Reach Out classes are designed for young adults with mild to moderate intellectual or developmental disabilities and offer subject matter instruction in a variety of areas. Depending on the semester, courses related to nutrition, civics, personal awareness, life skills, child care, and much more are offered. Interesting topics and specialized curricula designed to engage a variety of learning styles are presented by our experienced teaching staff.
Reach Out Courses
Childcare and Development
This course provides a basic understanding of ways to manage child care and development. Students will discuss the developmental expectations of young babies and children as well as their physical, intellectual and emotional needs. In addition, we will address the topics of abuse and explore options for selecting appropriate child care.
Current Events
Students will learn about news as it happens from day to day. We hope to increase understanding of global issues, economics, and politics in relationship to the United States and our world. Other related topics we hope to include are sports, humor and entertainment as they apply to our community.
Daily Communication
This course reviews basic concepts of communication. Students will develop positive verbal and non-verbal skills and gain confidence in speaking to others through role-playing activities. Topics include beginning and ending a conversation, asking pertinent questions and appropriately participating in a conversation.
Everyday Math
This class will teach students how to apply basic math skills to situations that everyone encounters on a daily basis. Concepts related to money, time, recipes, and much more will be covered.
Introduction to Art
Create a variety of hands-on, design-based studio art projects that explore different art media, while celebrating the masterpieces of art history!
Introduction to Babysitting
This course will introduce students to best practices associated with being an effective babysitter. Topics such as basic first aid and planning developmentally appropriate activities will be covered. Students will also learn basic emergency protocols.
Introduction to Improv
Are you a young adult with an intellectual or developmental disability who has always wanted to act? This one-day, two-hour workshop provides you with skills to boost your confidence and helps you explore acting as a fun outlet for your creativity!
Let's Get Crafting
This course provides an introduction to the art of loom knitting, crocheting, and a variety of other craft projects.
Life Skills
Students will discover and work with tools to better understand and enjoy life. Topics include communication skills, time management, decision making, setting expectations, careers, and goal setting.
Living on Your Own
This course is divided into two sections: the first five sessions focus on exploring personal values and goals and on developing emotional management skills; the second five sessions cover personal safety and include topics such as staying safe in public and at home, internet safety, identity theft and making healthy decisions.
Money Management
Students gain a basic understanding of ways to manage money, including topics such as cash, ATM's, credit and debit cards, shopping, budgeting, pricing and avoiding debt. A simple budget will be developed by each student which will address basic expenditures, savings and discretionary spending.
Nutrition and Health
Students explore the role of nutrition in their overall health. Topics include the importance of food choices, how to meal plan, shopping for food, and basic kitchen methods. Students also learn about basic food groups and what careers are available in food and nutrition.
Practical Health
In this course, students will discuss practical health information needed to navigate the adult world. The class will be divided into six sections: body awareness, medicine, first aid, nutrition, social awareness, and other practical matters related to maintaining a healthy life style.
Personal Awareness
This course is divided into two sections: the first five sessions focus on exploring personal values and goals and on developing emotional management skills; the second five sessions cover personal safety and include topics such as staying safe in public and at home, internet safety, identity theft and making healthy decisions.
Survival Reading
The focus of this class is to improve student understanding of numerous types of reading that must be done to live in a modern society. Students will practice and develop their skills in the areas of reading bills, instructions, maps, schedules, menus, catalogs and much more.
The Creative You
The class will bring out your creativity! You will have the opportunity to create a variety of different crafts involving floral arrangements, decorative laminating, and a terrarium.
Partner Organization
Autismerica is an organization for students with autism and their parents. Each month Autismerica explores a different aspect of college success for students. There's social time too, with pool, ping pong, chess, checkers and video games. Parents are also given an opportunity to connect with each other. Meetings are held the second Thursday of each month. All are welcome. For more information, contact Michael Duggan at (630) 942-2845 or email duggan@cod.edu.
Contact Information
Continuing Education
Student Resource Center (SRC), Room 1110
(630) 942-2208
Fax: (630) 942-3785
Email: CE@cod.edu
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- Fall 2024 Class Schedule (all classes)
- Spring 2025 Class Schedule (all classes)
- Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.