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Alaska Center for Autism

Announcement:

We are very pleased to announce The Alaska Center for Autism (ACA). ACA is a satellite program modeled on the school programs provided by The Connecticut Center for Child Development.

Location: Alaska Center for Autism

Opening Date: March 5, 2012

Mission:

To improve the lives of our students and their families by helping them to achieve the highest level of independence possible and enable them to become active participants and contributing members within their families and communities.

Long Term Goal:

To ensure that each student maximizes their potential, that each student and their family’s quality of life are enhanced, and that students transition into adulthood with the skills to be as independent as possible.

Educational Philosophy:

ACA employs evidence based practice derived from the science of Applied Behavior Analysis. All programming is data based, IEP driven and customized to each student’s needs.

Areas of Instruction:

All instruction is individualized based on the student’s needs and takes place across settings (i.e., home, school and community settings) as needed. Instruction is provided across all of the following areas:

· Full range of Pre-Academic and Academic Instruction

· Language /Communication Development

· Daily Living / Self Help

· Social Skills Training

· Fine and Gross Motor Skills

· Problem Solving Skills

· Transition to Adulthood and Pre- Vocational Training

Students:

Population: The program is designed to serve students with:

· A formal diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder

· Students who exhibit signs and symptoms of an Autism Spectrum Disorder, but have not received a formal diagnosis

· Students with related disorders, including but not limited to, Fragile X Syndrome and Angelman’s Syndrome

· Students who have co-existing conditions, including but not limited to, intellectual disabilities, Seizure Disorders, Downs Syndrome or other conditions

Age Range: 2 to 22 years of age

Level of Functioning: ACA is designed to serve students across all functioning levels. This includes students who are below age/grade level, on age/grade level or above age/grade level expectations in any or all areas of their language development, social development, self-help/daily living skills, and academic functioning.

Staffing:

· Director of Behavioral Services: Judy Palazzo, M.S., BCBA

o Judy will provide behavioral oversight and supervision to the program via teleconferencing and in person via regularly occurring site visits

· On-Site Behavior Analyst: Melisa Keane, MSED

o Provide daily hands on support to the classrooms

· Special Education Teacher : TBA

o Plan and provide daily instruction

· Instructional Assistants: TBA

o Provide direct instruction to students under the supervision of the Special Education Teacher and BCBA.

· On-Site Speech and Language Pathologist: TBA

o Speech Services are provided in a consultative manner, as opposed to providing pull out services

· Staff to Student Ratio: Better than 1:1

Hours of Operation:
The school year runs from the end of August to the beginning of the following August for a total of 220 school days. Click here to see CCCD’s current school calendar.

· 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

· If the calendar indicates an early dismissal then students are let out at 1:00p.m.

Application Process:

· Student Application to be submitted (Click here to download application)

o Mail to: Admissions at 95 Wolf Harbor Road, Milford, CT 06461

o Fax to: (203) 876-5919 Attn: Judy Palazzo

o Scan to : Judy Palazzo at palazzo@cccdinc.org

· Intake assessment

o A brief, informal assessment that is conducted through Interaction with the potential student. The length of the assessment can vary but typically lasts about an hour.