The Communication Development Program serves students from first through eighth grade who have severe speech and language disorders. The students' disabilities include speech/language impairments, learning disabilities and high functioning autism. Criteria for entrance into the program include average intelligence and a severe impairment in the area of speech and communication. The focus of the program is twofold: speech and language development and academic progress. Currently two classrooms comprise the program: One primary classroom (located in the Evergreen Park School District) and an intermediate classroom (located in the Willow Springs School District). Students are referred to the program after a referral from an A.E.R.O. early childhood placement or through a referral from their local school district. The child's diagnostic profile should identify a student with a severe speech and /or language impairment that impacts learning.
The program addresses severe communication impairments through an intensive design: an instructor and a speech pathologist (present in each classroom 21/2 days/week) co-teach with the support of two instructional assistants. A social worker, school nurse and other related service personnel serve the students and families as indicated by the student's individual education plan. The staff work together to provide a program of instruction that provides intensive remediation of speech/language disorders while working in the natural academic setting of the classroom. Students participate with general education students at the local school to the maximum extent possible in academic and social settings. The Communication Development Program challenges students to grow in academic skills through the use of intensive methodology and instruction in learning strategies while focusing on improving communication and social skills.
