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Empowering Abilities

This series shines a light on the abilities of students with physical and mental disabilities and approaches to teaching them.

Pine Grove Learning Center offers profoundly challenged students an opportunity to learn

Empowering Abilities James Harger
The Pine Grove Learning Center is where 103 of the most challenged special education students and their families in Southwest Kent County find unconditional acceptance. They also find an opportunity to learn and grow despite their physical and learning disabilities...

Students progress despite their impairments at Pine Grove Learning Center

All Districts James Harger
Teachers at the Pine Grove Learning Center take the long approach as they work with severely impaired students who attend the center-based program, which will transition from Grand Rapids Public Schools to Kent ISD this summer...

‘Amazing’ teachers at Pine Grove offer a beacon of hope for students like Evan

All Districts James Harger
Despite his multiple impairments, 14-year-old Evan Valdivia is learning to respond to others around him thanks to teamwork by his family and the staff at Pine Grove Learning Center...

‘We all aspire to learn more’

Empowering Abilities Erin Albanese
Celebrating 30 years as a post-secondary college experience in the arts and sciences, the academy serves students with education and a place to belong...

Nick Minnema – special and driven, for all the right reasons

Reading & Writing with Rademacher Tom Rademacher
The Forest Hills Transition Center student and athlete competed this month at the Special Olympics World Games half a world away – in the United Arab Emirates’ capital city of Abu Dhabi, as well as the UAE’s largest city, Dubai...

‘She’s one of us’

Empowering Abilities Erin Albanese
Her mother said she sees her daughter retaining information and communicating more and more. She wants to do things herself. ‘She wants to be little Miss Independent’...

From making meals to selling Christmas cards, students learn job skills

All Districts Gregory Chandler
Now in its 15th year, Region 1 Transition Services provides continuing education opportunities for adults, ages 18-26, with special needs in northern Kent County. The program’s goal is to help students gain employment, become involved in their local communities and lead independent lives...

Walkathon delivers peer connections, outside experiences

Empowering Abilities Bridie Bereza
Last year’s event raised $2,100, which paid for a monthly student experience at Pine Grove, ranging from a mobile zoo exhibit to the antics of local author and puppeteer Kevin Kammeraad...

Leaders begin transition of center programs from GRPS to Kent ISD

Empowering Abilities Charles Honey
The Grand Rapids school board voted to discontinue operating special education center programs on behalf of all 20 Kent ISD school districts, effectively turning them over to the intermediate district as of July 2019...

Let’s review center-based special education programs, say superintendents

Empowering Abilities Charles Honey
A study will bring in an outside consultant to evaluate whether GRPS center-based programs are providing best practices compared with other districts in Michigan and beyond...

Signing for Children Opens ‘Window to Information’

Northview Charles Honey
Early on a Monday morning, Kari Chapin’s kindergartners sit on the floor as she leads them through lively exercises -- singing the days of...

Grant Brings Sex Ed Instruction to Students with Special Needs

Empowering Abilities Erin Albanese
Eighth-grader Bryan Galvez aptly summarized the consequences of healthy versus risky decisions when it comes to teens and sex. “Would you rather have a...

Signs of Understanding

Empowering Abilities Erin Albanese
Senior Nathan Ketchpaw uses sign language with big motions –– wide arms, a broad grin. His favorite sign? "Lion," he demonstrates, running his hand...

‘A Chance to Have a Meaningful Life’

Caledonia Erin Albanese
Dutton Elementary School second-grader Daniel Donaldson uses pictures and words on his talker to say what he needs to say. "The device gives me...

‘They Learn by Music’

Empowering Abilities School News Network
A drum beat echoes down the halls of Sparta's Appleview Elementary. The source: a boisterous bunch of musicians keeping a beat and dancing to the...

‘Like Brothers and Sisters’

Byron Center Erin Albanese
High school senior Kamryn Jansen helped sophomore Chris Lippenga to screen print a previously tie-dyed T-shirt. On the front they printed “LINKS” and on...
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