Our school philosophy and methodology reflect a Developmental Language Model implementing principles of the Developmental Individual-Difference Relationship (DIR®) based approach, by which students move through developmental levels for relating, communicating, thinking and learning. Student’s educational goals incorporate the student’s developmental levels, individual learning/sensory profile and Illinois Learning Standards.

• Students develop and practice the ability to regulate and share attention, which is needed as the foundation of relationships and learning.
• Students develop and practice engagement and trust, which are needed for building relationships and learning.
• Students develop and practice two-way purposeful verbal and gestural communication, which is needed for relationships, problem solving and learning.
• Students develop and practice communicating and problem solving to create a continuous flow of interaction, which is needed for relationships and learning.
• Students develop and practice the ability to functionally use ideas to create and expand learning and relationships.
• Students develop and practice building bridges in order to connect ideas and learn logically. This facilitates problem solving, imagination, learning and relationships.

Our school staff is a comprehensive team of professionals working together to facilitate and support student learning.

• Our staff is a dedicated, caring and compassionate group of individuals who appreciate and respect each child’s challenges and accomplishments.
• Teacher to student ratio is closely monitored to maximize each student’s learning.

Each student’s team consists of a special education teacher, one to one teacher assistant, speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist, social worker/counselor and DIR® specialist, based on their IEP and the Academy’s assessment/therapeutic plan. Fine Arts (music, art) and P.E. are part of a student’s therapeutic plan. The program director and DIR® expert clinicians work collaboratively to oversee the educational and social program for each student in accordance with the Academy’s philosophy of integrating developmental language model and DIR® principles.

Parents are respected as active partners in their child’s education through observation, training, support and classroom visits.

Our program serves as a model school implementing the integration of Developmental Language Models and DIR® principles in a social and academic environment.

• Our program serves as a training site for SEA parents while offering observations and theoretical insights to interested professionals and school districts who searching for knowledge in Developmental Language Models and DIR® principles.
• Our program provides a comprehensive curriculum framework, integrating contemporary Developmental Language Models and DIR® practices aligned with Common Core Standards. SEA hopes to publish its curriculum so that our unique thinking can be shared with others.
• Our program is always working to gather information regarding our implementation and results of educational interventions, based on developmental language models implementing DIR® principles, for student outcomes and research purposes.