About St. Anthony
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Who We Are:
St. Anthony School Programs is a Catholic based, inclusive educational program for students Kindergarten through age 21 with autism, Down syndrome and developmental disabilities. Our program is open to special needs children of all faiths and is founded on the premise that acceptance and respect are as important to the learning process as reading and writing. Believing strongly in the value of each child, we offer families a choice in educational settings, because with help, we believe each student is capable of learning, living, working and recreating in his/her school and community. Our students, based upon their individual abilities, spend part of their day in a regular class setting with their general education peers. Part of their day is also spent in our Resource Room where our teachers can provide additional instruction on general and religious education, daily living, motor skills and for our older students, vocational training. The educational goal is the same as for any child – to become an active participant and contributing member of society.
Where We Are Located:
St. Anthony School Programs operates at eight sites throughout the Pittsburgh area:
Bishop Canevin HS—Crafton
Serra Catholic HS—McKeesport
St. Thomas More—Bethel Park
St. Angela Merici—White Oak
Duquesne University—Downtown
University of Pittsburgh- Oakland
St. Mary—Glenshaw
Word of God—Swissvale
Our Successes:
- Academic Excellence—Fully-certified special education teachers offer a course of academic studies, spiritual formation and life skills curriculum.
- Vocational Development—Experienced job coaches help our older students with community-based instruction in a variety of job skills, and they receive training in areas such as business attire and behaviors. Post-Secondary students are assisted by college peers with vocational training at locations such as hospitals, hotels and grocery stores. Our students train vocationally with the goal of gaining employment upon graduation and living as independently as possible.
- Inclusion—Our students can enjoy all that a school community has to offer. They participate in regular classes whenever they are able, have lunch and recess with their peers and participate in extra-curricular activities. We have students participating in a wide-range of activities such as sports, drama club, poetry society, cheerleading, stage crew and alter services. Post-secondary students have the opportunity to be on a local college campus and through the Best Buddies Program be mentored by their college peers
- Social Development—Inclusive classes and social settings with the same age peers allow our students an opportunity to develop socially as well as academically and spiritually. We provide a free summer camp program, and our annual inclusive games allow our students to participate in some friendly competition with a buddy of their choice from their school.
- Nationally Recognized Model—St. Anthony’s is a one-of-a-kind program in the nation taking special needs students from Kindergarten through age 21 in a Catholic School setting. In 2000 St. Anthony’s received the statewide ARC Education Award, and in 2004 we received the Achieva Award for Excellence in Community Awareness. In 2007 we received the Organization of the Year Award from the Catholic Education Foundation.
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