Special Education Program
A comprehensive referral and assessment process is used to identify offenders who may be in need of Special Education services Special instruction is provided for students with learning disabilities, emotional disturbance, intellectual disabilities, vision and/ or hearing impairments, orthopedic impairments, other health impairments, traumatic brain injury, and speech impairments. Certified Special Education teachers employ a wide variety of instructional strategies and materials to address each student’s individual learning style. Special computer equipment is used to meet the unique needs of students who are blind or have significant visual impairments. Related services are provided when needed. These services include interpretive services for deaf students, assistive technology, and needed support services. Students in the Special Education program who are not able to demonstrate progress in the regular academic curriculum may be considered for placement in an Adaptive Skills class. Adaptive Skills is a Special Education class that focuses primarily on functional literacy and life skills.
Windham also provides a special program for eligible students who exhibit limited English proficiency. A language assessment is administered to determine a student’s level of proficiency in English. Students who demonstrate a significant lack of English proficiency are recommended for placement in the English as a Second Language (ESL) program. Certified ESL teachers provide intensive instruction in English language development, reading and writing.
Personal and Social Development
Changing Habits and Achieving New Goals to Empower Success (CHANGES)II is a 60-day life skills program designed to prepare offenders for release. Offenders who are within two years of projected release are eligible to participate in the program. The program content includes personal development, healthy relationships, living responsibly, drug education, health maintenance, emotional development, employment and other related life skills.
Cognitive Intervention, a 60-day program developed with the help of the National Institute of Corrections, teaches students to meet their needs without trespassing on the rights of others.
Through instruction and exercises in interpersonal problem solving, the program helps offenders:
Develop personal accountability and responsibility
Develop anger management
Develop impulse control
Overcome criminal thinking
Create positive attitudes and beliefs
WSD offers a 30-day Parenting & Family Wellness program at a few facilities. The curricular content of the Parenting & Family Wellness program includes The Middle Way Parent Education Program, a communication-based, interactive program that supports the development of healthy family relationships. The program addresses compassionate assertiveness, empathic/active listening, empowerment and other skills to strengthen family relationships. Participants engage in an introspective process of positive personal change.
A 15-day program entitled Perspectives and Solutions is offered at intake facilities. In this progressive program, students explore cultural diversity, personal identity, stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination (including racial, ethnic, religious, gender, age, sexual orientation, and physical disability). Students also receive extensive exposure to problem solving techniques.
The other 6 programs: