Is Potential Development Right for Your Child?
Becoming a Student
Potential Development has a rich reputation that has evolved over 70 years working in collaboration with dozens of community partners. We consider our students, staff, board, community members and families as one team with one goal– to provide children with autism a safe, structured educational environment with supportive services that give students the necessary skills and independence to lead a productive life.
The foundation of our success is built upon several principles:
- The capacity to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all students to grow and develop according to their abilities.
- Integrating quality programs with innovative teaching strategies to develop students’ strong and unique skills.
- Offering students and families individualized and customized attention.
- Creating an environment of acceptance, dedication and compassion.
- Forming opportunities for extracurricular and in-school activities that go beyond academics.
We celebrate each child’s success by accepting nothing less than a caring and compassionate environment both inside and outside the classroom, and we are proud of our entire staff for their comprehensive approach to the academic and social well-being of our students. Our commitment never waivers in our goal to help children be successful, academically-challenged and emotionally healthy.
Why Start Early?
Early educational and therapeutic intervention has been proven to work for students with Autism. Students who begin their educational journey and therapy early make the most long-term progress. And, families as a whole benefit from the resources we provide.
Potential Development uses the Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH) Method, which incorporates visual schedules, work and play areas, and organizational systems to promote learning.
Here is what to expect at the Preschool
- Step Up To Quality 5-Star Rating
- Low Teacher to Student ratio
- On-site Occupational, Physical & Speech Therapy
- Sensory Room
- Indoor/Outdoor Recreation Area
- SMARTS Beats Program
- Facially Expressive Robots designed to promote social emotional learning
Continue at the Elementary/Middle School
Transitioning from the Preschool to the Elementary/Middle School ensures that your child has continuity of teaching methods and therapies. The E/M offers a K-6 program which includes Common Core Academic Standards for language arts, math, science and social studies. Report cards are issued quarterly to reflect progress in those areas. Students in grades 3-6 participate in the Ohio Achievement Assessment or Alternate Assessment, while all students are given the Terra Nova assessment every September to show learning growth.
Here is what to expect at the E/M
- Use of the Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH) Method
- Low Teacher to Student Ration
- On-site Occupational, Physical & Speech Therapy
- Sensory Rooms
- Smart Board, Chromebook’s and iPad Technology
- Life Skills Enrichment Program
- Extracurricular activities such as Special Olympics
- Indoor/Outdoor Recreational Areas
- Facially Expressive Robots designed to promote social emotional learning
Moving on to Potential Development
High School
Your child can earn a high school diploma by continuing from the E/M to the High School via multiple pathways, including accumulating 20 high school units and passing the five parts of the Ohio Graduation Tests with or without accommodations, completing a standards-based IEP, and taking the OGT alternate assessment among other opportunities. Along the way, your child will be directed towards other career and life skill choices under the guidance of a full time Guidance Counselor, a Transition Coordinator and a Social Worker. As a non-public charter school, our goal is to ensure your child has the tools upon graduation to continue into adulthood with their State of Ohio diploma and workforce skills.
Here is what to expect at the HS
- Use of the Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH) Method
- Low Teacher to Student Ration
- On-site Occupational, Physical & Speech Therapy
- Sensory Rooms
- Smart Board, Chromebook’s and iPad Technology
- Indoor Fitness Center and Model Apartment
- New Outdoor Fitness Center
- Workforce Development Program
- Science Lab
- SMARTS Arts program
- ACT Testing
- Participation in YSU English Festival, Penguin Preview Days, Robotics and Work Place Visits
- Special Olympics Program Including Basketball, Bowling, Pep Squad, and Track
- eSports Team
- Sports Banquet, Prom (for upper-class students), Talent Show, Individual Class Activities and Field Trips
