Young adults age 18 and over who would benefit from intensive assistance and education may find the residential option at Chapel Hill School in New Haven beneficial. Chapel Haven provides staff 24 hours a day to support residential students. It also offers day-school options for those who either don't need as much assistance or whose families live nearby and can support their children properly. Special-education staff, psychologists and behavior specialists devise individualized education plans for each student, which may include skills training and support to "bridge" into workplaces, if students are interested and capable. Chapel Haven states that its main goal is to prepare students to be as independent and functional as possible.
Community Child Guidance Clinic School in Manchester works with developmentally disordered children from ages 3 to 15. The school places emphasis on using a highly structured classroom environment and interdisciplinary treatment services, including home consultation, parent counseling, individual therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy to avoid residential care. CCGCS also offers programs to bring school to children receiving medical care or who for other reasons may not yet adapt to a classroom. CCFCS is one service of Community Child Guidance Clinic, which provides a number of health and mental healthcare services to children.
Students at Connecticut Children's Medical Center School in Hartford receive comprehensive special education from elementary through high school. At each step of the way, they undergo functional training to build skills to conduct their daily lives and function in society. Toward the end of high school, students can participate in vocational training. The school takes advantage of the resources of the hospital and ensures that occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, psychologists and social workers are available to help children through their challenges. CCMCS also offers summer programming so that children get support year-round.
The Elizabeth Ives School for Special Children in North Haven takes a methodical approach to its elementary through high school students with mild developmental disabilities and behavioral issues. Students receive initial and frequent assessments from teachers, parents, administrators and clinical specialists so that instruction and approach keeps up with children's needs and achieves maximum results. The school keeps a licensed marriage and family therapist and a social worker on staff full time to work with children with emotional or behavioral challenges. The educational program focuses on readiness, reading and language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, handwriting, socialization, the arts and daily skills.