Communication Therapy
The Communication Therapy Service is committed to developing each student’s total communication skills to his/her personal potential. This may include traditional evaluation and treatment for such areas as speech, language, augmentative communication, and swallowing. In addition, functional communication skills involving personal advocacy, goal setting, directing personal care attendants, and creative expression are areas of focus.
Education
The Educational services provided at ICRE-R follow the Life Centered Career Education (LCCE) curriculum from the Council for Exceptional Children. The LCCE curriculum is an education system designed to teach transition students important concepts and skills needed to function successfully in the home and community. In addition to the LCCE curriculum, many students attend local community schools to complete their K-12 educational requirements. These students receive assistance with projects and homework completion and have use of the computer lab for study and research. ICRE-R also works with the Illinois Department of Human Services / Division of Rehabilitation Services for post-secondary education or vocational training.
Financial Services
Various Financial Services for students are provided through ICRE-R’s Business Office. For students in the beginning levels of the transition program, these services include weekly allowance and management of funds for trips and activities. As students progress to the higher levels of the transition program, they are responsible for their day-to-day financial needs utilizing a community bank. However, any simulated rent and utility payments that are part of the transition program are collected and held in a trust account and returned to students when they leave the program. This helps provide funding for various transition needs, including furniture, apartment modifications, and assistive/adaptive technology.
Housing
ICRE-R helps each student determine his/her housing needs and preferences. This process begins at the time of the student’s admission or when the student reaches 14 1/2 years of age. As students acquire and develop increasingly complex skills for community living and progress through the transition program, housing plans are modified to account for their new abilities. After students move into the community placement of their choice, ICRE-R provides follow-up monitoring and needed services for up to one year.
Medical Service
ICRE-R offers a team consisting of a Medical Director, a pediatric nurse practitioner, and doctors in training, working closely with ICRE-R’s Nursing Service to administer high quality healthcare 24 hours a day, 7 days/week. The team manages acute illness, yearly physical exams, coordination of medical subspecialty care, and a wide range of health education. The medical team serves to coordinate a “Medical Home” partnership between the student, family, and community health care providers to identify needs, plan care, and evaluate outcomes. The ultimate goal of the Medical Service is for each student to have the tools needed to manage his/her personal healthcare needs.
Nursing Service
The Nursing Service administers high quality individualized care to all students on a 24-hour basis. The focal point of this department is health education for students and their families. Programs include: bowel and bladder management, diabetic training, diet management, and medical appointment management. The Nursing Service strives for excellence in making the students aware of their disease process and its complete management upon completion of the transition program.
Occupational Therapy
The Occupational Therapy Department assists students in the development and application of life skills needed for transition to the community of their choice. These areas include personal management, household management, and personal business management. Occupational Therapists use a variety of techniques, assistive technology, and human resources to reduce the effects of physical and cognitive limitations, allowing the student to adapt more functionally to his/her environment. Skills are acquired in a natural living environment and developmental progression.
Physical Therapy
The Physical Therapy Department provides assessment and treatment for students with musculoskeletal and neuromuscular problems. Each student’s individualized program is designed to maximize his/her functional abilities and prevent further physical impairment. Treatment areas include therapeutic exercises and ambulation, neurodevelopmental therapy and aquatic therapy. The Physical Therapy staff also train students in safe community mobility through the Mobility Access Program. They hold regular orthotics clinics for evaluation and monitoring of braces and other assistive devices.
Residential Service
The Residential Service provides an environment in which students are encouraged to become as self-reliant as possible. The Residential Service philosophy is to help each student grow and reach his/her maximum level of functioning, to help each student gain an increased awareness of his/her own needs and behaviors, and to encourage each student to find new ways of responding to environmental stressors. Residential Services are provided 24 hours a day, 7 days/week.
Social Service
The Social Service Department uses individual and group treatment sessions to encourage students to verbalize concerns and work toward the positive resolution of problems. Students are also encouraged to maintain a strong link with their families and see them regularly through home visits on weekends and breaks. ICRE-R’s Social Workers also assist students and their families access state and federal entitlements, such as Paratransit Services, Home Services, Medicaid, and SSI Funding.
Transportation Services
ICRE-R provides Transportation Services for students enrolled in its program. ICRE-R has its own buses and drivers, which are used to transport students to school, medical appointments, shopping trips, community trips, and recreational activities.
Vocational Training
Students may participate in the Illinois Department of Human Services / Division of Rehabilitation Services Secondary Transition Experience Program (STEP Program) for in-school or community-based work experience. ICRE-R has two in-school programs to facilitate the development of vocational skills: the “Wheels of Dreams” gift basket business and the “Oh Sew Personal” sewing and embroidery program. We also have a school store, which is sponsored by the ICRE-R Foundation and managed and operated by students under staff guidance. ICRE-R works closely with the Illinois Department of Human Services / Division of Rehabilitation Services Vocational Rehabilitation program for vocational evaluations and placements.