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In this article, you will find information about the following topics:

Mission

Hope Technology School is a not -for -profit school, established in 2001, with the mission of providing an exceptional learning experience for typical and special needs children in a fully inclusive, technology rich environment.  
 
Inclusive Method

Our inclusive ratio is 60% neurotypical students and 40% students with developmental differences. Maintaining small class size (average 12 students per class) with at least one teacher and one para-educator per class affords each student the support to reach his or her full potential. Technology plays a vital role in the motivation and progress of our students. Students at all levels utilize computers and other innovative technology to foster reading, writing and math and communication skills.

We advocate giving students opportunities for hope utilizing any available process, plan or tool. We employ a truly eclectic approach using as many methods as possible to help our students. We've collaborated with families to integrate methods such as Handwriting without Tears, PECS, TEEACH, AAC, AT, ABA, SI, SLP, OT, PT, Tomatis Method, Medical and Bio-Medical Intervention, Sensory Diets for home and school, Self Help and Independent Living Skills, Tribes Character Education, and Integrated Play Groups. We also respect students' special diets. Working together with parents and professionals we incorporate any means available to achieve each student's academic goals. We develop an individualized combination of these methods as appropriate for each child.

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Population


HTS educates over 100 children from preschool through 8th grade, including both typical and special needs students. We also have a Vocational Education Program for middle and high school aged students. The special needs of our students may include Autism, ADHD, Down Syndrome, learning differences, speech disorders and emotional challenges.
 
Autism is characterized by impairments in social interaction, communication, and imaginative play prior to age 3 years, as well as stereotyped behaviors, interests and activities.  The symptoms and characteristics of autism can present themselves in a wide variety of combinations, from mild to severe.

  • 1 in every 150 children born is an autistic child.  Autism is growing at an annual rate of 10- 17%.
  • Estimated cost of autism is $90 billion.  Annual costs are projected to increase to $200- $400 billion in 10 years.  Autism is going to impact the nation over the next 20 years as these children grow and require more services.
  • Lifelong care can be reduced by 2/3 with early diagnosis and intervention. (www.autism-society.org/)

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Onsite Therapeutic Program: NPA Certified

As an NPA, HTS meets state standards to provide services and may contract with public school districts. Our therapy services include:

  • Occupational Therapy
  • Speech Therapy
  • Physical Therapy
  • Sensory Integration
  • Slingerland
  • Academic Tutoring

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Technology                                 

  • Assistive Technology (AT): According to the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988 (Public Law 100-407), Assistive Technology (AT) includes any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially, off-the-shelf, modified or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. Assistive Technology Service is any service that directly assists an individual with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device. (From Assistive Technology for Children with Autism, Written by Susan Stokes under a contract with CESA 7 and funded by a discretionary grant from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
    • AlphaSmart - The AlphaSmart is a keyboarding device that enables a person to work on the go, much like a laptop computer, but it is strictly for word processing, as it functions essentially like a simple digital typewriter. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AlphaSmart) We use keyboard technology to enable some students to produce work in a more fluent and organized manner. Both neurotypical students and students with special needs use the AlphaSmart for writing projects at home and at school in the HTS Middle School Program.
  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) strategies assist people with severe communication disabilities to participate more fully in their social roles including interpersonal interaction, learning, education, and community activities. AAC entails learning to communicate by typing on a keyboard or pointing at letters, images, or other symbols to represent messages. This allows a mode of communication other than speech for those who need it.  At HTS, one AAC device we use is the Lightwriter.
    • Lightwriter (AAC device) - With Lightwriter devices, you just "type and talk." Individuals are able to speak their minds in virtually any environment using the synthesized voice. (www.dynavoxtech.com/products/lightwriter/
  • Innovative Technology Test Projects -- At HTS, we utilize technology in innovative ways to provide our students with an exceptional inclusive education and to help each of our students attain his/her personal goals.
    • The HP TouchSmart Project allows some students to record their own voice in Voice Notes then play back sentences, which reinforces and motivates them to speak more. This technology has been particularly helpful for students with difficulty speaking. A student can create a screen full of labeled voice notes that he can touch when he wants to express something in his own voice. Some students have consistently verbalized their needs with an increased frequency of speech. This technology allows an inclusive component- video email. Students can email videos to one another using a webcam. (click here for a demo) 
    • Jeopardy is another inclusive middle school activity we've used on the TouchSmart. This is a useful way to review curriculum. Each student comes to the machine, touches the box they would like to select and then responds the question that appears.
    • Speech Pro is a speech communication software program, compatable with windows, XP, and Vista. It is often called a "talking keyboard." All a student has to do is touch the screen to type, and a text to speech program allows students to communicate. Speech Pro includes simple words and phrases in addition to the alphabetic keyboard as well as the option of adding customized words and phrases.  (www.gusinc.com/speechsystem.html)

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Benefits of Inclusion at HTS

  • Both neurotypical children and children with special needs grow in social interaction
  • Students with disabilities are accepted by their peers
  • Students with disabilities gain confidence in their ability to handle  academics
  • We maintain a 6:1 student-to-teacher ratio. Studies show that class size impacts learning positively when the ratio is less than 15:1.
  • All students benefit from the additional support in the classroom
  • Educators can adapt curriculum to meet the needs of each individual student
  • Our students consistently excel academically. On the CAT/6 standardized test, HTS students score above grade level nearly twice as often as students in public schools throughout neighboring counties.

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Collaborative Partnerships and Community Involvement

  • Cooperative work with Dr. Dave Traver, M.D, whose medical practice focuses on biomedical treatment of children with neurodevelopmental challenges or conditions. (www.dptmd.com) Office Phone Number: (650) 341-5300, Address: 1261 E. Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City, CA 94404.
  • Collaborative therapy programs with The Listening Center for Tomatis Therapy. The Listening Center provides a clinical application of the Tomatis Method. The Tomatis Method is an auditory stimulation program that uses modulated sound through specialized equipment that stimulates the auditory and nervous systems, resulting in improved processing skills and communication skills in individuals with autism and various learning related disorders. (www.thelisteningcenter.net)  
  • Partnership with inclusive athletic programs: Jefferson Award Winner, E-Soccer & E-Karate (www.e-soccer.info/)
  • Volunteer and community leadership and programs in association with BACC (www.bacc.cc/v2/content/misc/SRM/index.htm)
  • Collaborative programming with experts in behavioral plans and facilitated playgroups
  • Staff and community training in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)

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