Students, aged 5 through 14, receive their day school education in specially adapted classes designed to meet their specific educational needs. The Keshet Day Schools have achieved a national reputation as an outstanding program for children with developmental disabilities. When possible, students are integrated into host site's classes. Both academic and recreational integrated opportunities are based on individual's needs and abilities. Keshet students spend a large part of their day with the typically developing students of these schools. Educational programs are tailored to each child's personal abilities as prescribed in an individual curriculum (IEP). Social workers, Psychologists, and an integration coordinator work with teachers, aides, and students. A specialist works with children who use computerized talking devices to speak, and also trains staff to enhance the students communication skills. In addition, on-site occupational, physical and speech therapists work with those children needing these services. Several of our students are able to integrate into academic classes while some are integrated into art, music, and physical education. All students are fully integrated for lunch and recess.
Through the school's TEACCH model of structured teaching and other topics relating to educating and raising children with communication disorders, Keshet promotes the use of state-of-the-art educational techniques, which structure the teaching environment to maximize the student's potential.
In addition to the Keshet's integration into the Sager and Solomon Schechter programs, the The Dorf Family Peer Buddy Mentoring Program at Solomon Schechter provides structured opportunities throughout the day for typically developing children to socially interact with the Keshet children. Friendships develop through this program that last a lifetime.
"It is Keshet's goal that the current generation of children grows up "disability blind," accepting other children as their equals regardless of their abilities."