PROGRAMS & SERVICES

Kevin O’Grady Children’s Center and Kevin O’Grady School

Kevin O’Grady Children’s Center and School provide programs and services to young children, students and young adults with significant developmental disabilities, including autism, pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), medical fragility and other multiple handicaps.

The Children’s Center and School focus on developing academic and social skills to maximize students’ educational potential and increase opportunities for participation in home and community activities.

Classroom instruction follows the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks, and incorporates both traditional and non-traditional educational materials

and interventions. A range of classroom and community experiences is used to foster successful social and peer group interaction, as well as academic achievement.

A variety of therapists and medical staff is available to complement and support this learning experience.

Both the Center and School encourage parents to meet with teachers, therapists and medical providers, visit classrooms and remain closely involved in decisions affecting their child’s path of learning.

The Kevin O’Grady Children’s Center provides programs and services for children age 3 to 7 in classrooms located in Peabody, MA. The Kevin O’Grady School offers programs and services to students age 7 to 21 in the Consortium’s classroom and administrative facility in Beverly, MA.

The Northshore Academy

The Northshore Academy provides programs and services for students with emotional/behavioral disorders. Programs focus on both academic and social skills, including strategies to acquire new knowledge, modify behavior and develop positive peer and adult relationships. Opportunities for developing greater self-esteem and confidence are incorporated into classroom and other instruction.

"The extraordinary talent and dedication of the Northshore Consortium faculty and staff allow a historically under-served population of children to be properly educated in an outstanding school environment."

Dr. Herbert Levine, Superintendent of Schools, Salem, MA

Staff members develop caring, consistent and structured relationships with students and their families to further support opportunities for success.

The Academy offers a rigorous and challenging curriculum based on the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks.

Individual, group and family counseling, speech and language therapy and occupational and physical therapy services are available.

The ultimate goal of the Academy is to enable students to successfully return to their district classrooms whenever possible.

The Northshore Academy programs include:

• Primary and middle school (Grade K to 8)

• Alternative high school (Grade 9 to 12)

• STAR, a short-term 45-day assessment, (Grade 6 to 12)

The Northshore Academy is located at 112 Sohier Road, Beverly, MA.

Embark
Situated on the Salem State College campus, Embark is a post secondary program for young adults aged 18-26 who have a desire to continue their education beyond high school.  This innovative program provides motivated students with learning delays and/or disabilities the opportunity to develop and achieve their vocational goals while further developing additional life skills.

The Embark Program consists of two main components:

sThe independent life component focuses on the SCANS (Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills) foundation skills, public transportation training, consumer skills, social / leisure options, interpersonal relationships and self-esteem, issues pertaining to adult sexuality, and residential life competencies.

sThe occupational component includes the five SCANS competencies, vocational / career preparation and training, assessment, internship opportunities, and job  placement.  Students will achieve specific competencies and goals in career pathways of their choice.

The facets of each component of the program are interrelated and contribute to the  successful transition of each student from home/school to independent life.

Educational Services
Northshore Education Consortium provides a range of educational and therapeutic programs and services for students and families in their homes and other locations. Professional development and consultative services are provided for educators and administrators in their schools and districts. Services include:

• Vision Services: programs and services to support students with vision and related mobility impairments

• Home Training: programs for students and their families to help incorporate behavior management skills consistently at home and in the community

• Access to Curriculum and Educational Services (ACES): a range of consultation services for school districts, including program and curriculum design

and behavior strategies for students in crisis.

• Professional Development: education-related

workshops, mini-courses and other learning opportunities for administrators and educators

"Everyone knows me here.  There is always someone

to go to-for help with everything. It has changed

my life."

Jason Whipple, graduate