Course Listing
2024-2025 School Year and Summer
Short Term Programs
FALL SEMESTER 2024
Ongoing Virtual Individualized Instruction
Coordinator: Case Managers
August 19-21 (3 Day)
Monday-Wednesday
Tech Trek: Mastering Classroom Assistive Technology (Grade 6th-12th)
ECC Category: Compensatory Skills and Assistive Technology
Coordinator:Nona Morris
This course is designed for students who need intensive instruction in a particular piece of assistive technology that is used in the classroom. The STP teacher will communicate with the local/district TVI or Educational Specialist to set goals and learning objectives for each student.
August 26-28 (3 Day)
Monday-Wednesday
Budget Boss: Mastering All Things Money (Grade 6th-12th)
ECC Category: Compensatory Skills, Independent Living Skills, and Assistive Technology
Coordinator:Nona Morris
Through hands-on activities and discussions, students will learn essential skills such as budgeting, saving, and using assistive technology for financial management.
September 4-7 (4 Day)
Wednesday-Saturday
Creative Canvas: Exploring Artistic Mediums (Grade 6th-12th)
ECC Category: Recreation and Leisure, Self-Determination, Social Interaction
Coordinator:Jessica Cook and Amy Norris
Throughout the course, students will explore different artistic mediums. Through hands-on experiences and guided instruction, students will discover their artistic talents.
September 16-20 (5 Day)
Monday-Friday
Sci-Fi Cuisine: Exploring STEM Through Kitchen Chemistry (Grade 6th-12th)
ECC Category: Compensatory Skills, Independent Living Skills, Recreation and Leisure, Social Interaction
Coordinator: Nona Morris and Michael Morris
Through hands-on experiments and culinary adventures, students will immerse themselves into the world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) by uncovering the scientific principles behind cooking and food preparation.
September 28-30 (3 Day)
Friday - Monday
Sports Spectacular: Exploring Sports and Athletics (Grade 6th-12th)
ECC Category: Recreation and Leisure, Social Interaction, and Independent Living Skills
Coordinator:Jessica Cook and Michael Morris
This course offers an immersive exploration of various sports and athletic activities. Using a blend of hands-on activities and tactile graphics, students will learn the fundamentals of different sports, learning rules, techniques, and strategies.
October 8-11 (4 Day)
Tuesday-Friday
City Travel (Grade 6th-12th)
ECC Category: Recreation and Leisure, Social Interaction, and Independent Living Skills
Coordinator:Nona Morris
The STP teacher/case manager will coordinate with the local/district O&M teacher to develop specific goals and objectives for this course. Lessons and activities could include: bus travel, busy downtown one-way/two-way streets, complex lighted intersections, large indoor/outdoor malls with escalators, large buildings with multiple offices/elevators/revolving doors, and a large university campus.
October 19 (1 Day Seminar - Parents and Students)
Saturday
Cane Adventure: Empowering Independence (Parents and Students: Grade 6th-12th)
ECC Category: Orientation and Mobility, Recreation and Leisure, Social Interaction, and Independent Living Skills
Coordinator: Nona Morris and Jessica Cook
Parents and students will discover the history and importance of the white cane through interactive displays and engaging presentations. Experience firsthand the capabilities of orientation and mobility techniques with live demonstrations and guided tours. Participate in fun activities and games designed to promote awareness and understanding of visual impairment.
October 21-23 (3 Day)
Monday-Wednesday
Storytelling: Igniting Imagination (Grade 6th-12th)
ECC Category: Compensatory skills, Social Interaction, and Assistive Technology
Coordinator:Jessica Cook
Through interactive sessions, students will explore various storytelling techniques, from narrative structure to character development, enhancing their creativity and communication skills. They will learn how to captivate an audience, express emotions, and convey ideas effectively through storytelling.
October 26-28 (3 Day)
Saturday-Monday
Bake It Till You Make It: The Great AIDB Bake-Off - Fall Edition (Grade 6th-12th)
ECC Category: Compensatory Skills, Social Interaction, and Assistive Technology
Coordinator:Jessica Cook and Michael Morris
Students will be given specific instructions in cooking techniques and adaptations in order to learn to prepare meals in the kitchen, including but not limited to: how to use modern kitchen appliances, pre-cooking, cleaning prep areas, using adapted kitchen supplies, handling raw meat, storing items, and reading a recipe etc.
****NOVEMBER - NO COURSES****
****DECEMBER - NO COURSES****
SPRING SEMESTER 2025
January 18-20 (3 Day)
Saturday-Monday
Serenity Retreat: Embracing Wellness for Young Minds (Grade 6th-12th)
ECC Category: Recreation and Leisure, Self-Determination, Social Interaction, and Sensory Efficiency
Coordinator:Amy Norris
Students will be introduced to a variety of self-care and health options. Lessons and activities will include topics such as stress management, relaxation resources, self-care, nutritional choices, and non-visual sensory experiences (example: sounds and aroma).
January 27-30 (4 Day)
Monday-Thursday
ECC Foundations: Building Skills for Success (OPEN TO ALL GRADES)
Coordinator: Nona Morris
This dynamic course is designed for all school-aged students, focusing on the fundamentals of the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC). Whether your child is just beginning their journey or building on existing skills, ECC Foundations meets each student exactly where they are.Through personalized instruction and engaging activities, students will explore essential areas like braille, assistive technology, independent living, social interaction, and self-determination. This course is all about empowering your child to grow and thrive in a supportive, fun, and inclusive environment.
February 6-8 (3 Day)
Thursday-Saturday
Shine Bright: Preparing for the Big Night (Grade 6th-12th)
ECC Category: Social Interaction, Independent Living Skills, Self-Determination
Coordinator: Amy Norris, Michael Morris, and Maranda McKay
Students will have lessons and activities over the weekend, such as icebreakers, socialization, and self-determination games, fashionable attire, grooming and hairstyle, dance lessons, and meal time etiquette and conversation. The weekend will conclude with the students attending the Night to Shine Event on Friday evening.
February 15-17 (3 Day)
Saturday-Monday
The Beat of Your Own Drum: Exploring Music's Many Charms (OPEN TO ALL GRADES)
ECC Category: Recreation and Leisure, Self-Determination, Social Interaction
Coordinator: Jessica Cook and Amy Norris
During this course, students will dive into the journey of music, discovering diverse instruments, learning about assistive technology for musical learning, and engaging in immersive, hands-on experiences with various instruments.
February 26-March 1 (4 Day)
Wednesday-Saturday
Test Taking Triumph: Conquering Assessments (OPEN TO ALL GRADES)
ECC Category: Compensatory Skills and Assistive Technology
Coordinator:Nona Morris
This is a course specifically to teach students who have a visual impairment about different test-taking strategies.
March 17-19 (3 Day)
Monday-Wednesday
Safety Squad: Empowering Heroes (Grades 6th-12th)
ECC Category: Independent Living Skills, Self-Determination, Orientation and Mobility, Recreation and Leisure
Coordinator: Jessica Cook
This course is to equip students with essential life-saving skills and foster a sense of empowerment. Through comprehensive instruction, students will have instruction in home emergency safety skills, including how to effectively dial 911 and have the proper information, as well as receive training in CPR and First Aid, enabling them to confidently respond to medical emergencies.
March 24-28 (5 Day)
Monday-Friday
Culture Quest: A Culinary and Cultural Expedition (Grade 6th-12th)
ECC Category: Independent Living Skills, Social Skills, Recreation and Leisure
Coordinator:Nona Morris and Maranda McKay
During this course, students will dive into world cultures, where they discover diverse music, cuisines, geography, and traditional dances. Through interactive and hands-on activities, students not only deepen their understanding of cultural diversity but also gain essential ECC skills.
April 7-10 (4 Day)
Monday-Thursday
Tech Trek: Mastering Classroom Assistive Technology (OPEN TO ALL GRADES)
ECC Category: Compensatory Skills and Assistive Technology
Coordinator:Jessica Cook
This course is designed for students who need intensive instruction in a particular piece of assistive technology that is used in the classroom. The STP teacher will communicate with the local/district TVI or Educational Specialist to set goals and learning objectives for each student.
April 26 (1 Day Seminar - Parents and Students)
Saturday
Family Tech & Fun: Bonding Through Learning and Play! (Parents and Students: OPEN TO ALL GRADES)
ECC Category: Recreation and Leisure, Social Skills, Assistive Technology
Coordinator:Jessica Cook and Nona Morris
Parents and students will embark on a journey of exploration through the integration of technology-driven team-building activities. This 1 day seminar encourages families to work together, celebrating each other's strengths and building a deeper connection through shared experiences.
April 29-May 2 (4 Day)
Tuesday-Friday
Literary Legends: Unleashing Your Creative Voice (Grade 6th-12th)
ECC Category: Compensatory Skills and Assistive Technology
Coordinator:Jessica Cook
This creative writing course will focus on fictional writing and is designed to focus on instruction in the writing process, elements of writing, and peer editing and revision. Students will provide a writing sample on a given topic in order to assess their current writing level and progress.
May 7-10 (4 Day)
Wednesday-Saturday
Launch Into Independence (Grades 6th-12th)
ECC Category: Independent Living Skills and Self-Determination
Coordinator:Michael Morris and Maranda McKay
Students attending this course will learn things such as housekeeping, laundry, budgeting, and home organizational skills.
May 28-30 (3 Day)
Wednesday-Friday
Safety Squad: Empowering Heroes (Grade 6th-12th)
ECC Category: Independent Living Skills, Self-Determination, Orientation and Mobility, Recreation and Leisure
Coordinator: Nona Morris
This course is to equip students with essential life-saving skills and foster a sense of empowerment. Through comprehensive instruction, students will have instruction in home emergency safety skills, including how to effectively dial 911 and have the proper information, as well as receive training in CPR and First Aid, enabling them to confidently respond to medical emergencies.
SUMMER SEMESTER 2025
June 2-6 (5 Day)
Monday-Friday
Kick-Off to Summer: Independent Living Adventures (OPEN TO AL GRADES)
ECC Category: Independent Living Skills, Recreation and Leisure, Self-Determination, Social Interaction
Coordinator:Jessica Cook and Michael Morris
This course will teach students about navigating outdoor adventures like hiking, camping, and swimming as well as working on indoor skills such as cooking, crafting, and home organization.
June 16-18 (3 Day)
Monday-Wednesday
Serenity Retreat: Embracing Wellness for Young Minds (Grade 6th-12th)
ECC Category: Recreation and Leisure, Self-Determination, Social Interaction, and Sensory Efficiency
Coordinator:Amy Norris
During this course, students will be introduced to a variety of self-care and health options. Lessons and activities will include topics such as stress management, relaxation resources, self-care, nutritional choices, and non-visual sensory experiences (example: sounds and aroma).
June 24-27 (4 Day)
Tuesday-Friday
Pathways to Success: Career Exploration & Cane Travel Skills (Grade 6th-12th)
ECC Category: Independent Living Skills, Self-Determination, Social Interaction
Coordinator:Nona Morris & Amy Norris
During this course, students will engage in guided discussions, hands-on activities, cane travel lessons, and mentorship opportunities to uncover their interests, strengths, and aspirations. This holistic approach empowers students to develop essential travel skills while making informed decisions about their future career paths.
July 9-12 (4 Day)
Wednesday-Saturday
Speak Up: Finding Your Voice, Sharing Your Story (Grade 6th-12th)
ECC Category: Self-Determination and Social Interaction
Coordinator:Jessica Cook
This course is designed to empower individuals to conquer their fears of public speaking. Through a supportive and interactive learning environment, students are equipped with essential communication skills, techniques for managing anxiety, and strategies for effective storytelling. Students will engage in structured presentations, impromptu speeches, as well as a series of exercises and activities aimed at building confidence, clarity, and charisma in their public speaking abilities.
**GenCyber Camp** (9th-12th Grade Students Only)
July 13 - 18 (5 Day)
Sunday - Friday
Short-Term Programs is excited to announce that we are hosting GenCyber Camp in partnership with The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) and Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) as part of our lineup of engaging courses for the 2024-2025 school year! Click here to complete the application. Spaces are limited!
July 26 (1 Day Seminar - Parents and Students)
Saturday
Game of Life (Parents and Students - OPEN TO ALL GRADES)
ECC Category: Independent Living Skills, Self-Determination, Orientation and Mobility, Recreation and Leisure
Coordinator:Nona Morris and Jessica Cook
A one-day course for parents and students. There will be resources provided for parents during this course to help them understand their child’s limitless potential while students spend time gaining additional instruction related to concepts such as self-determination, self-advocacy, career exploration, and socialization skills.
July 28 - July 31 (4 Day)
Monday-Friday
Home Harmony: Navigating Household Essentials (Grade 6th-12th)
ECC Category: Independent Living Skills and Self-Determination
Coordinator:Michael Morris
Students attending this course will learn things such as housekeeping, laundry, budgeting, home organizational skills, and minor home maintenance projects.
