PROJECT SEARCH: VIRTUAL ACADEMY

Program Description:

The Virtual Academy is designed to assist children and adolescents with significant disabilities and chronic illnesses to advance academic skills and complete credit requirements for graduation.  The program is targeted to students in grades 5 through 12.  Students who have not experienced success in traditional classrooms find a new way to learn, another way to earn credits, and another path to achieve goals.  Students who have been successful but who miss a great deal of school because of illness or find traditional education methods limiting, discover an unlimited resource to challenge their intellect and increase their likelihood of success. 

On-line courses provide unique learning opportunities that were never before possible.  Students with significant disabilities and chronic illnesses can now continue school work and communicate with their teacher from a hospital bed, a job-training site, an alternative school setting, the public library, or their own home.  Students are linked through the Internet to web-based guided research and a certified teacher. It can be adapted to meet IEP requirements. 

Program components include:

·         Interview individual and family to determine interest and eligibility

·         Coordinate services and information exchange between the school and the family

·         Link to programs such as Starbright for hardware and technology needs

·         Coordinate program specific accommodations and adaptations

·         Follow-up between virtual student, school and teacher of record

Eligibility Criteria:

·         A minimum of 10 years old

·         Must have a disability or chronic illness

·         Must be referred by CHMC associate or appropriate school personnel

Location of Services:

Children’s Hospital Medical Center and

Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development

3254 Kemper Road

Cincinnati, Ohio 45241-1581

Contact People:

Vocational-Education Coordinator

Children’s Hospital Medical Center

Phone:  513.636.2994

Project SEARCH is a collaboration between Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development and Hamilton County MR/DD