Program
Literacy
Art
Sharing
Gallery

The literacy component of the program is drawn from research with a focus on “Quality of Life” and “Planning for Independence”. H’art uses its “Meaningful Living” model as a conceptual framework to develop dynamic and innovative literacy lessons and themes for our students.

The different domains "Being, Becoming, and Belonging" were inspired by the research of Dr. Ivan Brown of the University of Toronto and his colleagues and act as starting points for developing themes that provide a central focus for each semester.

Once the theme is chosen, it is then developed into a series of lessons. Many students with intellectual disabilities are concrete learners and drawing upon their own lives and experiences can help them to personally connect to the lessons. The topics explored in literacy class and the students’ own writing and reflections then become the basis for works of art.

To accommodate a variety of learning styles, we use a wide variety of lesson styles; reading, creative writing, peer tutoring, games, music, hands-on activities, field trips and more to explore our theme and to develop personal connections. H’art encourages a cooperative learning environment and encourages our participants to make their own choices and to take ownership of their own learning experience.