Morton Gingerwood

Program Philosophy

Southwest Cooperative at Morton Gingerwood provides therapeutic programming to students who have communication and emotional regulation challenges or those who have complex learning needs. Our MGW Program classrooms are located in a separate public special education school in Oak Forest and serve students from Pre-K through Grade 12.

MGW Program Model includes:

• Eclectic instruction, focusing on the Structured Teaching methodology.
• Integrated related therapy services, including speech-language, social work, BCBA, OT,  and assistive technology services.  
• Visual supports, high levels of structure, and sensory-rich environments, including Adapted PE, Art Therapy, and Music Therapy.
• Instruction targeting the development of functional academic and daily living skills and embedded into daily instruction, routines, and activities to foster independence across all domains.
• Instructional and assistive technology supports throughout the school day. 
• An interdisciplinary team approach with frequent opportunities for collaboration and integrated supports

Characteristics of students typically served at the MGW program include:

• Students who need a language-rich learning environment to access both their educational and therapeutic activities, such as those with significant communication disorders or autism
• Students who benefit from support to improve communication, including speech/language and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), as appropriate.
• Students who have emotional regulation needs
• Students who benefit from a functional academic curriculum, incorporating the common core essential elements, and are assessed using the state’s alternate assessment.
• 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.