CAPISTRANO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

Richard Henry Dana Exceptional Needs Facility (ENF) shares a campus with R.H. Dana Elementary School in picturesque Dana Point.

The school serves children from birth through fifth grade age. Enrollment in the school is based on eligibility for special education and Individualized Education Program (IEP) team recommendations. The mission of R.H. Dana ENF is to determine each of our student’s unique abilities and needs and provide a program which enables each student to function successfully in age-appropriate educational, home and community settings. The belief that high expectations can lead to greater successes underlies the program planning and teaching activities at R.H. Dana ENF. Teachers, speech and language pathologists, psychologists and administrators are highly trained educational professionals who are credentialed through the State of California.

Specialists in the areas of occupational and physical therapy, adapted physical education, vision, mobility, audiology and health services work collaboratively with teachers and staff to provide required services for our students with specific disabilities. Instructional assistants are trained to support the classroom program as well. Students at R.H. Dana ENF are taught in a natural activity-based environment. Activity-based intervention is a transactional approach that embeds training on a child’s individual goals and objectives follow a curriculum based on State and District standards which are embedded in each student's individual goals and objectives. Special needs students participate in the general education curriculum and in extracurricular and other nonacademic activities with non-disabled children as appropriate. Students have access to technology through the use of computers with adaptive devices and specialized software. Adaptive equipment and materials, and augmentative communication devices and techniques are used throughout the school to enhance the educational programs for students.

 

Ages Served: Birth through fifth grade age