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Emotional Disability

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Comprehensively and Expertly Educating Students with Intensive Emotional Needs

We believe students reach their highest potential in safe and structured environments that afford them a strong sense of security, a positive attitude toward learning, and incentives for appropriate behavior. Regardless of the underlying disability, students come to us with some level of emotional / behavioral issues, from mild to moderate to severe. Some additional disabilities can include, but are not limited to:

  • ED: Emotional Disability/Disturbance
  • ASD: Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • SLD: Specific Learning Disability
  • ID: Intellectual Disability
  • OHI: Other Health Impairment
  • MD: Multiple Disabilities
  • TBI: Traumatic Brain Injury
  • OHI: Other Health Impairment
  • MD: Multiple Disabilities
  • TBI: Traumatic Brain Injury
  • ED: Emotional Disability/Disturbance
  • ASD: Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • SLD: Specific Learning Disability
  • ID: Intellectual Disability

By focusing on key areas — academics, behavior modifications, support services, and transition / life planning services — we are able to meet the individual needs of all students through these varied approaches to instruction. Through collaboration with a student’s IEP team, we are able to choose the most appropriate learning model based on a given student’s present levels of performance, social capabilities, motor coordination, and ability to learn in a group setting.

Rotating Through Learning Areas Throughout the Day

Technology-Based Workstations

Supplemental curriculum software programs are prescriptively assigned for additional skill development.

Teacher-Directed Instruction

Special education teachers deliver specialized instruction utilizing High Leverage Practices (HLPs) for intensive, explicit intervention. Instruction takes place in small groups based on student’s individual skill levels, pace, and learning styles.

Assistant Teacher Instruction

Students work in small groups with the assistant teacher on specific skill remediation designed to reinforce and support teacher instruction.

Independent Seatwork

Students are able to develop a personal sense of accountability through independent seatwork. Student workbooks and other reinforcement materials are selected according to skill needs at an independent level.

Treating the Whole Child

Each student’s IEP determines their particular instruction modalities and lesson plans, yet all students benefit from our comprehensive education model and evidenced-based behavior management program.

Central to our overall approach is building a student’s confidence and competence through personalized academic, interactions, customized curriculums, state-of-the-art intervention tools, and a signature education model. Our certified and skilled instructors provide each student with personalized instruction in a safe and supportive environment.

Each student’s learning and language needs are accurately identified using our multi-tiered hierarchy to determine a students’ academic level:

  • Tier 1 – Students on Grade Level or 1 or More Years Below Grade Level

  • Tier 2 – Students 2 or More Years Below Grade Level

  • Tier 3 – Students 3 or More Years Below Grade Level

Developing a Student’s Plan

Teacher’s analyze a student’s individual assessment data to target the specific skill areas in need of direct and systematic intervention. Based on the student’s assessment, individualized materials, methods, and programs are selected to match the students specific Reading, English, Language Arts, and Math needs

Through Data-Based Individualizations, we focus on research-based practices by linking our intervention methods to a student’s assessment data. By customizing towards each student’s needs, we are able to plan accordingly while also adjusting our implementation methods depending on the individual student.

Our program fulfills all IEP, LRE, and IDEA requirements through customized behavior intervention plans, the tracking of behavioral trends, and a host of therapeutic approaches and motivational strategies. Our Behavior Management System provides routines, norms, boundaries, and clear expectations that our students crave and require in order to concentrate and remain on task throughout the day. To achieve success through our Behavior Management system, we focus on these key components:

  • Safety First: Providing a safe learning environment for all students. Parents, districts, and students are reassured that our environments are secure, nurturing, and supportive.

  • Positive Reinforcement Techniques: In order to reach their personal behavioral goals, our staff and teachers providing continuous and ongoing positive behavior support for all students.

  • Mutual Respect: By showing students the importance of respecting themselves and others, they learn to honor the differences among them while also gaining an appreciation for rules as well as authority figures.

  • Strong Therapeutic Approach: In order to teach self-regulatory techniques, establish emotional balance, and create a sense of inner well-being, our staff and teachers deliver compassionate mindfulness techniques, guidance, and counseling for all students.

  • Data-Driven Interventions: When a student is having difficulties beyond the support of the school-wide behavior management system, the staff will utilize data to inform future intervention strategies.

Contact our team to find out how SESI can partner with your students, staff, district and community to achieve positive, measurable change.