Curriculum - Jardon

Post High School Autism Program

Unique Learning Systems

Unique Learning System® is an award-winning, online, standards-based set of interactive tools specifically designed for students with special needs.

Unique Learning System’s differentiated materials provide a means of access to standards-based instruction for students with complex needs. Students are given appropriate materials and adapted methods for instruction for all students. Unique Learning System includes convenient, interactive lesson plans and which include Instructional Targets for each activity within the lesson, instructional routines, and academic vocabulary and are always theme-related.

Functional Academics:

• Functional Math: Money identification, making change, purchasing
• Applied Language/Literacy: identification/application
• Current Events in their communities
• Computer Skills: Communication, Information, Interests
• Individual Development / IEP Goals & Objectives

Job Development:

• Preparing for the Job
• Personal Care
• Task Attention
• Social Skills on the job
• Communication
• Following a Schedule
• Job Exploration
• Community Job exploration

Daily Life Skills:

• Home Living
• Kitchen Usage: Tools, Food handling, Cooking, Cleaning
• Housekeeping
• Laundry
• Personal Hygiene Routine

Personal Social/Leisure:

• Group Activities
• Social Interaction
• Interest activities
• Lunch participation
• Conversation / Greetings

Community Integration:

• Community Access / Safety
• Supporting daily living skills

Communication:

Various systems are in place to support communication of students: Visual books, augmentative technology devices, PODDS systems. Speech Therapists collaborate with teachers on: visual systems, co-teach in classes -teaching and supporting communication and socialization.

Sensory Integration:

Sensory systems are individualized for the students. A sensory room is available for students to access in their daily schedules. A physical sensory space is also available for students to move and interact with equipment. Occupational and Physical therapy support students in this area.

Community Advantage Program

Unique Learning Systems Curriculum

Unique Learning System® is an award-winning, online, standards-based set of interactive tools specifically designed for students with special needs.

Unique Learning System’s differentiated materials provide a means of access to standards-based instruction for students with complex needs. Students are given appropriate materials and adapted methods for instruction for all students. Unique Learning System includes convenient, interactive lesson plans and which include Instructional Targets for each activity within the lesson, instructional routines, and academic vocabulary and are always theme-related.

The Instructional domains are in the area of Adult Living: Personal Life, Daily Living, Community Living and Employability.

Home Living Skills

Home Living Skills Class is designed to give students the skills needed to function in supportive and independent living settings. Some of the areas to be covered include Clothing Care, Home Cleaning, Organizing and Simple Maintenance, Home Safety and Home Leisure.  The overall goal is to provide the students skills for independent or semi-independent home living skills.

Employability Skills

The goal of the employability class is to help students develop the work skills needed to become "job survivors".   The following areas will be covered this year:

• job application vocabulary
• safety signs and warnings
• identifying skills and interests
• writing a resume
• job interview skills
• appropriate work behaviors & attitudes
• exploring job opportunities
• skills for long-term job success

Personal Living Skills

The intent of this class is to help the CAP student to develop better social skills. Daily lessons are intended to help your young adult to understand that THEY are responsible for their actions at school and work and with their families/roommates.

We will implement a unit titled “Circles”.  This nationally recognized program is designed to help each CAP student to successfully interact within their community. The Circles program teaches the importance of understanding social distance and levels of intimacy through the use of six color-coded circles.

The units covered this year will include hygiene, manners, feelings and problem solving. The intent is to help the student display appropriate behavior in the home setting, at the work site and in the community.

Community Living

In Community Living, we are working towards your young adult becoming familiar with what is available to them in the community.  We will discuss different facilities that are available in most communities as well as some transportation that is available for those who do not drive.  We will also work on money skills, banking and budgeting.  Our goal is to get our students out there using what is available to them and utilizing it to the best of their abilities.

Health & Fitness

Students have enjoyed the activities that reinforce a positive and healthy lifestyle.  The pursuits include a fitness lap/walking program, and aerobics.  Students have also had the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities in the school gymnasium.  Other activities include the use of weightlifting equipment, a treadmill, an elliptical machine, and an exercise bike under the supervision of a staff person.

Communication Skills

The purpose of communication skills class is to provide the students with practical ways to apply good language and thinking strategies at school, home or in the community.

Basic communication skills will be reviewed to help students become better communicators and listeners. The CAP students will be given an opportunity to share their opinions during class, by class participation, question and answer sessions, and role playing. Each student will practice basic survival skills using the phone, newspaper, shopping, community activities and at work sites.

By using typical everyday situations each student would encounter opportunities to learn and practice communication skills in real-life settings.

In addition to the regular CAP rotation communications class,  the Speech and Language Therapist, will go into each classroom and provide additional communication support. The class will be divided into four basic areas--functional vocabulary skills, pragmatic (social) language, listening and following directions, and communication on the job site. This class will provide practice, reinforcement, and expand upon functional speech and language skills that are utilized in daily living activities as well as communication necessary for success on the job.

Meal Planning and Preparation

This class focuses on the skills needed to plan, shop, and prepare a simple meal.  Each week, students read a simple recipe and develop a grocery list.  A small group of students, accompanied by a paraprofessional, are responsible for shopping for the items on the list. The class prepares the recipe in the CAP kitchen, and is then able to sample the meal.  Students are responsible for "kitchen cleanup"; loading the dishwasher, wiping tables, etc.  The meal preparation class enables students to practice reading, math, money, and daily living skills.

SXI Program Description Information

Severely Multiply Impaired Program (SXI)

Regardless of their impairments, we believe every student has many talents and abilities. Our goal is to help our students to achieve their highest level of independence.

Program Information: The Jardon SXI Program is an Oakland County Center Program located in the Hazel Park School District at Jardon School. We provide positive educational learning environments and therapeutic services for students with severe multiple disabilities and students with severe cognitive disabilities, ages 15-26 who are referred by Oakland Schools and their local school district. The students’ residential school district provides transportation to and from school. Our program is a 200-day program that aligns with Federal regulations.

Our Curriculum focuses on communication, self-care, daily living, leisure, social, and pre-vocational skills. Instruction is individualized for each student and aligns with each student’s IEP goals. To aid in the development of new skills, the Unique Learning System curriculum, Boardmaker activities, and the websites Helpkidzlearn and Tar Heel Shared Reader are used. To aid in the student's development of their communication skills, Core Word pictures, adaptive switches, iPads with Touch Chat, and American Sign Language are used. The students participate in Music, Art, and Recreation Movement Therapies provided by FAR Therapeutic Arts and Recreation. The following services are available if each student’s IEP Team determines additional support is needed to help enhance the student's development of skills - Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech & Language Therapy, Oakland Schools Communication Consultant, and Oakland Schools Vision Consultant.