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The multiple disabilities class at Wilson High School is beginning it's thirteenth year. In 1997, when renovations were completed on the high school building, a classroom was specially designed for students with severe and multiple disabilities. These students had been in our district since a state wide initiative in the early 90's which advocated for educating them in neighborhood schools instead of special education centers and intermediate unit classes miles from their home. The GATEWAYS program, as it was called, made inclusion, for all students, a right and not a privilege! When the first "GATEWAYS" student reached senior high age, Wilson was ready with new and modern facilities and an appropriate educational program. Today that program continues to evolve to meet the needs of the growing population. This year there are six students receiving services in the multiple disabilities class at Wilson High School. Although they each have their own individualized educational programs, the curriculum emphasizes similar goal areas for all our young adults. These areas focus on the skills needed for a smooth transition to adult life: activities of daily living, vocational training, community based activities, communication, and recreation and leisure. Come along now and share a day in the life of our class. |
| Each morning begins by gathering together to take attendance and review the calendar and weather. Several of our students respond verbally but most in our class have communication devices to do the talking for them. When asked a question, they push a button and a programmed voice answers. While we are working on a variety of skills such as word and number recognition, the students are involved in valuable social interactions and everyone is able to participate. |
{student looking at communication device}
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{student holding cake mix box}
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The social time continues during snack but so does the learning. Students make choices using picture symbols or devices and practice many skills as they pour their juice and count out pretzels. Following snack everyone has chores to do as part of cleanup; washing, drying and putting away dishes, wiping tables, dusting, vacuuming, and sweeping the floor are all part of home management. Throughout the week they also have opportunities for doing laundry and watering plants. One day a week is food prep. where simple snacks and meals are prepared individually and as a group. |
A large portion of our day is spent on vocational activities. During the morning students collect discarded paper from classrooms and offices throughout the building. Once the paper is sorted into boxes of white and colored, it is ready to be recycled. Damore Brothers in Tuckerton has a recycling business where we are paid by the pound for our paper. Not only are we performing a valuable service but we pick up a little change for bowling and other class trips. In the afternoon students deliver mail to the teachers in their classrooms. This activity has the advantage of combining gross motor skills with social and academic skills all in a fun job! Students are encouraged to identify the names and room numbers, hand the folders to the teacher, knock on the door, push a cart and engage in some appropriate communication with the teachers. In selecting vocational activities we search for ways to help others while building skills so we offer our services to teachers for copying, die cutting, sorting money from the vending machines, folding flyers and shelving books in the library. Throughout the day, students engage in work jobs in the classroom, gaining practice at sorting, assembling, and packaging. At the high school level, we are thinking seriously about future vocational goals. |
{student is folding laundry} |
| {student at check out line} |
Community based activities provide experiences where students can transfer what they are learning in the classroom into the larger world. Exposure to different environments helps them learn to adjust to changes and hopefully be prepared for life in an adult community. Every Tuesday morning our class travels to the local Giant grocery store for the snacks and ingredients we need for cooking projects. Each student has been assigned an item to look for, using a picture to match. They take turns being the one to go through the checkout line and pay for the purchases. Returning to school, groceries are put away, completing the process. Community service is the focus of many of our trips. In the class, students construct placemats by gluing shapes onto construction paper and then laminating them. When we deliver these to residents of a neighborhood nursing home, there are smiles on all sides. Other functions of community based activities are for recreation and leisure and work experience. Once a quarter we go bowling, and once a month a different student visits the video store to choose a movie for the class to watch. In the final high school years some students volunteer at businesses to gain valuable work experience outside of our building. We have students shredding paper in a doctor's office, folding laundry at the nursing home and one who shelved books at the local library over the summer. We are always looking for ways to expand our students' experiences. |
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To lead a balanced life as an adult, it is important
to mix work and play and so it is only natural that
our days include periods of relaxation and recreation.On a regular basis, we enjoy music, movies, walks, games, reading, and on special occasions, parties! Whenever possible, we try to arrange for peer buddies to be included in our activities to provide social interactions and build friendships. Some of our community based trips are designed with the specific purpose of developing life long leisure interests. Whether in school or out in the world, we beleive in having fun, too! |
{Parchute Play} |
| It is only possible to accomplish all that we do in day because of a very experienced, dedicated and caring staff. This year our staff includes are our classroom nurse Tracy Swinehart and instructional aides, Julia Guigley, June Forry and Tammy Birmingham. To support our students in their community work experiences we have a job coach, Bonnie Kleinsmith. |
{Para professional assisting male student}
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(COMMENCEMENT 2010)
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Click here to see pictures of our Class. |
| PATTAN (Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network) is a support service for the Bureau of Special Education and its initiatives. It offers a wealth of information for educators and parents. Click here to check out their site. |
| If you ever have any questions or concerns, please call me at the school (610-670-0180, ext.5001) or contact me through my e-mail anddia@wilsonsd.org |
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