| ren's Readiness Center | | | | an educational environment that promotes the |
| Student Disability: Significant developmental delays | | | | greatest possible achievement. |
| including autism, and mental retardation | | | | The total child perspective at this Long Island |
| Student Age: 5 to 8 (Early Elementary) | | | | school is used to address the needs of each |
| Students who attend this state-of-the-art early | | | | youngster on an individual basis. The curriculum |
| education center in Long Island need a highly | | | | stresses the development of physical skills and |
| individualized behavioral approach and small class | | | | the growth of cognitive, social, emotional and |
| size (6:1:2). As part of its educational/behavioral | | | | language skills. Each child’s unique abilities |
| approach, the program’s specially trained | | | | and needs are considered in all the |
| staff track results of each student’s | | | | program’s activities. |
| activities in continuous documentation. Long Island | | | | An Engineered Aided Language Environment, using |
| school program goals include not only developing | | | | visual strategies and assistive technology, are |
| the youngsters’ communication skills and | | | | used to encourage physical development and the |
| increasing their social interactions but also | | | | growth of communication skills for children |
| accomplishing individualized educational goals in | | | | attending this Long Island school. For each child, a |
| preacademic and academic programs. Parents and | | | | multidisciplinary team develops strategies and |
| family at this Long Island school learn behavioral | | | | methods to meet the goals and objectives of his |
| and educational strategies that can be used with | | | | her Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Children |
| the children at home. | | | | receive physical, occupational, and speech |
| Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the teaching | | | | therapies as prescribed in their IEPs. Time is spent |
| methodology used throughout the program. Skills | | | | each day encouraging the growth of skills needed |
| are broken down into small steps and various | | | | in activities of daily living, such as feeding and |
| teaching techniques are used to ensure skill | | | | dressing. Social skills are developed in structured |
| mastery under a variety of conditions. This Long | | | | activities and free play. This Long Island school |
| Island School uses a progressive total | | | | uses individual and group projects such as painting, |
| communication system that may include spoken | | | | cooking, coloring, planting flowers, water play and |
| words, photographs, pictures, symbols and/ or | | | | using the sand table develop motor and learning |
| sign language, to increase communication skills. | | | | skills. The children work with specially trained |
| The Picture Exchange Communication System | | | | teachers in the Learning Center where they begin |
| (PECS) method involves the child initiating a social | | | | to use assistive technology, adapted computers, |
| exchange to make requests or communicate. | | | | specialized software, touch screens and switches. |
| Carman Road Preschool | | | | Access to the Adapted Physical Education |
| Student Disability: Preschooler with a disability | | | | provides opportunities for additional growth in |
| (multiple disabilities, physical disabilities) | | | | motor skills for children attending this Long Island |
| Student Age: 3 to 5 | | | | school. |
| The Preschool Program at Carman Road School is | | | | Parents can visit their child’s classroom |
| one of many Long Island schools that provide | | | | and observe the program. They can also talk with |
| total educational intervention for children with | | | | the classroom teacher and with members of the |
| multiple, physical and cognitive disabilities in a | | | | multidisciplinary team on these visits and |
| specially designed environment. All children at this | | | | throughout the year as necessary. Parents also |
| Long Island school are encouraged to reach their | | | | participate in the development of the |
| greatest potential through many activities that | | | | child’s IEP. Parent Teacher Association |
| stimulate growth and development while building | | | | (PTA) meetings at this Long Island school cover |
| self-confidence. Youngsters are referred to the | | | | topics that are important to education and |
| program by their local district Committee on | | | | management of children with special needs and |
| Preschool Education (CPSE). Once accepted, they | | | | are held monthly. |
| attend full-day classes, five days a week, entering | | | | |