Outreach Academy for Students with Disabilities is a unique program among charter schools.  Outreach Academy serves students in K-12 with profound cognitive and physical disabilities as well as medically fragile conditions.  This Constellation School allows for a holistic and accommodating approach to the education of these exceptional children.  Students are offered the highest degree of individual attention and flexibility to adjust to their needs.  The Outreach program was designed to provide an educational choice to parents and students.

 

Integrated learning environments consist of specialists from different disciples working simultaneously in the classroom environment.  Since students require specialized medical care, physical assistance to move or care for personal needs, many children benefit from bedside instruction.  Consequently, interdisciplinary teams provide educational services to students who may not be able to sustain traditional school settings.

 

Parents are actively involved in their child’s education.  We welcome our parents as partners.

 

A 12-month schedule, technology instruction, occupational, physical and speech therapy as well as related services; such as, Adaptive Physical Education, Art Therapy, Music Therapy, multi-sensory integration and Hydrotherapy are offered as part of the curriculum.

 

A focus is on the utilization of technology to enhance the independence of all students.  Students connect with the curriculum through a variety of therapeutic and technological interventions.  It is this extensive emphasis on technology and a strong team approach that makes our program unique.

 

Students who are preparing to graduate in a typical school setting receive opportunities to participate in school, community and employment settings to prepare for life after high school.  The students at Outreach Academy are able to receive the same type of transition services through a program that partners with an in-house adult habilitation program.  Community trips and partial transition into the adult program allows students ages 19-22 to explore different activities and community settings in addition to working one on one with both school and vocational programming staff members.

 

The curriculum incorporates content, concepts, and activities that foster cognitive, language, physical, and social/emotional development through the integration of multiple disciplines.  Each student’s educational outcomes and their responses to curriculum are detailed in their Individualized Education Plan (IEP).  These plans reflect the Ohio Curriculum Standards and provide access to all curriculum areas through modifications of grade-level content standards.