Autism Program

Overall Philosophy

Developed specifically for children ages birth through 5 diagnosed on autism spectrum disorder and approved for services through the New York State Department of Health or Education Department, the program is designed to specially meet the child and family’s unique needs. The child may receive services in the home, community sites or at Stepping Stones Learning Center’s preschool. An intake meeting with the autism director or program coordinator to determine level of functioning and program needs is necessary before the child may begin the program.

ABA Program

Philosophically, the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) theory with research and practical experiences in child development, behavior modification, sensory integration, developmentally appropriate practices and discrete trial teaching combine to create a well rounded child centered program.

What are the Program Goals?

• To be an effective early childhood program for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The program is child specific, comprehensive, individualized and family focused.

• To provide a highly reinforcing environment that maximizes the child’s learning potential and diminishes non-productive behaviors.

• To be flexible and individualized.

• To help the child transition successfully into a classroom setting.

• To generalize skills taught in 1:1 instruction into the child’s environment.

• To facilitate the child’s development of peer relationships.
  

*For more information please contact Mary Richardson, Autism Coordinator, at 467-4567 ext. 112, or send an e-mail to mary@steppingstoneslearning.com

RAP Program

Philosophically the principles of the Relationship Autism Program child-centered approach with the expertise of Stepping Stones Learning Center’s staff in child development, sensory integration, family relationships and communication development combine to create this program.

What are the Program Goals?

• To be an effective early childhood program for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The program is child specific, comprehensive, individualized and family focused.
  
  
• To provide a play based environment in which the child can first develop joint attention, engagement, two-way interaction, and eventually complex problem solving and logical thinking.
  
  
• To be flexible and individualized when planning for the social, cognitive, communication, adaptive, and motor needs of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
  
  
• To help families learn how to relate and communicate with their children, while their child climbs the functional emotional development ladder.
  
  
• To help children transition successfully into a classroom setting.
  
  
• To facilitate the child’s development of peer relationships.
  
  

For more information, please contact Liz Cole, RAP Program Specialist, at 467-4567 ext 116 or by
email: ecole@steppingstoneslearning.com