Life Skills Support

  • The Life Skills Support program serves students with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities, significant learning problems, and emotional/behavioral disorders. Services are provided to students ages 5-21 in a highly structured, staff-intensive environment. A positive behavior program is in place to reinforce expected behavior. An Intensive Life Skills program for students ages 12-21, addresses the needs of students with significant cognitive, emotional, and behavioral disabilities.

    Basic academic, life and pre-vocational skills are taught in an integrated program offering a full range of related services. All students receive instruction in art, physical education, and music. Emphasis is placed on developing functional skills ranging from basic survival and self-help to higher-level reading and math. Our goal is to help students be as independent and successful as possible. Program features include employability, school-wide positive behavior support, integration of technology, and the student-run school store.

    An interdisciplinary team consisting of a special education teacher, school psychologist, school social worker, and the parent(s)/guardian(s) formulates, implements and monitors each student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Other professionals join the team as needed and could include a speech/language therapist, an occupational therapist, a physical therapist, a vision therapist, a mobility specialist, a behavior therapist, crisis manager, and/or a vocational instructor.  

    The program provides students with standards aligned evidence based curricula which meets the needs of diverse learners. Given appropriate materials and adapted methods for instruction, all students participate in rigorous daily classroom instruction. Students receive extensive and pervasive support, where increasing participation is the main objective. As student make progress, they may require symbol support and other direct instruction for learning and comprehension. Our goal is to provide age-respectful, engaging materials for all. Activities include multiple means of presenting information including static visual representations onscreen, hearing text-to-speech as selected text is read aloud, hands-on learning with experiments and written expression opportunities.   
     
    The importance of family involvement in all aspects of the educational process is essential. Working with caregivers, we develop and continually revise a plan providing the most effective interventions for each student. 
     

    Contact

    Supervisor: Tracey Wise | twise@dciu.org


     

    Locations

    Center-based location

    Marple Education Center 85 N. Malin Broomall, PA 19008 | 484-423-7000 ext 6701
     

    Satellite Classroom

    Haverford High School- 200 Mill Rd, Havertown, PA 19083 | 484-423-7000 ext 6701