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Functional Academics

Chapel Haven’s year-round Functional Academics Program is second to none. We offer a wide range of coursework through a curriculum that encompasses blended subject areas: Language Arts, Math and Science, Social Studies, Life Skills, Vocational Skills, Wellness, and Personal Enrichment, as well as an array of Continuing Adult Education classes

Chapel Haven’s Special Education faculty teaches nearly 70 classes each quarter. These are the foundation from which special education students build lives of successful independence. Class subjects include:

  • Banking and Budgeting
  • Clothing Management, Cleaning
  • Reading Directions
  • Music
  • Social communication
  • Ceramics
  • Drawing
  • Athletics
  • Yearbook

Utilizing Public Transportation (taught by the teachers and supplemented by the Residential Life Skills Instructor.)

  • Career Exploration, Resume Writing, and Workplace Social Skills classes are followed by rotating work internships in authentic employment settings.

A Community Integration Approach: We draw on our extensive local resources by bringing professionals from the Greater New Haven community to our site to offer classes, workshops, and seminars. Whether it’s a local artist teaching painting, a retired pediatrician teaching classes in human anatomy, a New Haven professional conducting human sexuality seminars, or a human resources manager from a local corporation speaking on interviewing techniques, we endeavor to expose our students to as many community resources as possible.

Functional Academics

Chapel Haven’s year-round Functional Academics Program is second to none. We offer a wide range of coursework through a curriculum that encompasses blended subject areas: Language Arts, Math and Science, Social Studies, Life Skills, Vocational Skills, Wellness, and Personal Enrichment, as well as an array of Continuing Adult Education classes
  • To see a weekly sample schedule: CLICK
  • To see a sample course catalog: CLICK
Chapel Haven’s Special Education faculty teaches nearly 70 classes each quarter. These are the foundation from which special education students build lives of successful independence. Class subjects include:
  •  Banking and Budgeting,
  • Clothing Management, Cleaning
  • Reading Directions
  • Music
  • Social communication
  • Ceramics
  • Drawing
  • Athletics
  • Yearbook

Utilizing Public Transportation (taught by the teachers and supplemented by the Residential Life Skills Instructor.)

  • Career Exploration, Resume Writing, and Workplace Social Skills classes are followed by rotating work internships in authentic employment settings.

A Community Integration Approach:

We draw on our extensive local resources by bringing professionals from the Greater New Haven community to our site to offer classes, workshops, and seminars. Whether it’s a local artist teaching painting, a retired pediatrician teaching classes in human anatomy, a New Haven professional conducting human sexuality seminars, or a human resources manager from a local corporation speaking on interviewing techniques, we endeavor to expose our students to as many community resources as possible.

Life Skills

“It is our proven belief that the only way to teach independence is in a setting that imitates life.” Jordan Girard, Director of the REACH Program

Well beyond the average dormitory, Chapel Haven is unique in offering an apartment setting that helps individuals negotiate all aspects of independent living.

Over a 24-month period, our 30 students live in fully furnished and equipped apartments on a modernized campus, where they benefit from intensive one-to-one attention and life skills instruction. We teach young adults the day-to-day living skills that will be necessary for independent living when they graduate from the residential program and access a range of options, including our Supported Living Program.

Experienced teachers and life skills instructors work hand in hand to blend lessons from the classroom into apartment instruction. Researching recipes on the Internet, price comparisons for laundry soap or orange juice and learning how to manage illness are examples of ways in which we coach our students to be savvy and smart consumers.

A Community Integration Approach: Because Chapel Haven is highly
individualized, we intentionally tailor each resident’s curriculum journey according
to their strengths and abilities so that they can progress at their own speed.

Life Skills

“It is our proven belief that the only way to teach independence is in a setting that imitates life.” Jordan Girard, Director of the REACH Program

Well beyond the average dormitory, Chapel Haven is unique in offering an apartment setting that helps individuals negotiate all aspects of independent living.
Over a 24-month period, our 30 students live in fully furnished and equipped apartments on a modernized campus, where they benefit from intensive one-to-one attention and life skills instruction. We teach young adults the day-to-day living skills that will be necessary for independent living when they graduate from the residential program and access a range of options, including our Supported Living Program.
 Experienced teachers and life skills instructors work hand in hand to blend lessons from the classroom into apartment instruction. Researching recipes on the Internet, price comparisons for laundry soap or orange juice and learning how to manage illness are examples of ways in which we coach our students to be savvy and smart consumers.

A Community Integration Approach:

Because Chapel Haven is highly individualized, we intentionally tailor each resident’s curriculum journey according to their strengths and abilities so that they can progress at their own speed.

Social/Recreational

Our location in a small but vibrant cosmopolitan city offers our individuals a broad range of cultural and sporting events to attend and provides rich opportunities for both recreation and volunteering.

A structured recreation program occurs on evenings and weekends. Click here to see our Recreation Brochure. With 25 activities, on average, a month to choose from, the Recreation program is a key part of our curriculum, and teaches our clients to:

Popular weekend activities, chaperoned by our energetic
and caring weekend recreation staff, include:

  • Lunch and shopping at the mall (i.e., CT Post Mall, Palisades Mall, Clinton Crossings)
  • Excursions to Boston (duck boats, Red Sox games)
  • New York City (Broadway production of Lion King, dinner in Chinatown; baseball games; Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum)
  • Yale sporting events (men’s hockey, football, basketball)
  • Medieval Times, NJ
  • Hiking, biking, rowing, picnics in the park
  • Six Flags
  • Bronx Zoo
  • Workout sessions at the ASD Fitness Gym in Orange

Social/
Recreational

Our location in a small but vibrant cosmopolitan city offers our individuals a broad range of cultural and sporting events to attend and provides rich opportunities for both recreation and volunteering.

A structured recreation program occurs on evenings and weekends. With 25 activities, on average, a month to choose from, the Recreation program is a key part of our curriculum, and teaches our clients to:

Popular weekend activities, chaperoned by our energetic
and caring weekend recreation staff, include:

  • Lunch and shopping at the mall (i.e., CT Post Mall, Palisades Mall, Clinton Crossings)
  • Excursions to Boston (duck boats, Red Sox games)
  • New York City (Broadway production of Lion King, dinner in Chinatown; baseball games; Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum)
  • Yale sporting events (men’s hockey, football, basketball)
  • Medieval Times, NJ
  • Hiking, biking, rowing, picnics in the park
  • Six Flags
  • Bronx Zoo
  • Workout sessions at the ASD Fitness Gym in Orange

Vocational Experience

Meaningful employment is an important part of an
independent lifestyle.

Recognizing the importance of this, topics and experiences that prepare our young adults for rewarding employment are carefully woven into REACH programs. Over the 2 year period, progressively more challenging opportunities are offered.

REACH students take part in the Working Partnerships Curriculum where they go off site with staff to learn about the etiquette of work and the the hidden “social rules” as well as get help with resume preparation and receive a comprehensive job orientation. Chapel Haven’s assessment tool, uses 100 variables to measure each individual’s ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ skills that will help determine next steps in seeking employment.

The vocational process is outlined for each student at the start of the REACH program and the desire to work and live independently infuses the curriculum.

Our program curriculum is carefully crafted from key workplace skill building needs as determined by Chapel Haven’s newly established CareerAbility. Upon graduation, this division helps Chapel Haven adults find meaningful vocational paths and placements according to each individual’s abilities and dreams. To give our REACH clients a jumpstart in this process, REACH staff work closely with CareerAbility to ensure that our program curriculum keeps up with all emerging employment needs and builds these critical skills into our curriculum .

Vocational Experience

Meaningful employment is an important part of an
independent lifestyle.

Recognizing the importance of this, topics and experiences that prepare our young adults for rewarding employment are carefully woven into REACH programs. Over the 2 year period, progressively more challenging opportunities are offered.
REACH students take part in the Working Partnerships Curriculum where they go off site with staff to learn about the etiquette of work and the the hidden “social rules” as well as get help with resume preparation and receive a comprehensive job orientation. Chapel Haven’s assessment tool, uses 100 variables to measure each individual’s ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ skills that will help determine next steps in seeking employment. IS THIS UNIQUE? ASSESSED DURING REACH?

The vocational process is outlined for each student at the start of the REACH program and the desire to work and live independently infuses the curriculum.

Our program curriculum is carefully crafted from key workplace skill building needs as determined by Chapel Haven’s newly established CareerAbility. Upon graduation, this division helps Chapel Haven adults find meaningful vocational paths and placements according to each individual’s abilities and dreams. To give our REACH clients a jumpstart in this process, REACH staff work closely with CareerAbility to ensure that our program curriculum keeps up with all emerging employment needs and builds these critical skills into our curriculum .

Contact Info:
Christy Chandler