Our Focus on Autism
Serving students across the autism spectrum.
Meeting Students At Their Skill Level
Autism presents differently in every child, which is why we believe that there’s no “one-size-fits-all” approach to education. For our students we meet their needs and prepare them for life beyond the classroom.
We offer two distinct approaches for students:
Broad-Based Educational Services and Therapies (BEST) Model
The focus of our model is to take learned skills and practically apply them to the multiple environments in which a student would use those skills. Students spend portions of their day rotating through different modalities of instruction. The length and the frequency of each rotation is individually designed for each learner based on their current skills and future goals.
Broad-Based Educational Services and Therapies (BEST) Model
Motor Lab
During Motor Lab, students increase fine and gross motor abilities and understanding of their environment by moving through a sequence of progressive skills. Students may also have the opportunity to interact with peers during this time.
Broad-Based Educational Services and Therapies (BEST) Model
Discrete Trial Teaching (DTT)
DTT is an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) strategy that is structured and fast-paced. Through 1:1 instruction, staff work to break down a student’s specific language skill into smaller “trials.” By breaking down these skills, we attempt to build up a brand-new skill. This is accomplished through repetition and a high frequency of reinforcement.
Broad-Based Educational Services and Therapies (BEST) Model
Natural Environment Teaching (NET)
Students take part in language-based social, play, and leisure activities that provide real-life simulations to generalize skills gained during Motor Lab and DTT.
Behavioral Management & Support
Each student enrolled in the Broad-Based Educational Services and Therapies (BEST) Model has behavior programming individualized to his or her needs, identified during a Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA). First, we identify the behaviors that disrupt a student’s ability to access the environment and learning. We then use the data collected from the FBA and the classroom to devise strategies that get to the root cause of the student’s disrupted behaviors, always providing them with the tools to develop positive replacement behaviors.
Our Behavior Management System is reinforced through the use of 6 effective teaching strategies.
Academic Rotational Model
By focusing on key areas — academics, behavior modifications, support services, and transition / life planning services — we are able to meet the individual needs of all students through these varied approaches to instruction. Through collaboration with a student’s IEP team, we are able to choose the most appropriate learning model based on a given student’s present levels of performance, social capabilities, motor coordination, and ability to learn in a group setting.
Rotating Through Learning Areas Throughout the Day
Click on each rotation to learn more.
Technology-Based Workstations
Supplemental curriculum software programs are prescriptively assigned for additional skill development.
Teacher-Directed Tutorial Sessions
Students receive personalized 1:1 instruction based on their individual skill levels, pace, and learning styles.
Small-Group Reinforcement Lessons
In order to promote social competencies for our students, we bring them together to simultaneously bolster learned proficiency and social interaction.
Independent Seatwork
Students are able to develop a personal sense of identity, efficiency, and accountability through independent seatwork where they learn to self-monitor and self-motivate through guided practice opportunities within the curriculum content.
Treating the Whole Child
Our Academic Rotational Model serves students who are seeking a typical classroom experience. Utilizing four specific instructional rotations, students are assessed academically, gain self-regulation skills, learn with district-aligned academic curriculums, and utilize integrated technology.
Each student’s learning and language needs are accurately identified using our multi-tiered hierarchy to determine a students’ academic level:
Tier 1 – Students on Grade Level or 1 or More Years Below Grade Level
Tier 2 – Students 2 or More Years Below Grade Level
Tier 3 – Students 3 or More Years Below Grade Level
Developing a Student’s Plan
Teacher’s analyze a student’s individual assessment data to target the specific skill areas in need of direct and systematic intervention. Based on the student’s assessment, individualized materials, methods, and programs are selected to match the students specific Reading, English, Language Arts, and Math needs
Through Data-Based Individualizations, we focus on research-based practices by linking our intervention methods to a student’s assessment data. By customizing towards each student’s needs, we are able to plan accordingly while also adjusting our implementation methods depending on the individual student.
Our program fulfills all IEP, LRE, and IDEA requirements through customized behavior intervention plans, the tracking of behavioral trends, and a host of therapeutic approaches and motivational strategies. Our Behavior Management System provides routines, norms, boundaries, and clear expectations that our students crave and require in order to concentrate and remain on task throughout the day. To achieve success through our Behavior Management system, we focus on these key components:
Safety First: Providing a safe learning environment for all students. Parents, districts, and students are reassured that our environments are secure, nurturing, and supportive.
Positive Reinforcement Techniques: In order to reach their personal behavioral goals, our staff and teachers providing continuous and ongoing positive behavior support for all students.
Mutual Respect: By showing students the importance of respecting themselves and others, they learn to honor the differences among them while also gaining an appreciation for rules as well as authority figures.
Strong Therapeutic Approach: In order to teach self-regulatory techniques, establish emotional balance, and create a sense of inner well-being, our staff and teachers deliver compassionate mindfulness techniques, guidance, and counseling for all students.
Data-Driven Interventions: When a student is having difficulties beyond the support of the school-wide behavior management system, the staff will utilize data to inform future intervention strategies.