THEY CAN BE.”

SPECIAL also ensures each child receives education from a uniquely qualified, dedicated and multi-cultural team that includes:

• Certified early intervention teachers
• Certified teachers of the disabled
• Certified teachers of the visually impaired
• Orientation and mobility instructors
• Music and recreational teachers
• Technology specialists
• Teacher aides
• Social workers
• Health care, vision, speech, physical and occupational therapists

EACH AND EVERY CHILD needs the special skills taught by St. Joseph’s team, including:

• Self-awareness
• Concept development
• Body image and movement
• Maximization of all the senses
• Self-care
• Language, Braille, and communication
• Social interaction
• Visual efficiency skills
• Academic skills
• Orientation and mobility
• Independent living skills
• Pre-vocational preparation
• Assistive technology
• Individualized therapies
• Residential Services (if needed)

OUR SPECIAL EDUCATORS work in close partnership with parents. They also assist in the successful transition and integration of each student into appropriate educational options, including schools attended by their sighted peers. St. Joseph’s educators are part of a vital team of parents, state and local government educational advisors, other specialists, and generalist educators from the local community. Together they ensure that each student receives the best possible range of educational choices.

Special educators are indeed special—because children with vision impairments and multiple disabilities need them to

“LEARN TO BE ALL THEY CAN BE!”