Special Education Department Programs

Functional Life Skills Program is for students with special needs whose individual abilities and needs require an intensive and extensively planned program stressing the acquisition of functional life skills. The students involved in this program are between the ages of 15 and 20 years and have a wide variety of handicapping conditions; i.e. mild and moderate mental retardation, social adaptation deficits, emotional and behavioral problems and physical mobility difficulties The program also provides frequent opportunities for students to go out into the community for functional academic activities, shopping and luncheon trips, community awareness, mobility safety awareness experiences and field trips. All students programs in the Functional Life Skills Program are individually designed. The emphasis is on the development of independent life skills and utilization of individual strengths and abilities.           Transition Program for SAHS Mrs. Toth is in charge of the Transition Program for SAHS. She sets up sites with local businesses, Town of Skowhegan Departments, area Nursing homes, and local food cupboard. Once these sites have been set up then she takes out a small group of junior and senior students to these sights where they learn the job and become aware of what is available to them for jobs and services in their community. Mrs. Toth teaches them how to dress for work, how to behave on the job, and how to fill out a job application just for starters.

Standard Classes Instructional Program is designed for special education students who are in need of instruction in basic skills areas. The program provides students with specialized instruction and practice in the following subject areas: Reading, Writing, and Math. The goal of the program is to develop knowledge and to further develop skills in the core subject requirements as well as independent study skills. Students may enroll in the program through the PET process.

Consultant Model Classes is a program where special education teams up with regular teachers in other departments to present academic courses to students with learning difficulties. The high school classes are at all grade levels in all core courses as well as Keyboarding. Enrollment in these classes is subject to teacher and counselor recommendation.