Pathways to Life Specialty School is a transition-to-adulthood program for 18 to 21-year-olds with mild to severe disabilities. We give our students the tools and confidence to live a more independent life. The Pathways to Life Specialty School is is located at 2801 S. Kiwanis Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.
An Individual Education Plan (IEP) is developed and followed for the student’s progress. We use the “Essential for Living” curriculum, which measures and tracks progress in communication, behavior, and functional skills for optimum learning. The school district of a qualifying student pays the tuition.
Job exploration counseling, social skills, and self-advocacy
Attitude, communication, problem-solving, and professionalism
Accessing transportation, shopping, voting, and banking
Home care, meal planning/cooking, paying bills, and scheduling appointments
For an inside look at what Pathways to Life Specialty School has to offer, check out our virtual tour below.
At Pathways to Life Specialty School, classes meet year-round, five days a week, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., mirroring real-life work schedules. Students spend a portion of their day in the classroom and the other portion out in the community.
The Pathways to Life location is designed to reinforce the sense of learning and moving into adulthood. It has a regular and accessible kitchen and laundry areas, indoor garden areas, and a simulated bedroom setting. It serves as an environment where students learn essential life skills like meal planning, cooking, using public transportation, and property maintenance.
Students Learn How To:
Pathways to Life Specialty School meets Department of Education guidelines and regulations related to the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA), Section 511. The goal is to provide skills for as much independence as possible within the home and community settings.
Both LifeScape Specialty Schools are approved through the South Dakota Department of Education. We tailor each student’s learning plan—the Individualized Education Plan (IEP)—to his or her own needs and abilities, using sound scientific principles of instruction. Our standards of learning are based on the South Dakota Department of Education Common Core Content Standards. We follow the same regulations as any public school in the state and implement all standards associated with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act-Improvement Act (IDEA-IA).
LifeScape Specialty Schools are accredited by the National Association of Private Special Education Centers (NAPSEC). Established in 1971 as a nonprofit association with the vision of supporting access to appropriate special education programs as vital components of the continuum. NAPSEC programs are diverse in the populations they serve and the services they provide, all strive to guarantee that each student’s unique needs are met on an individualized basis in order to achieve his or her maximum potential. NAPSEC Is the only National Association that exclusively represents private special education programs.
LifeScape’s Pathways to Life Specialty School has formally adopted the following policies and procedures as their comprehensive plan for special education. The intent of this document is to identify the responsibilities of the district and school.
Learn more about our special education schools by contacting our admissions specialist at (605) 444-9853 or click below to fill out a short form and we will reach out to you shortly.
Brittany Dawson, MS, Ed. – Principal
605-444-9544
Michelle Bohy, MA – Special Education Director
605-444-9644
Maria Nei, E.D – Assistant Special Education Director
605-444-9627
Ashley Fleischfresser, BS – Social Worker
605-444-9560
Jamie Reindl – Admissions Coordinator/LifeScape Center for the Arts
605-444-9853
Please complete this form and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.