S.T.A.R.S. Autism School

The ultimate goal and purpose at S.T.A.R.S. is to prepare its student population to emerge as independently as possible to meet the challenges of community life. Our curriculum is an educational tool that adapts to the various abilities of each student. It incorporates visual cues and teaching based on applied behavior analysis to facilitate the learning capability of our children and thus enhance results. S.T.A.R.S. also offers enrichment programs in order to supplement the educational process. These activities enhance learning and have been proven to assist children with Autism to learn to self-regulate, engage in relaxation techniques, exhaust energy, concentrate, and many more areas that facilitate learning. What are educational standards? Educational standards are the learning goals for what students should know and be able to do at each grade level. Education standards, like Common Core are not a curriculum. At S.T.A.R.S. we use Houghton Mifflin Harcourt® for our curriculum development. In other words, the Common Core is what students need to know and be able to do, and a curriculum is how students will learn it. The Common Core State Standards are educational standards for English language arts (ELA)/literacy and mathematics in grades K-12. In addition, we also use The Unique Learning Curriculum which is also aligned with State Standards. All students are assessed/screened with the BRIGANCE instructional tool to ensure the full vision of the needs of our students.

“Food for the Brain”Dietary intervention is a cornerstone of a evidence-based medical approach, and there is convincing empirical evidence that special diets help many with autism.

Music therapy intervention serves as an integral component in helping the child with special needs attain educational goals either through direct implementation.

Geared toward development of effective communication skills and peer relationships in a social group setting, while having fun and learning in a safe and accepting environment.

Speech & Language: Children on the autism spectrum often have difficulty understanding the communication of others and communicating effectively with them. In fact a child on the autism spectrum may not see any reason to communicate with other people. This may delay their language acquisition and lead to frustration when they cannot make their needs understood. Occupational & Physical: Occupational therapy can help children with autism perform better in school and home environments. Parents who are referred to occupational therapy practitioners often have concerns about the behavioral and social development problems their children with autism display in these environments, and practitioners can assist with these issues. ABA: ABA Therapy uses scientifically tested principles such as positive reinforcement to bring about positive changes in a child’s behavior. ABA can be used as an adjunct to help address linguistic, social, learning and academic problems, and can help reduce children’s everyday social problems and more serious behavior disorders.