DESTINY Mission Statement

To provide individualized support to students with complex learning needs and diverse backgrounds and partner with their families in a safe, supportive and enriching environment to promote independence and assist students in reaching their full potential within the school, home, and community.

Vision: Maximize the moments-every student, every day

Characteristics of students typically served in the DESTINY program include:

• Students who function significantly below grade level across cognitive, academic, and adaptive skills domains.

• Students who benefit from a functional academic curriculum incorporating the common core essential elements and are assessed using the state’s alternate assessment.

• Students who require instruction in daily living skills.

• Students who benefit from support to improve communication, including speech/language and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), as appropriate.

• Students in need of support to develop fine motor and gross motor skills.

• Students in need of support for health-related conditions.

• High school students who will be awarded a certificate of completion rather than a traditional diploma and who qualify for post-12th grade transition programming. 

Program Model:

• Targeted instruction to develop functional academic skills and adaptive skills embedded into daily instruction, routines, and activities to foster independence across all domains.

• Focus on language development that incorporates modeling, visual supports and augmentative communication systems, as appropriate.

• Attention to fine and gross motor development that incorporates sensory needs, as needed.

• Incorporation of instructional and  assistive technology supports across the school day. 

• Interdisciplinary team approach that includes a special education teacher, social worker, speech language pathologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, nurse, and other related service personnel, as required.

Current School Locations:

• Early Childhood to grade 5 at Kerkstra Elementary School-general education school building within District 142 in Oak Forest

• Grades 4-8 at Southwest Cooperative School at Morton Gingerwood- separate setting, public school which also houses the SWCCCASE Communication Development Program, located in Oak Forest

• Grades 6-8 at Southwood Middle School- general education school building within District 160 in Country Club Hills

• Grades 9-12 at Oak Forest High School-general education school building with specialized instructional space within District 228 in Oak Forest