Extended Day Services

KSSB is an educational facility that maintains student residences so that students living beyond daily commuting range may access the school’s educational program through the extended day program. Students enrolled in the extended day program arrive on Sunday evening and return to their home community on Friday afternoon/evening.  Priority for use of the residential extended day program is given to those who live beyond daily commuting range. However, the residential facilities provide opportunities for all students to learn and practice the skills of daily living. As appropriate, an IEP team may identify the residences as the instruction site for time-limited, prescriptive instruction of day students to address specific needs related to the skills of daily living. For extended day students, the residential facilities are available to extend learning by practicing skills addressed during school day instruction.

Extended Day Placement Considerations

Students in residence at KSSB are away from family, family physicians and other supports for periods of time. Each child and his/her unique needs and circumstances must be considered in making decisions about utilizing the student residences. Each student’s unique characteristics and specific needs must be thoroughly evaluated to determine if KSSB can adequately assume overnight responsibility for students. Factors for consideration include:

1. Students who have significant medical needs may exceed the resources for safe medical management and general supervision.
2. The KSSB student residences do not have the resources to properly manage significantly aggressive, criminal, destructive or otherwise violent behavior that does not respond to corrective interventions.
3. The need for very young children to be near their families may exceed any anticipated benefits from living in the residences.

Please download and review our Student Placement_Residential Campus Policy 3.20.19opens PDF file .

Review additional information in our Policies and Handbook section of the website.

Facilities

Residential space is located in Edlund Hall and The Cottage. Edlund Hall is a large two-story building containing dormitory space, the health center, staff office and an apartment. On each floor of Edlund Hall is a large open space in the center with a Girls Wing and Boys Wing extending on two sides. The Cottage is a two-bedroom home located on campus between Edlund Hall and the Recreation Center.

The upper level of the Girls Wing contains three double and two triple occupancy rooms and houses the health center. On this level the connecting rooms share a bathroom. The upper level of the Boys Wing, contains four double and four triple occupancy rooms. The Senior Year/Transition apartment and staff office spaces are located on the upper level near the center lounge. Both the lower levels of the Girls Wing and Boys Wing house eight double rooms each. The lower level connecting rooms do not share bathrooms. Restrooms are housed at the ends of each hallway to simulate college dorm life. No boys are allowed in the Girls Wing and no girls are allowed in the Boys Wing.

Residence Hall – Upper Level

The Upper Level contains a great room for all students’ use to watch TV or movies, listen to music, or choose from a large selection of reading materials in braille, large print or audio formats. A student kitchen on this floor contains a microwave, refrigerator and several countertop appliances for student use. An elevator is available to transport students with special mobility needs between the floors.

The heath center is staffed 24 hours a day, when students are on campus. The nursing staff are housed in the residence halls to support the students as needed.

“Nurses dispense comfort, compassion, and caring without even a prescription.” – Val Saintsbury

Remember our school nurses every year on May 12 as we celebrate National School Nurse Day.

Residence Hall – Lower Level

A large activity room is available for all students to watch movies, sing karaoke, participate in craft projects, play games, or the piano. A teaching kitchen and laundry room are available for staff and students to use to support the acquisition of skills in cooking and clothing care.

Access Lab

A computer technology room on the lower level has four complete workstations with computers, copy stands, reading lamps, adjustable keyboard, shelves and adaptive software. Two CCTVs are in this room, along with braille and print printers, and a copy machine. This computer lab is used for study hall and can be used at other times with staff permission. Braillers, talking calculators and additional supplies are available for student use.

What is Provided?

Each student is provided a room with two dressers, a twin bed, sheets, blankets, a comforter, and a pillow. Twelve rooms have a desk and chair and twelve rooms have a microwave and fridge for students who have mastered quick meal prep skills. Residents are encouraged to bring items from home to personalize their rooms. We encourage students to bring some of their favorite toys to play with and share with others. Many students bring digital music/CD players, radios, and games. Advance permission from the Dormitory Director is required for students to bring portable televisions, stereo equipment, video game equipment, and computers. Parents should mark these things with the student’s name in print and braille, as needed.

Residence Hall Assignment

Assignment in the Residence Hall is a graduated approach based on level of independence and supervision needs of each student. All students start in the upper level of Edlund Hall.  As they gain independence and require less supervision a student may be moved to the lower level. Some students in the lower level may experience a greater sense of independence with the addition of a microwave and small refrigerator. Successful management of the additional appliances and responsibilities in the dorm room builds support for the application to an apartment-style assignment.

For seniors and transition year students, an apartment living experience tailored to their needs and abilities is offered. Students must be recommended for this option and complete an application to request the apartment experience. To successfully obtain this placement, a student must meet set standards in the areas of self-help skills, self-responsibility and independent daily living skills.

Greater responsibility comes with this increased independence, including preparing own meals, shopping for groceries, managing own time, learning to manage medications (with supervision from health center staff), paying bills, maintaining grades and passing weekly inspection.

Permission to stay in the freestanding, two-bedroom Cottage located outside the dorm may be granted, if the training program with the apartment goes well.

Extended Day – ECC Instruction

For students residing on campus, instruction does not end when the school day is over. Just as in a home environment, students are expected to actively participate in daily tasks, chores and activities. This expectation serves to provide continued instruction in the Expanded Core Curriculum for students who have a visual impairment.  Students are evaluated as to their skills and performance in techniques of daily living. Residential staff, in conjunction with parents and classroom teachers, determine skill areas in which students will receive instruction during the course of the year. Progress reports are written at the end of each quarter and are submitted to the parents along with the academic grades and IEP progress reports. Parent involvement is always welcome and encouraged in order to provide a relevant and meaningful ECC educational program for each student. When parents want to talk about their child’s progress in the Dormitory Program, contact Sue Pollancreate new email, Extended Campus (Dormitory) Director.

Brighton Recreation Center

During scheduled evening recreational time, students can use the indoor pool table and challenge their peers to a game of pool or air hockey.

Contacts

For questions about the Extended Day Program (Dormitory) at KSSB, contact the Extended Day Program Director – Sue Pollan at (913) 305-3000opens phone dialer x 3050.