Success with Complex Learning Disabilities — Part 4 of 12

Campus Life at Brehm

Brehm’s 80-acre campus contains a student activities center, a health center,

five dormitories, three independent apartments, three classroom buildings,
a 5 acre recreational lake, a woodshop, a robotics studio, a recreation office,
a paintball course, a frisbee-golf course, and an administration building.

Dormitory life is an integral part of Brehm’s education. Brehm’s daily structure allows students to feel more confident and comfortable with how each day will unfold, which is the foundation of our decades of success. Students begin their “home away from home” daily routine with a family style breakfast, followed by school and recreational activities. Dinner time means a healthy dinner in the dining hall, then chores, free time, study hall, and one more period of free time followed by lights out.

Brehm’s family style living environment, with the oversight and direction of our highly experienced Brehm leadership, fosters countless, real-life, “teachable moments,” which in turn promote more responsibility and independent thinking. Students learn both the social skills for interacting with other people and the independent living skills needed to live as happy productive individuals.

The following practical life skills are taught by the residential staff (dorm parents, dorm parent assistants, and tutors):

• Laundry
• Personal hygiene
• Food prep
• Daily chores
• Diet and nutrition
• Room cleanliness
• Time management/creating schedules
• Utilization of strategies
• Money management
• Social skills/making friends

The skill sets are reinforced for each student with guided practice, supervision, and feedback.

The residential program conducts weekly social-skills training in the dorms, which focuses on skill acquisition and addresses real-life issues. Students gain skills in problem-solving, conflict resolution, expression of feelings, and coping strategies.

Study-hall activities are planned and organized using Brehm learning strategies to complete homework assignments. Specific group-study activities are arranged when appropriate.

Also read:
Welcome to Brehm School
(part 1 of 12)

Academics
(Part 2 of 12)

Speech and Language
(Part 3 of 12)

Brehm, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, is a unique family style boarding school that empowers students, grades 6 to 12, with complex learning disabilities to recognize and optimize their full potential. Brehm offers a unique holistic program that individually addresses each student’s academic, emotional, and social needs. Eighty-eight percent of Brehm graduates continue on to colleges, junior colleges, technical or vocational schools across the country.

Brehm has a rolling admission. Contact admissions today by calling (618) 457-0371 or email: admissionsinfo@brehm.org
.