Southwest Cook County Cooperative offers a continuum of placement options for learners with communication disorders including Autism Spectrum Disorder and other speech and language disabilities. In the Communication Development (CD) Program, we have three placement options available for our CD Classic and CD DISCOVERS classrooms. DISCOVERS stands for Developing Interpersonal Strengths, Creating Opportunities, Valuing Essential Readiness Skills. The CD Program works with students from preschool through senior year of high school. Our classrooms are located in general education and therapeutic schools in Oak Forest, and Tinley Park..
CD Classic Classrooms
- Conventional classroom design
- Integrated speech-language therapy and social work
- Designed to support students with socialization and executive functioning support
CD DISCOVERS Classrooms
- Structured Teaching methodology
- Integrated related therapy services, including speech-language and social work
- Guiding principles include instruction in literacy, mathematics, communication, motor skills,
recreation (socialization and leisure), and life skills (daily living and community)
- Supports specific for students with ASD and communication needs.
CD DISCOVERS Classrooms/Therapeutic Setting
- DISCOVERS model
- Located in a therapeutic day school (versus a general education building).
- Supports students with ASD and emotional regulation needs
What is an integrated service delivery model?
Uses the “teachable moments” during the school day to integrate and apply therapy throughout every aspect of our school day.
A full time Speech-Language Pathologist provides integrated speech-language therapy services within the classroom working alongside our classroom teacher(s).
Supports a language-rich learning environment for students with significant communication disorders to access academics, as well as, to provide interventions for pragmatics, problem solving, and speech-language deficits.
Social work therapy within the classroom setting promotes cooperative play, emotional regulation, socialization, and social awareness.
What is your methodology?
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) for encouraging expected behaviors and academic learning within our classrooms.
Structured Teaching principles in our DISCOVERS classroom design includes (a) understanding the culture of Autism, developing an holistic individualized plan for a child (versus using a standard curriculum), (c) structuring the physical environment, (d) using visual supports to make the sequence of daily activities predictable and understandable, (e)community-based services, and (f) promoting independence.
However, our methodology isn’t strictly ABA, with the intention of promoting group interactions, socialization, self-management, self-advocacy, problem-solving, and communication skills. These skills are acquired and generalized with direct instruction of socialization, cooperative learning, and guided practice within a natural learning environment.
Our CD teachers utilize multimodal learning, modeling, and role playing to engage our students and make learning come alive.
Is there anything else?
Access to a behavioral consultant to support the classroom team in meeting our students’ diverse needs
Participation in the general education classes within our general education buildings
Sensory sensitive classrooms and team members
Hosts monthly community outings to practice skills from the classroom in natural setting
CD Classic Classrooms
- Conventional classroom design
- Integrated speech-language therapy and social work
- Designed to support students with socialization and executive functioning support
CD DISCOVERS Classrooms
- Structured Teaching methodology
- Integrated related therapy services, including speech-language and social work
- Guiding principles include instruction in literacy, mathematics, communication, motor skills,
recreation (socialization and leisure), and life skills (daily living and community)
- Supports specific for students with ASD and communication needs.
CD DISCOVERS Classrooms/Therapeutic Setting
- DISCOVERS model
- Located in a therapeutic day school (versus a general education building).
- Supports students with ASD and emotional regulation needs
What is an integrated service delivery model?
Uses the “teachable moments” during the school day to integrate and apply therapy throughout every aspect of our school day.
A full time Speech-Language Pathologist provides integrated speech-language therapy services within the classroom working alongside our classroom teacher(s).
Supports a language-rich learning environment for students with significant communication disorders to access academics, as well as, to provide interventions for pragmatics, problem solving, and speech-language deficits.
Social work therapy within the classroom setting promotes cooperative play, emotional regulation, socialization, and social awareness.
What is your methodology?
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) for encouraging expected behaviors and academic learning within our classrooms.
Structured Teaching principles in our DISCOVERS classroom design includes (a) understanding the culture of Autism, developing an holistic individualized plan for a child (versus using a standard curriculum), (c) structuring the physical environment, (d) using visual supports to make the sequence of daily activities predictable and understandable, (e)community-based services, and (f) promoting independence.
However, our methodology isn’t strictly ABA, with the intention of promoting group interactions, socialization, self-management, self-advocacy, problem-solving, and communication skills. These skills are acquired and generalized with direct instruction of socialization, cooperative learning, and guided practice within a natural learning environment.
Our CD teachers utilize multimodal learning, modeling, and role playing to engage our students and make learning come alive.
Is there anything else?
Access to a behavioral consultant to support the classroom team in meeting our students’ diverse needs
Participation in the general education classes within our general education buildings
Sensory sensitive classrooms and team members
Hosts monthly community outings to practice skills from the classroom in natural setting