Autistic Support
Program Services
Pace School effectively blends educational services and mental health interventions to meet the needs of students with moderate to high-functioning autism. Supports are in place for each child to focus on his or her individual needs through:
- Small class sizes (10 student max.)
- Low pupil-to-teacher ratio (10 pupil to at least 3 staff)
- Social skills training at least 4 times per week.
- Communication skills development
- Daily living skills instruction
- Parent support groups
- Individualized behavior support plans enable students to cope with their anxieties and communicate their needs
- Completely individualized academic programs
- On-site consultation and medication management, if applicable, by Board Certified psychiatrist
- Speech Therapy, as indicated on IEP, with certified speech pathologist provided by Pace School
- Occupational and/or Physical Therapy within the classroom, as indicated on IEP, through School District/AIU
- Co-treating Autism Spectrum Disorders and other mental health issues
Interventions and Procedures
- Daily morning "Community Meetings," to help students transition between home and school by identifying their thoughts/feelings and focusing them on personal goals and classroom expectations.
- Sensory based activities and sensory integration opportunities throughout the day to help students avoid or eliminate anxiety and stay involved in learning tasks.
- Use of nationally recognized "TEACCH" procedures (Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication handicapped Children) to help develop each child's ability to independently follow daily routines and complete classroom/therapeutic activities. For more information, visit www.teacch.com.
- Visual supports for individual students and groups
- Use of functional assessment procedures to identify interventions that address target behaviors and teach appropriate replacement behaviors
- On-going analysis of interventions to insure that children are benefiting from the program with formalized team review, every three weeks, to revise strategies as needed
- Participation in Pace's trauma sensitive environment promotes social skills development and community building – all Sanctuary® tools are modified to meet the unique needs and abilities of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
The classroom and therapeutic staff of the autism support program strive to identify and build upon each student's strengths. The combination of services and interventions offered at Pace School provides them opportunities for growth and eventual transition to public school.
For additional information about the autism program and the referral process, contact our
Intake Coordinator,
Tricia Norris, at
412-422-1900, ext. 3685
or tnorris@paceschool.org
