'Destiny Designs' Features Artwork By Special Education Students

OAK FOREST, IL — A new initiative under Oak Forest High School's DESTINY program is giving students with special needs an opportunity to feature their artwork throughout the school, officials told Patch.

DESTINY, a southwest suburban program which stands for Discovering Every Skill That is Now Yours, teaches work skills to students with disabilities to help those in special education classes reach their maximum independence.

Oak Forest High School houses the program for the Southwest Cook County Cooperative Association of Special Education and takes every step to make sure those in the program feel "welcomed and included" in the school, a spokeswoman for the high school said. Destiny Designs is the latest.

Through the new program, Oak Forest High School commits to displaying all types of artwork made by those participating in DESTINY. So far, two pieces of artwork have been hung up in the school hallways.

"We have a desire to instill a strong sense of belonging and school pride for all our students at Oak Forest High School and have come up with a new initiative to assist in that process," said Mike Boniface, assistant principal of teaching and learning at OFHS. "We are extremely excited to incorporate great works of art from our very own Destiny students within the halls of Oak Forest High School."

Another recent initiative brought together students and DESTINY students to deliver coffee orders through the Kama Club.