Branches (COSER 203)

Education for students with multiple disabilities; with focus on behavior management strategies.

Branches 8:1:1 Program

• 8:1:1 student to staff ratio
• Team approach
• Behavior Management Strategies
• Focus on life skills curriculum
• Independent Living skills
• Prevocational work skills
• Access to Assistive Technology
• Community trips
• Special events

Student Placement

Students are placed through a referral process and recommendation from the local district's Committee on Special Education.

Teamwork

One of the best things about this BOCES program for students with multiple disabilities is the belief that teamwork builds success. A highly devoted transdisciplinary team works together to form goals, provide therapy, and evaluate progress. From communication devces to work skills and social skills, it is a combined effort that makes this program successful.

Team members include:

• Classroom Teachers
• Speech/Language Therapists
• Physical Therapists
• Occupational Therapists
• Paraprofessionals
• Teachers of the Visually Impaired
• Art and Music Teachers
• Adapted Physical Education Teachers

Individualized Attention

We are a program for students with multiple disabilities; with a focus on behavior management strategies. Each student is given individual attention to address his or her particular abilities and needs. Individual academic programming focuses on a life skills curriculum (including reading and writing, math, science, and social studies), independent living skills, and prevocational work skills are focused upon. all students receive the appropriate New York State Assessments.

A Community

Our school community is a reflection of the community in which we live. Each student is an important part of the community and his or her actions affect everyone else in the TST BOCES community. Students are expected to contribute in a positive way toward the community by helping to maintain a safe and healthy school environment, by allowing themselves to build relationships with other students and staff, and by giving input into planning school activities which help the school to be a better place to learn. Our school rules reflect the rules of the society in which we live, and in turn, the consequences for creating an unsafe environment must reflect rules of our larger society. At the Branches program, consequences are decided with the individual's greater goals in mind, and the need to provide a safe environment for all of our students. It is our goal to help all students reach their potential in school by creating a community that supports all students' successes.