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Referrals

About the Referral Process

Students between 5 and 21 years of age are referred to a Bradley School by their local directors of special education. Individuals may not self-refer. Typically, the special education department contacts the Bradley School closest to its community. While students are most often assigned to the closest location, at times the clinical leadership team determines that an alternative Bradley School program can provide a classroom setting that is more appropriate to meet the student’s needs.

Students attend small classrooms that are staffed by certified special education teachers and classroom behavior specialists. Students participate in a full range of academic programs throughout the school day.

All of our schools are able to address the learning needs of students working toward a diploma in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. We also have programming for students who are acquiring skills to earn a diploma alternative Certificate of Work Readiness, Citizenship & Community, and/or Self-Advocacy.

During a student's first several weeks at the school, a thorough, multidisciplinary diagnostic evaluation is completed, as indicated by the educational team. Since this evaluation is conducted within an educational environment, it allows the team to assess the impact of a student's mental health needs on academic, behavioral and social functioning at school. Information is also gathered from families, community agencies and previous school placements to understand the student as a whole person. This leads to the development of an individualized education plan and any treatment recommendations to address the needs of the student.

Our goal is to help students learn to manage their psychiatric and behavioral symptoms so that they can become active and successful participants in school. From the moment a student is admitted to the Bradley School, an effort is made to prepare the student to return to a less restrictive educational setting as soon as he or she is able. When that time comes, Bradley School staff members work closely with school personnel and other treatment providers to plan and implement a successful transition.

School departments can inquire or make referrals to the directors at each of our sites.