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Students Perform to Packed House
Opening Doors with New One of the saddest and toughest moments for some St. Dominic’s School students and their parents is to bid farewell to the school upon 8th grade graduation. Now, thanks to funds from the Hackett Grant and approval for a pilot program from the New York State Education Department, a select group of students are able to continue their education at St. Dominic’s School in a new high school Individualized Education Program (IEP). Backed by the support of parents and various Committees on Special Education, eight 9th grade students are enrolled in the IEP High School Program. The plan is to increase the number of students and have them in the program until they turn 21 or until they transition to adult services. The IEP curriculum focuses on life and vocational skills training, preparation and readiness for independent living. Learning tracks are individualized to meet each student’s abilities and augmented by practical experiences whenever possible. Group activities include role playing, problem solving, cooperation, and the intricacies of living or working in a communal setting. Individual sessions address therapeutic needs on a more micro level. Counselors are involved in coordination of the students’ home lives with collateral service providers such as clinicians and case managers. Funds from the Hackett Grant in part helped St. Dominic’s School build a fully equipped and modern restaurant-style kitchen. Students are learning to cook and prepare meals as they would in a restaurant kitchen. Currently students are preparing lunch meals for themselves and fellow students in lower grades. The goal is to open a café operated by the students that features a modest menu and would be open to students, teachers, staff, agency employees, and students who attend nearby Dominican College. The students will prepare, sell, manage the inventory and receipts, and interface with customers. As our students pass through their upper grades, the IEP program is designed to make their work experiences increasingly complex. Each student will be given a vocational assessment and interest inventory by a professional, credentialed career counselor. Students work skills will be developed to the highest capacity enabling transfer of these skills to actual jobs on the Saint Dominic’s Home campus and within the community. Working off campus is the ultimate goal as students mature socially and their vocational awareness and skills increase.
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