Comprehensive Development Skills

The Comprehensive Development Skills (CDS) program (CoSer 210-4240), offered for elementary, middle school, high school and post-secondary-age students, is designed for children and teens with multiple disabilities or significant delays in speech and language, physical development, cognitive development and/or social and emotional growth. A multi-disciplinary team approach is used in each of the CDS classrooms to provide educational, therapeutic intervention and stimulation.

The student/teacher/aide ratio is 9:1:3

What Do We Offer?

ELEMENTARY

Elementary CDS classes are organized to serve children ages 5 to 8 and those 8 to 12.

Students in the elementary CDS classes have been classified as multiply disabled in areas such as physical development, cognitive functioning and speech. Specific conditions many include, but are not limited to, cerebral palsy, autism, Down syndrome, blindness and deafness.

Academically, the focus of elementary CDS classes is on enhancing expressive and verbal communication through skills development. When appropriate, facilitated communication devices, sign language, assistive technology and techniques such as the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) and Verbal Behavior (VB) may be used. Additional focus is placed on functional reading and writing skill development. Students also take part in activities related to other core academic areas such as math, science and social studies. Most academic skills are taught 2:1 or 1:1.

Students also work on the skills and activities of daily living (ADLs). This may be achieved through the use of switches and simple choice making. Life skill development through activities such as grocery shopping and preparation of meals may also be included. In general, skills and activities are taught in small and large group settings.

Individual and group therapies are integrated daily and may include: speech, occupational therapy, physical therapy, music therapy and social work services. As appropriate, students are mainstreamed for homeroom, art, music, chorus, keyboarding, physical education (adaptive physical education is also possible), special events and field trips. In some settings students from the mainstream play and work with the special education students in their classrooms.

During the 2009-10 school year, elementary-level CDS classes are located at Forts Ferry Elementary/North Colonie CSD, Lynnwood Elementary/Guilderland CSD and Pinewood Elementary/Mohonasen CSD.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

The middle school CDS program, designed for students ages 12 to 16 years, is a continuation and enhancement of the elementary program. Its emphasis is on functional communication and academics (reading, writing, math, science and social studies, aligned with the New York State Alternate learning Standards for Students with Severe Disabilities), activities of daily living (ADLs), group participation, social skill development and, as appropriate, pre-vocational skills. Students also participate in art, physical education/adaptive physical education, music, home economics, occupational therapy groups and physical therapy groups.

Instruction is delivered through an integrated team approach including, but not limited to the special education teacher, speech/language pathologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, social worker and educational assistants.

Alternative and augmentative communication systems such as Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS), Dynavox, American Sign Language (ASL) and Verbal Behavior (VB) may be used to meet students' individual needs.

Students may participate in functional communication and social skills groups delivered collaboratively by the classroom teacher, speech/language pathologist and social worker. Social skills are taught through the use of a social stories program. They may also join other students in their schools for academic groups and social interaction. In a number of settings, district middle school and high school students reverse mainstream into the special education classrooms to visit and work with the special education students.

In some settings, life and pre-vocational skills are introduced through field trips to community settings such as restaurants, supermarkets and other businesses establishments.

During the 2009-10 school year, middle school-level CDS classes are located at Draper Middle School/Mohonasen CSD and Iroquois Middle School/Niskayuna CSD

HIGH SCHOOL

High school CDS programs are designed for students ages 17 to 21 years. As with the middle school program, the main focus of high school CDS is on functional academics, functional life skills, vocational skills, communication, activities of daily living, socialization and, for students with physical disabilities, functional mobility.

High school CDS student range in their communication abilities from nonverbal and in need of alternate communication systems and augmentative communication devices to verbal and able to engage in appropriate conversations with others.

Alternative and augmentative communication systems such as Gemini and Dynavox 2C may be used to meet students' individual needs. In addition, assistive technology and computer-based software such as One-Step communicators, AII-Turn-It spinner, Power Links and TechTalk are used to facilitate communication and learning.

As appropriate, students receive services through their school days including speech and language, occupation therapy, physical therapy, social work, vision services, and music therapy. The students participate in art, home and careers and physical education/adaptive physical education with the support of our staff and, in some cases, peer mentors.

During the 2009-10 school year, high school-level CDS classes are located at Mohonasen High School/Mohonasen CSD, Scotia-Glenville High School/Scotia-Glenville CSD and Shenendehowa High School/Shenendehowa CDS.

For more information about the CDS program contact:

Jaime Covington, elementary/high school alternate assessment principal, jcovingt@gw.neric.org or (518) 464-6306;                                    

Terry Orlando, middle school/high school/post-secondary alternate assessment principal, torlando@gw.neric.org or (518) 464-6315.