Therapeutic Day School

Alexander Leigh Center for Autism

Therapeutic Day School

The Therapeutic Day School serves children ages 3 – 14 years old with the diagnosis of Autism, Other Health Impaired and Developmental Delay. Each student is provided the support necessary to work toward achieving their goals as outlined in their IEP. Ratios are 1:1 utilizing teaching assistants who have paraprofessional certification. Students attend ALCA Monday thru Friday 9:00am – 3:00pm. There are breaks during the year for holidays, vacation, teacher’s institute days and continuing education. ALCA is a year round program.

The educational program at ALCA is based on each child’s individual developmental needs in sensory regulation, communication style, rate of learning, style of learning, behaviors, present level of performance and previous educational experience. We follow the Individualized Goal Selection Curriculum (IGS) by Raymond B. Romanczyk, PhD, Stephanie Lockshin, PhD, M.Ed., and Linda Matey, M.Ed. This curriculum is specifically written to address the learning needs of children with autism. The IGS is a comprehensive, focused curriculum strategy in which deficit and maladaptive areas are identified for a particular child through assessment. These areas are then prioritized so that sequential intervention plans can be adopted and implemented. The child’s skills are analyzed in direct and indirect relation to the target or goal behavior which has been broken down to its essential elements so that the intervention program can be personally tailored to the child’s specific needs.

ALCA uses the scientific and peer reviewed teaching style of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). We integrate TEACCH, Natural Environment Teaching, Play Based Learning, Errorless learning, Pyramid Approach to Education, PECS, relationship development techniques and Pivotal Response Training. It is our goal to customize, modify and maintain each child’s educational program. Records are kept daily in both data and anecdotal measures to chart students progress. Reports will be written in accordance to IEP’s and family meetings held at grading periods to discuss progress. ALCA uses thematic units designed by the teacher and implemented across all disciplines to maintain continuity and reinforce concepts. Parents are given suggestions on how to carryover at home to reinforce the thematic learning and strengthen a student’s generalization.

Socialization is very important for children with autism and ALCA addresses this throughout the school day. Individualized programming will be implemented during supported opportunities and facilitated by the teacher or teaching assistant. Opportunities for socialization may occur in group play, with adults and classmates in both structured and unstructured times. Where appropriate, a peer play program will be implemented for each student. Our peer play program is designed to help students at ALCA develop appropriate play and communication skills. The length and intensity of the play is determined by each individual child’s abilities. Peer play will be generalized to home and siblings.

ALCA also offers Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy services per each student’s IEP, as well as individual and group Music Therapy.

It is our goal to create an environment where learning and growing can take place and families can feel safe and supported.