Occupational Therapy Services
The Work Center Curriculum for many 8th graders and high school students focuses on the further development of life skill development, prevocational behaviors, attitudes and work skills. The following skills are addressed:
- Executive functioning skills such as task initiation, organization, planning, sequencing and problem solving.
- Self-esteem, social skill development and self-awareness as related to the student’s sense of independence in school and at home
- Skills and accommodations for sensory, motor and visual perceptual limitations.
Skill areas are addressed within the context of practical learning experiences. Students engage in various “jobs” including clerical, accounting, and grocery bagger training tasks. Organizational tools such as calendars, to do lists and Thinking Maps are incorporated to assist with organizing, planning and sequencing tasks.
Counseling
Individual, group and "as needed" counseling is available to students who could benefit from additional support within the school environment. Counseling is provided by Master's level clinicians and focuses on the fostering and development of:
- Coping Mechanisms
- Independence
- Self-Awareness
- Personal Responsibility
- Self-Esteem
- Vocational Awareness and Future Planning
- Social Awareness
- Problem-Solving Skills
- Organization
- Disability Awareness
- Communication Skills
- Expression of Feelings
A counseling assessment is done as part of the intake process and incorporates feedback from student, family members, LPS staff and outside providers to determine a student's counseling needs.The role of counseling is not only to service the student's social/emotional needs but also to facilitate communication between families, staff, students, and outside professionals.
Speech and Language Services
For 8th and 9th graders, Speech, Language and Communication services are integrated into the content area subjects. This interdisciplinary intervention model allows the high school Speech-Language Pathologists to assist students in developing and applying oral and written language strategies directly to their content area subjects. Speech-Language Pathologists collaborate with the literature/language arts teachers in whole-class and small group lessons.
Eighth graders and high school students may be scheduled for individual speech-language services, as specified by their IEP.
