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At Elizabeth Ives School for Special Children, Inc., we embrace children as precious beings. With this in mind develop holistic programs for each child that are based upon the premise that all students are entitled to an appropriate education that will enable them to reach their full academic potential. When students are taught to their strengths in a caring and nurturing environment, they can find success and reach their potential. If at first children do not see their own unique abilities and gifts, it is our job to facilitate a discovery process, so that they develop and awareness and respect for those abilities. The purpose of our programs is to provide educational services for students who are unable to adequately function in public or other school settings due to their specified disability and symptoms that may manifest as a result of that disability. Each student’s individualized education program consists of academic, behavioral, social and emotional goals. The ultimate goal for each student is the acquisition of academic advancement, the development of behavioral controls and coping skills, and a healthy amount of self-esteem making it possible for them to successfully return to a less restrictive environment. The low teacher/pupil ration at Elizabeth Ives School affords students with both individual and small group instruction, and enables them to work and advance at their own unique levels and pace. The holistic atmosphere is highly structured and consistent and programs are frequently monitored and adapted to meet the needs of students. Instruction is provided in the areas of readiness, reading and language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, handwriting, socialization, the arts, and daily skills. Each student’s individualized education program (I.E.P.) is developed by a multidisciplinary team and based upon data that includes academic and psychological test results, observations of the student, input from parents and teachers, and student work samples, if available. When applicable, input is sought from medical and other outside agencies who work with the student as well. Our intent is to offer services to students in a holistic environment with children at the core. We attempt to look at all aspects of the child, including basic needs. In addition to individualized lessons, we provide healthy lunches in conjunction with the National School Lunch program, incorporate daily opportunities for physical activity, work with families to obtain necessary community resources such as mental health services, advocates, recreational opportunities outside the school setting, support, and more. A licensed social worker and a licensed marriage and family therapist are available during program hours. We host provider meetings so that all those working with the family share and reinforce collaboratively developed goals for the child. We are even working towards providing a “greener” environment for our students through the use of green cleaners and recycling.
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