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Family Resources

Looking for help with school issues?  Not sure who to contact when you have a question?

At Dearborn Academy, we use a team approach for working with all of our students. We believe that parents are vital members of each student’s team. Our staff has expertise in the areas of education, counseling, child development and communication, but you are the best expert on your child. 

We know that raising a child with special education needs can bring extra challenges to family life. We offer support in whatever way fits best for you and your family. Each week teachers send home weekly reports about your child’s progress. However, sometimes parents want additional communication. We’re happy to do that, too.
 
Our clinicians also offer family support services to help families with issues related to their child’s special needs as well as help with typical developmental issues, especially as children grow toward adolescence. We work on developing skills, offering parental support, creating strategies and assisting in seeking community-based treatment resources as well as enhanced clinical services in emergency situations. These services are offered by individual counselors and by our clinical coordinator.

General Information and Contacts

If you have general questions about your child and/or our school, please contact the personnel below.
 
  • Absenteeism, school information and calendar, and transportation: Pat Hill
  • Medication or medical concerns: Diane Melia, RN
  • IEP information: Ginny Doxsey
  • Schedule, weekly report, curriculum, and grades: Homeroom teacher
  • Social interactions, emotional or clinical concerns: Counselor
  • Family support services: Ann Brooks
  • Behavior or intervention: Senior Milieu Counselor,  Counselor or Carol Cole
  • Behavior and clinical support programs: Counselor or Carol Cole               
  • Placement, graduation and transitions: Ginny Doxsey
When you have a question but don’t know who to ask, call or email Pat Hill or Ginny Doxsey at 781.641.5992 and they will help direct your call.

Additional Resources

We also are sometimes able to offer support to families in times of need through our food pantry or winter jacket program, we can sometimes help find scarce funds to support afterschool programming. We are also pleased to offer help to families in need during the holidays through our Family Support Fund.  Please contact our director, Carol Cole, or your child’s individual counselor to find out more about types of support available from Dearborn.

  • Parent Groups
    Our parent groups, which are facilitated by Family Program staff, are offered at times convenient to participating families. They offer a place where adults can meet, share information and ideas, and gain support. Groups that have been offered in the past have primarily been open support groups and groups which have focused on topics of interest to parents.
  • Translation
    Our staff will work with families and school systems to ensure that information and communication is translated for parents if they do not feel comfortable communicating in English.
  • Parent Advisory Council
    Dearborn Academy Parent Advisory Council (PAC) provides an open forum for parents and guardians of our students to share information regarding special education, to be a support and resource to each other and to become more active in the life of the school. If you are interested in being a part of the PAC, we welcome your participation! 
  • Holiday Clothing Exchange
    Each year the Dearborn Academy conference room is transformed into an upscale boutique. Generous donors fill the room with good quality winter clothing and formal wear for job and college interviews. Items not taken by our students are donated to local charities.