Preparation for Life

We believe that every student—especially those with disabilities—should be given the opportunity to prepare for life beyond the classroom.  Our core philosophy is about developing real-life skills through community-based instruction (CBI), supported employment options and post-21 programming.

Community-Based Instruction is a regularly scheduled program that provides the opportunity to practice and collect data on the academic goals of our students within a community setting.  The purpose is to provide structured opportunities for skill generalization. Specific community activities are predetermined by classroom teachers so that they directly correspond to the students’ communicative and academic needs.  All community based lessons and activities are aligned to New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) and The Phoenix Center’s Life-Centered curriculum.

21st Century Life & Careers and Consumer Family Life Skills

This program aims to provide students with authentic opportunities for learning in supportive, dedicated environments. Currently, the program maintains four working labs within the school: a teaching kitchen, a dorm room, vocational room and a laundry room. Students are introduced to skills in these areas or work to maintain and refine their skills while staying aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) set forth by their individualized education programs. These experiences regularly lead to job placements in the community.