Community Skills
The Y.A.L.E. Schools' programs continually teach students how to function in the community. This helps them to generalize and apply the skills they learn in school to real-life situations.
Consistent with the students' curriculum, Y.A.L.E. staff regularly take students on trips to a variety of community resources, including:
- Banks
- Libraries
- Malls
- Public agencies
- Restaurants
- Supermarkets
In addition to discussing with students how they applied their skills and knowledge on these trips, and what they learned, teachers use the trips to strengthen students' academic development. For example, students might take pictures to use in writing lessons, or they might diagram the geometry of buildings and store displays.
As part of Y.A.L.E.'s community-based curriculum, students are also taught how to use public transportation. This involves numerous skills, such as getting to designated places, reading bus schedules, making appropriate eye contact, and making change.
Transition
For older students, the development of community skills stresses transition to the post-high school world. Based on the student's needs, instruction can include job coaching, job shadowing, interview skills, and self advocacy. To help older students transition from school to the post-high school world of work and independent living, Y.A.L.E.'s staff helps connect students with vocational and post-secondary programs that match their needs and interests. Y.A.L.E.'s staff also helps each student make realistic plans for life after graduation.
Select students can now apply for a new post-secondary program at the Cherry Hill school, the PST Program. This program offers a unique approach to transition and life skills, with a highly individualized curriculum aimed at helping students become independent adults. For more information, please visit the PST web site: