Support Services
Marriage and family counselors, speech therapists, occupational therapists, and administrators are critical members of the Oak Hill School multidisciplinary team.
“With the staff’s support, my son was able to develop his own voice and opinions while guiding him through those tricky teen years.”
Marriage and family counselors, speech therapists, occupational therapists, and administrators are critical members of the Oak Hill School multidisciplinary team. Our integrated approach includes collaboration at all levels of program delivery and development. Guided by the Individual Education Program (IEP), students can receive individual or group support services. This integrated approach includes collaboration parents to reach each child’s academic and therapeutic goals.
Therapeutic activities, strategies, modifications and adaptations are organized within the curriculum and the educational environment allowing the child to perform at an optimal level for learning.
Student Counseling Support
Support from our marriage and family therapists plays a role in supporting the emotional development and well-being of our students. Marriage and family therapists work with classroom teachers to help develop proactive behavioral support plans for all students.
Oak Hill School has topic-specific social groups led by therapists throughout the year to address such issues as peer relationships, hygiene, the vocabulary of emotions, frustration tolerance and regulation tools.
Occupational Therapy
We use occupational therapy to help our students develop the skills they need for an independent life. We apply sensory integration into the daily educational environment. Therapeutic activities, strategies, modifications and adaptations are organized within the curriculum and the educational environment allowing the child to perform at an optimal level for learning.
Our occupational therapists, as members of a child’s interdisciplinary team, build and support:
Cognitive skills—attention, memory, organization, reasoning & problem solving
Fine motor skills— strength, bilateral integration, dexterity, grasping patterns
Gross motor skills—muscle tone, core strength, motor planning, coordination & postural control
Daily living activities – including self-care tasks such as eating, cooking, hygiene
Social skills—turn-taking, developing relationships, self-esteem
Visual motor and perceptual skills- foundations for reading, writing, cutting and drawing
Speech & Language Therapy
Speech and language at Oak Hill are delivered via collaborative and child-centered model. Our goal is to maximize the communicative competence of our students within their educational and social environments. We provide services both in individual therapy sessions and within the classroom/community environment to maximize concept development and skill set generalization. Areas of focus include:
Speech Production (articulation, apraxia, phonological disorders)
Expressive Language (verbal and written)
Receptive Language (listening/understanding, reading comprehension)
Pragmatic/Social Thinking Skills (understanding and applying behaviors within social interaction including: nonverbal language, reciprocity, perspective taking, making good impressions)
Transitional Plannings Skills: employment, safety, interviewing skills, etc.
Augmentative/assistive communication: alternative systems and materials to support and develop language and integrate these into classroom activities/interactions
Activities & Community
Transition Track
At Oak Hill, we are deeply committed to supporting each student as they prepare for the next stage of their life journey. For some, this means continuing along an academic path; for others, it involves building vocational skills to enter the workforce with confidence. For all students, we place a strong emphasis on developing daily living skills that promote greater independence and self-advocacy.
We understand that each student is unique, and we take pride in offering a program that is flexible and responsive to the needs of both students and their families. As part of the IEP process, an Individualized Transition Plan (ITP) is created for every student aged 16 and older. These plans are developed in close collaboration with families to ensure that goals are meaningful, supports are accessible, and preparations are in place for the transition beyond the school setting.
Our goal is to empower every student with the tools, experiences, and guidance they need to thrive—both now and in the future.
Features of our Transition Tack Program include:
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Students at Oak Hill who plan to pursue further academic opportunities engage in coursework aligned with the expectations and requirements of their next educational setting. In collaboration with their support network, they develop personalized strategies to support focus and engagement, manage sensory input, and navigate complex social dynamics. These students are encouraged to deepen their understanding of their unique learning profiles and to build effective self-advocacy skills. As they explore potential career paths, they learn to connect their current academic efforts with the long-term goals and requirements of those fields, preparing them for a purposeful and successful transition beyond Oak Hill.
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At Oak Hill, all students engage in learning experiences designed to build the skills necessary for greater independence in daily life. Instruction focuses on essential areas such as personal hygiene, self-care, community safety, time management, and the responsible care of personal belongings. Students learn to navigate public transportation and explore concepts related to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including how to plan and prepare simple, nutritious meals. Functional academics—such as consumer math and practical reading—are taught in the classroom and reinforced through real-world applications in the community. Through this comprehensive approach, students gain the confidence and competence needed to lead more independent and fulfilling lives.
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Prevocational skill development is an integral part of the learning experience at Oak Hill. Within each classroom, students take on meaningful responsibilities through jobs such as gardening, cleaning, and general classroom maintenance, fostering a strong sense of responsibility and routine.
At Oak Hill, we believe that every student deserves the opportunity to explore their interests, build transferrable skills, and prepare for a fulfilling future. For many of our students, that includes developing vocational skills that open the door to employment, volunteer opportunities, or supported work environments.
Our vocational programming is hands-on, personalized, and designed to match each student’s interests, strengths and goals. Whether it’s learning job-site routines, practicing social and communication skills, or exploring career pathways, students are given the tools and support they need to grow with confidence.
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Oak Hill partners with over 15 local businesses and agencies to provide students with meaningful, community-based internship experiences. Interns work 1–2 days per week with support from dedicated job coaches who offer on-site training and guidance.
In addition to internships, students gain valuable skills through school-based enterprises such as a coffee shop, bakery, and handmade candy business. These projects promote career readiness while fostering creativity, teamwork, and entrepreneurship.
Oak Hill’s work-based learning model has a lasting impact—one graduate even used these experiences to launch a successful online business, demonstrating the real-world value of our approach.
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A healthy, balanced lifestyle includes engaging in enjoyable recreational activities. As part of preparing students for adulthood, we support them in discovering meaningful and enjoyable ways to spend their free time. At Oak Hill, students are encouraged to explore a variety of hobbies—including music, dancing, collecting, arts and crafts, cooking, photography, and reading—so they can develop personal interests that bring joy, relaxation, and enrichment beyond the classroom.
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We understand that transitioning out of school can bring both excitement and uncertainty. To support families during this important time, we’ve established a dedicated Transition Support Team, including a Social Worker and Psychotherapist. Starting at age 16, each student is paired with a transition service provider who works closely with the family to plan for life after Oak Hill.
Services are tailored to each family’s needs and may include support with adult day programs, college disability services, regional center navigation, self-determination, and conservatorship. Our goal is our goal is to ease the transition process and empower our students and their families with the tools and confidence they need to take the next steps with clarity and purpose.