Pathways Admissions & Referrals

Admission to Pathways requires a referral from the local educational authority of the city or town in which the child resides. Once a referral is made, the enrollment screening and admissions process will move forward as follows:

  1. Upon receipt of the written referral, the admissions team will review the information to determine if the child qualifies for the program.
  2. After the information review, an intake screening will be scheduled with the potential student and parents/guardians. Depending on the outcome of the intake screening, the student may be invited for an in-class visit before a final decision is made on appropriate placement.
  3. Once a decision has been made by the team regarding how the child’s educational and therapeutic needs can best be met, the Lead Education Agency (LEA) will be notified in writing as well as by telephone to expedite the starting date and transportation. Parents of admitted students will also receive a letter of acceptance, which will include the school calendar and tuition costs.

If the program is fully enrolled, the student may be placed on a waiting list after the information review. Pathways will notify the appropriate school district of the waitlist. When an opening occurs, the student and parent/guardian will be invited for an intake screening and possibly an in-class visit.

Students in our Early Childhood Program participate in activities that enhance their development in every way, including social, linguistic, artistic, academic, and physical. The curriculum is guided by the Rhode Island Early Learning Standards. Students receive both individual and group instruction every day. Individual work sessions focus on self-care skills, learning the foundations of academics, and teaching social interactions in a small controlled environment. Group instruction in the classroom focuses on generalizing those skills as well as art and music. As prescribed in their IEP, students receive occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language services, art, and adaptive physical education in individual and/or group sessions.

The curriculum at this level is aligned with the Common Core Standards and Core Content Connectors. Students participate in groups that promote socialization as well as reading skills from Reading A-Z, News 2 You, Starfall, and various teacher-led activities on the smart board.  Individualized sessions for age-appropriate topics of interest (i.e.outer space, volcanos, bugs, the ocean, etc) are also offered. Independence is promoted in all aspects of each student’s daily routine through communication, self-care, and play skills.

The middle school curriculum is aligned with the Common Core Standards and Core Content Connectors. Students at this level learn about many important subjects and skills ranging from reading, math, and writing, to social skills, functional communication, and daily living skills. The students use various materials and technology to increase these skills and their independence including iPads, Smartboards, various interactive curricula, and visuals.

Some of the students are just beginning to learn about and explore various career options and vocational settings, as well as increase functional daily living skills. All of our students are unique individuals with different strengths and preferences that are incorporated into their learning and leisure. Students have opportunities to engage in preferred activities and interact with their teachers and peers. Many students work individually with 1:1 support and instruction. However, skills are generalized and enhanced through group instruction. Students work in small group settings to learn about health, art, adaptive physical education, current events, and more. We are always exploring ways to achieve our goals and become more independent!

The curriculum at this level is aligned to the Common Core State Standards and Core Content Connectors. Students participate in community outings for exposure to leisure activities and attend business tours to explore possible vocational opportunities.

Curriculum components include the use of the Unique Learning Curriculum and News 2 You to supplement academic programming. Whole group instruction is provided to address life skills such as meal preparation, self-care, and household chores. Students are encouraged to use their communication systems functionally so that they can communicate their wants and needs as independently as possible in future settings.

Students ages 14-21 participate in career preparation that focuses on integrated work-based learning experiences (work trials), soft skill development, and job skill development.  The IEP team focuses on the development of transition skills and the development of self-determination and self-advocacy skills. Functional academic skills incorporate the development of community skills, pre-employment skills, and daily living skills.

Students participate in a variety of vocational exploration activities to determine areas of strength and preference, including job and business tours, and community-based volunteer and job opportunities. They participate in community outings to generalize learned skills and practice community safety.

The functional curriculum targets skills that are needed to successfully transition from school to adult services. Coordination and collaboration with the Office of Rehabilitation Services (ORS) are implemented to assist students in obtaining integrated employment through vocational and situational assessments, job coaching, and job development. BHDDH representatives also assist with transition planning and access to adult services and supports.

Non-Core Enrichment & Supportive Services

A Pathways education is comprehensive, offering both the non-core enrichment courses found at other schools, as well as supportive services designed to meet the needs of each child according to his or her Individual Education Plan (IEP).

A multidisciplinary team works in conjunction with educators, behavioral analysts, and technicians to help provide students the tools they need to be successful within the school environment.  The related services team at Pathways includes occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, adapted physical educators, nurses, and art instructors.

Learn more about our enrichment courses and supportive services below.

In Pathways Art Class, students learn about the work of famous artists, historical, cross-curricular, and cultural connections as well as different art-making methods and materials. Students are encouraged to make their own decisions about their art and use their original ideas.

The goal of this program is to have students develop the tools necessary to lead a healthy and physically fit life. Classes focus on individual fitness skills, group activities, sports-related ball skills as well as the social skills necessary to participate in recreational pursuits. Skills are taught at our student’s individual pace and ability level.

Our mission is to improve fitness levels of every child at Pathways in a fun learning environment, as well as encouraging families to make fitness a priority in their lives. Our team also supports the development of skills for the students’ participation in Special Olympics, either as individuals or as part of our team, Pathways Patriots.

In the school setting, physical therapy focuses on tasks that relate to the educational needs of the student. The emphasis of school-based physical therapy is to help students in the academic environment and participate in educationally related activities as part of their IEP. Physical therapists are responsible for:

  • Evaluating and treating students with disabilities
  • Maintaining daily progress and attendance records
  • Writing progress reports
  • Attending IEP meetings
  • Recommending adaptive equipment, environmental accommodations, or assistive technology
  • Supervision of Physical Therapy Assistants (PTAs) in implementing treatment
  • Referring students to other related service personnel and to health care providers as
    appropriate
  • Serving as a liaison among school, medical personnel, and medical equipment vendors

As a member of the IEP team, physical therapists design and implement physical therapy interventions—including teaching and training of family and educational staff—to help the student achieve his/her IEP goal.  Physical therapy services include activities that address:

  • Functional mobility skills (independent and/or assisted walking on level and un-level surfaces, stairs, ramps, etc.)
  • Access to the school environment—including the classroom, hallways, and playground (age appropriate)
  • Utilizing appropriate assistive devices
  • Transfers (getting in and out of classroom chair, up and down from the floor)
  • Positioning

School-based occupational therapy is designed to enhance the student’s ability to be successful within the special education program. Our occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistants support academic and non-academic outcomes, including social skills, math, reading and writing (i.e., literacy), behavior management, recess, participation in sports, self-help skills, independent living skills, prevocational/ vocational participation, transportation, and more.

The role of the speech-language pathologist in the school setting includes assessment and intervention designed to facilitate functional communication for students across all environments.  As part of the IEP team, speech-language pathologists provide direct (working with the student in an individual or group setting) and indirect (consulting with team members to provide support and carryover of strategies) services to address receptive and expressive language, functional communication, augmentative alternative communication, and speech production.  Speech-language pathologists provide training for school staff, teachers, other related services providers, family and caregivers, as well as outside support staff regarding communication strategies to be implemented throughout a student’s home and school environments to maximize generalization and carryover of communication for daily interactions.

In-school nursing services are designed to promote optimal physical, social, and emotional wellness of the school community. The focus is to enhance the educational process by maximizing and promoting the health and wellness of all students.  Pathways nurses provide direct skilled nursing, routine first aid, health screenings, and medication administration, and also ensure that students’ immunizations are current.

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