Little City Foundation Opens Therapeutic Day School

The Little City Foundation has opened a therapeutic day school meant to complement the educational offerings already available to children with autism, a press release from Little City states.

The ChildBridge Center for Education will provide tailored services for students with severe and profound needs on the autism spectrum. The school, accredited by the Illinois State Board of Education, will bridge education and each child’s developmental abilities enabling them to reach their fullest potential, a press release from Little City states.

Collaborating with each child’s home school district, the ChildBridge Center for Education , will develop an individual educational plan (IEP) providing personalized therapies for those with autism, pervasive developmental delays and other intellectual and developmental disabilities, the press release states.

“Our goal is to focus on the educational, therapeutic and life skills areas that most directly affect the student,” Executive Director Shawn E. Jeffers said in a prepared statement. “We look forward to collaborating with principals, parents and caseworkers to provide the best learning environment for our at-risk children and young adults.”

Little City’s educational program is uniquely designed to provide an environment that concentrates on enhancing communication abilities, social skills and developmentally appropriate life skills of each individual.

The ChildBridge Center of Education is located on Little City’s therapeutic 56-acre campus. The campus includes a specialized playground, a recreation center with a Fitness Center and swimming pool, a specialized on-site medical and dental center as well other leading-edge services each designed specifically for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The ChildBridge Center for Education will offer a primary program (grades 1 to 3), intermediate (grades 4 to 6), junior high (grades 7 and 8) and several high school classes (grades 9 to 12). Classrooms are small and students are grouped in age appropriate classes with no more than a four-year span in any one group.

“Providing children with a practical, learning experience is something that is near and dear to my heart, and I am truly excited to help create such an environment with Little City’s new ChildBridge Center for Education,” said Lead Teacher Andrea Heim in a prepared statement. “I’m confident we will provide a place that will positively impact our children and help prepare them for the future.”