Our Program
The ELIJA School focuses on the development of functional academic, communication, and social life skills. Our research-based teaching procedures and individualized programs encourage learning across many skill domains. These skills include academic skills, language, social, leisure, play, basic vocational employment, self help and self care. All skills are systematically taught through highly structured one-to-one and small group teaching sessions.
The students spend their day in a one-to-one student-teacher ratio within a classroom setting, thereby combining the highly intensive, individualized program with frequent opportunities for facilitated social interaction and small group instruction when appropriate. Our teachers have a minimum of a B.A. degree in related fields and extensive background in working with children with Autism utilizing Applied Behavior Analysis. The staff & classrooms are continuously monitored and supervised throughout the day by the Educational Director, who has coursework and an extensive background in Applied Behavior Analysis and developing curriculum for children with Autism utilizing research based teaching procedures.
Each learner has their own fully equipped instructional area. This area is optimized with instructional materials and stimuli which are conducive to the child’s learning style. Our goal is to teach each of our students to “learn how to learn”. Each classroom, has a comfortable occupancy of learners and it is equipped with group activity areas to facilitate social and group learning goals.
Our facility is also equipped with indoor and outdoor gym - play areas to work on gross motor skills, balance, sensory needs and encourage productive physical activity. These areas are also geared to be used to facilitate structured recreational social groups ; goals such as reciprocal communication, age appropriate games, music, movement, art & team sports.
What is Applied Behavior Analysis?
The ELIJA School utilizes the science of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to guide us in the the development of treatment for our learners. This includes skills in a multitude of domains such as communication, social skills, academics and the reduction of maladaptive behaviors which impede on our children's abilities to be in least restrictive environments. Using the science of ABA allows us to be accountable, efficient and competent. ABA ensures our learners are receiving an individualized, data based and effective treatment model and skill acquistion is at it's maximum potential. Utilizing ABA as a teaching technology and treatment model for indivdiuals with Autism has been validated by The U. S. Surgeon General and the New York State Department of Health. These two organizations endorse Applied Behavior Analysis. Because autism is a severe, chronic developmental disorder, which results in significant lifelong disability, the goal of treatment is to promote the child’s social and language development and minimize behaviors that interfere with the child’s functioning and learning. Intensive, sustained special education programs and behavior therapy early in life can increase the ability of the child with autism to acquire language and ability to learn. Special education programs in highly structured environments appear to help the child acquire self-care, social, and job skills. Only in the past decade have studies shown positive outcomes for very young children with autism. Given the severity of the impairment, high intensity of service needs, and costs (both human and financial), there has been an ongoing search for effective treatment.
"Thirty years of research demonstrated the efficacy of applied behavioral methods in reducing inappropriate behavior and in increasing communication, learning, and appropriate social behavior. "
The New York State Health Department, in its Clinical Practice Guidelines, states: “It is recommended that principles of applied behavior analysis and behavior intervention strategies be included as an important element of any intervention program for young children with autism.” Applied Behavior Analysis is the design, implementation, and evaluation of systematic environmental modifications for the purpose of producing socially significant improvements in and understanding of human behavior based on the principles of behavior identified through the experimental analysis of behavior. It includes the identification of functional relationships between behavior and environments. Scientific evidence has established that high quality ABA administered to individuals with autism at a high intensity and duration produces comprehensive and lasting gains in many important skill areas. ABA has been successfully employed in educating persons with autism at all ages, but studies show that early, intensive intervention employing the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis produce the best results. Over a span of 30 years, there is a wealth of validated and peer-reviewed studies supporting the efficacy of the ABA methodology to improve and sustain socially significant behaviors in individuals with autism.
Fundamental Aspects of our ABA Program
*Individualized and intensive 1 on 1 services with highly trained instructors, will provide an optimized enviornment for our learners to acheive new skills quickly, while maintaining and generalizing previously acquired skills.
*Daily data collection is an integral part of both home and center based components.
* Data are reviewed daily and graphed to accurately monitor each child's development.
* Parents may accompany their children to the school during monthly observation hours and are given the opportunity to both observe and participate in treatment. Parents are encouraged to take an active role in their child's programs and overall development.
* Opportunities for socialization with typically developing peers in a group setting will be available at the school when approrpiate for our learners.
* To ensure that the students' and their families' needs are met beyond the school day, the school offers home consultation which includes: a series of family education workshops, home visits by the school family consultant to develop specific skill acquisition and behavior reduction programs to increase the quality of life of the child and the family, assistance in referrals to community resources, sibling support group and siblings events such as sibling day or grandparents' day to involve the entire family in the student's program.
* The ELIJA School conducts external program evaluations to monitor the quality and effectiveness of our educational & treatment programs; includes and not limited to Autism & Behavior Specialists, Speech Language Pathologists & Occupational Therapists.
* The ELIJA School has access to The ELIJA Foundation's educational conferences.
Admissions
School Calendar
The ELIJA School is open 12 months a year, except for certain holidays, vacation periods and staff development days.
