Overbrook School For The Blind

EDUCATION FOR PERSONS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS AND OTHER CHALLENGES.

THE SCHOOL SERVES STUDENTS WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED, MANY OF WHOM HAVE ADDITIONAL DISABILITIES, ON A DAY AND RESIDENTIAL BASIS. STUDENTS ON CAMPUS RANGE FROM AGES 6 THROUGH 21 AND ARE GROUPED BY AGE INTO THE EARLY CHILDHOOD, ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL AND SCHOOL TO WORK PROGRAMS. ALL STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT IN SMALL CLASS SETTINGS WITH A TEACHER AND 1-2 PARAEDUCATORS. STUDENTS RECEIVE INSTRUCTION IN THE PA CORE STANDARDS AS WELL AS THE EXPANDED CORE CURRICULUM FOR STUDENTS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS. ALL MATERIALS ARE PRESENTED BASED ON THE RESULTS OF A LEARNING MEDIA ASSESSMENT TO DETERMINE THE NEED FOR BRAILLE, LARGE PRINT, SPEECH OUTPUT AND/OR ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY. STUDENTS' PROGRAMS ARE INDIVIDUALIZED BASED ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AS DETERMINED BY A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM.OVERBROOK SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND ALSO SERVES CHILDREN AGES BIRTH-FIVE AND THEIR FAMILIES IN THE HOME OR COMMUNITY SETTINGS WHICH COULD INCLUDE DAY CARE CENTERS, PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS, OR SPECIALIZED SETTINGS. OUR ITINERANT PROGRAM SERVES SCHOOL AGE STUDENTS WHO ATTEND PUBLIC AND CHARTER SCHOOLS.ALL INSTRUCTION IS FOCUSED ON PREPARING OUR STUDENTS TO BE AS INDEPENDENT AS POSSIBLE SO THAT THEY HAVE THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE ACTIVE AND FULFILLING LIVES.

OPERATION OF EARLY INTERVENTION, PRE-VOCATIONAL AND HABILITATION, AND WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED. THE EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM PROVIDES SERVICES TO CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO AGE FIVE AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE PROGRAMS OCCUR IN THE CHILD'S HOME, DAY CARE CENTER OR ON LOCATION AT THE SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN WHO REQUIRE ADDITIONAL SERVICES. THE GOALS OF THE PROGRAM ARE TO EMPOWER FAMILIES WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO BE ADVOCATES FOR THEIR CHILDREN, TO HELP THE CHILDREN LEARN TO EXPLORE THEIR ENVIRONMENTS THROUGH PLAY AND FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITIES AND TO HELP THE CHILDREN LEARN TO BE AS INDEPENDENT AS POSSIBLE. THE SCHOOL-TO-WORK PROGRAM PROVIDES INTENSIVE INSTRUCTION FOR 19-21 YEAR OLDS. STUDENTS RECEIVE INSTRUCTION IN COMMUNICATION SKILLS, SOCIAL SKILLS, DAILY LIVING, VOCATIONAL OR WORK EXPERIENCE SKILLS, LEISURE SKILLS AND ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY. THE WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM PREPARES STUDENTS THROUGH CLASSROOM LESSONS AND VOCATIONAL EXPERIENCES AT THE SCHOOL AND AT AREA BUSINESSES FOR THE ADULT WORK WORLD THEY WILL ENTER AFTER GRADUATION. THE EMPHASIS IS ON T.E.C.H., TRAINING, EMPLOYMENT, CAREERS AND HABILITATION. THE MISSION OF THE PROGRAM IS "TO CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE AND DYNAMIC VOCATIONAL ATMOSPHERE WHICH PREPARES EACH STUDENT TO CAPABLY HANDLE PRESENT AND FUTURE WORK ASSIGNMENTS PLUS DEVELOP THE SOCIAL BEHAVIOURS REQUIRED FOR THE ADULT WORLD VOCATIONAL PROGRAM AND EMPLOYMENT ENVIRONMENTS." THE WHITEHALL INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM IS ALSO A COMPONENT OF SERVICES PROVIDED FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND SCHOOL TO WORK AGED STUDENTS THAT ENTAILS DORMITORY/APARTMENT LIVING WITH MENU PLANNING, FOOD PREPARATION, SELF-CARE SKILLS, AND LAUNDRY SKILLS AS PART OF THE CURRICULUM.