Easter Seals Disability Services

Children's Services
School Program

School Program

The Linda Lanham Zeszutek School Program is committed to creating solutions that change the lives of children with disabilities and other special needs.  Our Approved Private School Program provides individualized assessment and specialized educational services to children ages two to eight with any diagnosis along the autism spectrum, neurological impairment, cerebral palsy, or muscular dystrophy.  Four community-based locations (Strip District, North Hills, Baldwin and Murrysville) offer small class sizes (six to eight students) and a low staff to student ratio (two or three to one.)  A full-day program is provided during the nine and one-half month school year with program services available during the month of July.

Individualized Educational Programs (IEP) are designed, implemented and monitored by an interdisciplinary team which includes the family, special education teacher and classroom assistants, speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist and assistants, physical therapist and assistants, school nurse, behavior specialist, adaptive physical education teacher, integration specialist, augmentative communication specialist, and social worker.  Annual developmental optometry assessments and consultations supplement program planning.  The interdisciplinary team addresses each student’s strengths and needs in the areas of cognition, communication, social skills, behavior, mobility, fine motor, gross motor, sensory, health care, and daily living skills (dressing, eating and hygiene.)  To ensure student success, ongoing communication is maintained between the family and school staff through regular written correspondence, participation in scheduled team meetings, classroom/therapy observations and phone conversations.

Nationally recognized, research-based, developmental instructional techniques are specially designed and implemented in individual and small group learning sessions throughout the school environment to maximize student achievement of academic and functional living skills. These approaches may include The Creative Curriculum, TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication Handicapped Children) model, sensory integration, Courageous Pacers, Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), speech generating devices, sign language, comprehensive therapeutic feeding evaluation and treatment, the ABLLS curriculum and applied behavioral analysis.

Direct instruction is enhanced by a variety of services and programs. Community integration programs provide structured and supported opportunities for student interaction with typical peers. Parent and sibling support groups provide environments for families of children with disabilities to meet and share, discuss, learn, and problem-solve topics of common concern. Community outings, field trips, volunteer activities and holiday celebrations expand the scope of educational programming.  The daily Healthy Snack Program provides students with opportunities for developing a wider range of healthy eating habits.  The Disability Awareness Program promotes a culture of awareness and understanding of individuals with disabilities within the community. 

The Linda Lanham Zeszutek School Program provides children with disabilities the opportunity to maximize academic and functional skills and independence through comprehensive educational programming and therapeutic and ancillary support.

Further information may be obtained from Tiffany Mori, Social Service/Intake Manager, by phone at 412-281-7244 x269 or by email at tmori@westernpa.easterseals.com. You may also contact Patricia Braendle, Director of Education, by phone at 412-281-7244 x261 or by email at pbraendle@westernpa.easterseals.com.  

The Easter Seals Approved Private Schools are community-based and located in four areas in Allegheny County:

Downtown Pittsburgh:
2525 Railroad Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

North School:
Pines Plaza
1130 Perry Highway
Pittsburgh, PA 15237

East School:
5337 Triangle Lane
Export, PA 15632

South School:
41 Macek Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15227

Easter Seals Corporate Office:
2525 Railroad Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412-281-7244 (phone)
800-587-3257 (toll free)
412-281-9333 (fax)

Contact us to request additional information about our Children's Services.