Special Education Programs
Elementary Autism Program
Type of Setting(s): School
Geographic Location(s): Haddon Heights, New Jersey
Licensing/Approval: New Jersey Department of Education,
approved private school
The Elementary Autism Program is a full-day year-round program with class size limited to six to eight students, and a student-to-staff ratio of 2:1. Instruction is individualized using the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and discrete trial instruction.
The school's director is a nationally certified school psychologist and board certified behavior analyst, assisted by a nationally certified and licensed school social worker. They have extensive experience in successfully implementing New Jersey's Core Curriculum Content Standards and statewide assessment system. The program staff is supportive and highly trained: approximately 80% of the staff is enrolled in higher education opportunities.
The Elementary Autism Program offers a coordinated approach, including a weekly activity in which speech therapists and occupational therapists design activities that combine goals from these areas. The ultimate goal is to promote the acquisition of new skills, which may lead to transitioning the child to his/her school district. Opportunities for classroom inclusion are also provided through a partnership with a local community school.
Parent support is offered through support groups or counseling. In addition, parent education provides systematic intervention strategies to help children maintain and generalize acquired skills and maintain positive behaviors at home. Parents and district representatives are welcome to visit, with two-way observation windows available.
