Services

Education

Specialized Education for Students with Complex Disabilities

HMS School stands out as a leader in education for students with complex disabilities. With over a century of expertise, we combine evidence-based practices with a warm, nurturing environment that celebrates each student’s individuality.

From the moment we greet students as they arrive at the school entrance, to their afternoon departure, each child experiences a loving, respectful environment and benefits from the combined expertise of a dedicated team. HMS School for Children with Cerebral Palsy is dedicated to providing a supportive and enriching environment for students with complex physical disabilities, including those resulting from cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, or other neurological impairments. At HMS School, we are leaders in the field of special education, with expertise in providing individualized and differentiated instruction, utilizing assistive technology, as well as the latest in state-of-the-art equipment and techniques. Our interdisciplinary team collaborates seamlessly to support each student’s unique needs and achieve their Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals.

This team includes:

Special education teachers and teacher assistants who deliver personalized instruction
Highly skilled physical, occupational, speech, and recreation therapists who integrate therapeutic approaches into learning
Expressive arts including specialists in art, music, adapted physical education, theatre, and a dance movement therapist
Nurses and personal care assistants ensuring students’ health and well-being throughout the day
A compassionate social worker who fosters connections between school, family, and community life

With 9 to 14 dedicated and highly skilled professionals collaborating for each student, we ensure a comprehensive, holistic approach that empowers students to thrive both in the classroom and beyond.

Classroom Overview

At HMS School, class groupings are thoughtfully designed based on age, cognitive ability, and social maturity to create an engaging and supportive learning environment. Each class is intentionally small, with just five to ten students, allowing for personalized attention and tailored instruction from a dedicated special education teacher and a teacher assistant.

Our classrooms offer a dynamic blend of individual and group activities, thoughtfully curated to match each student’s abilities, interests, and goals. This approach ensures that every student has meaningful opportunities to learn, connect, and grow at their own pace.

HMS’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) Process

The IEP process at HMS School is a collaborative, team-based approach designed to ensure that each student receives the support they need to succeed. Our IEP meetings bring together a dedicated team, including HMS staff, parents, and the student, when appropriate. Representatives from the student’s school district and, in some cases, community service providers, also participate to create a unified plan.

This process emphasizes open communication and consensus-building, ensuring that the IEP reflects the student’s strengths, needs, and future goals. By fostering collaboration among all stakeholders, HMS helps students achieve meaningful progress in school and beyond.

Assistive Technology (AT)

At HMS School, assistive technology (AT) plays a vital role in enhancing students’ learning, communication, and overall development. Our approach to AT is both innovative and individualized, ranging from modifying everyday tools, such as adapting off-the-shelf toys, to optimizing the use of state-of-the-art communication devices for each student.

By tailoring solutions to meet the unique needs and abilities of our students, we empower them to engage more effectively in their education and daily lives.

Extended School Year (ESY) Program

HMS School’s Extended School Year (ESY) program helps students maintain and enhance IEP goals through education and therapy-based activities. The program includes:

Special education, therapies, and nursing support
Engaging summer themes in a fun, school camp-like setting

Open to all eligible students, including those not enrolled at HMS during the school year. Funding is provided by sending school districts for qualifying students.

HMS’s special education curriculum meets, and in most cases, exceeds State standards and is approved by the Bureau of Special Education, Pennsylvania Department of Education, New Jersey Department of Education, and Delaware Department of Education.