School to Community Services     

OVERVIEW OF SCHOOL TO COMMUNITY SERVICES

At the secondary level the School To Community Program for students with developmental disabilities is an individualized course of study. The Transitions Program at KCVI is generally made up of secondary students who are in their final two years of school. The focus of the Program at KCVI is to help students develop the skills they’ll need to live meaningful lives in their community following graduation at age 21.

Orientation to the KCVI Transitions Program begins for secondary students who are in their senior years, through a personalized transition process. The emphasis of the student’s program is community based opportunities to develop their awareness and practice of work, volunteer and leisure skills as well as to develop their personal independence.

Emphasis for programming is guided by decisions made at individual Transition Planning meetings. Transition planning occurs several times throughout the school year and gives students and their families opportunities to develop individualized plans for life after school. Transition planning is coordinated by the Community Living and Work Facilitator who assists in obtaining support from other community agencies and planning for life after graduation from the program.

An Individual Education Plan (IEP) is developed for each student based on his or her strengths and needs. The IEP also contains a plan to make the transition to post-secondary education, apprenticeship programs, the workplace, and community living with as much independence as possible.

See the program web site for further information at http://kcvi.limestone.on.ca/departments.php

Student timetables are arranged to address transition planning decisions.

The areas of study are alternative to the secondary courses of study described in this course calendar. Descriptions of alternative courses (K courses) follow.

SCHOOL TO COMMUNITY COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

KGL _NM                     Personal Life Skills

This course includes any combination of the alternative expectations or curriculum expectations from the Ontario Curriculum. The IEP becomes the definition of the course. Students participate in this course to improve general skills in the areas of: communication, mathematics, social, vocational, self help or motor skills.

KEN _NM                    Language and Communication Development

This course involves the development of skills needed for communication and general language use. Many of the program areas for language may link directly to the language strands outlined in the Ontario Curriculum. The IEP becomes the definition of the course and may include components from the following program areas: Listening and Comprehension, Non-Verbal Communication, Social Language, General Language Functions, Conversations Skills and/or Functional Language.

KMM _NM                    Numeracy and Numbers

This course involves the development of mathematics skills required for daily living. Many of the program areas may link directly with the mathematics strands outlined in the Ontario Curriculum. The IEP becomes the definition of the course and may include components from the following program areas: Calendar Skills, Time, Numeracy, Measurement, Money and/or Personal Finances.

KHD _NM                    Social Skills Development

This course involves the development of the individual in his or her relationships with and responses to others. The IEP becomes the definition of the course and may include components from the following program areas: Awareness of Self and Others, Self Control/Conflict Resolution/Anger Management, Decision Making and/or Problem Solving.

KGW _NM                   Exploring the World of Work

This course involves the development of skills related to employment. The IEP becomes the definition of the course and may include components from the following program areas: Job Search Skills, Specific Work Skills, Work Etiquette, and/or Documentation Requirements.

KPP _NM                    Self Help and Self Care

This course involves the development of skills for independent living. The IEP becomes the definition of the course and may include components from the following program areas: General Self Help/Life Skills, Community Awareness, Home Making Skills, Health and Safety Skills and/or Advocacy Skills.

KPF _NM                     Personal Health and Fitness

This course involves the development of physical fitness and good health skills. This component may also involve the development of movement and coordination (gross motor) and/or the development of the small muscles (fine motor). The IEP becomes the definition of the course and may include components from the following program areas: Pre-Ambulatory Skills, Basic Movement Skills, Basic Gross Motor Skills, Wheelchair Training and/or Fitness Skills. It is essential for each student to join a local fitness facility as a full time member and attend with KCVI Transitions Program staff a minimum of twice per week throughout the school year.