oung Learners Preschool is an innovative and comprehensive early intervention day school program designed to serve children between 2.9 and 5 years of age with autism spectrum disorders, including classical autism, high-functioning autism, Asperger’s Disorder and Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD). This unique day school offers an intensive, six hour per day, five day per week special education program with all supportive services incorporated into the school day.

Research has demonstrated that there is a critical “window of opportunity” in the preschool years during which growth and development of young children with autism spectrum disorders can be maximized. Young Learners’ specialized curriculum provides a wide range of highly individualized, research-based intervention strategies. The program fosters growth in communication, language development, socialization, behavior, academic readiness skills, sensory integration skills, and fine and gross motor skills.
Young Learners multidisciplinary faculty of special education teachers, speech and language pathologists, psychologists, occupational therapists, behavior specialists, behavior aides and adaptive physical education specialists work collaboratively to individualize each child’s curriculum. At Young Learners, children with autism spectrum disorders can make significant strides in all areas of their development.

The program features:

• Small Class Size
• Teacher/Student Ratio of at least 1:3
• State-of-the-Art Classrooms
• Individual and Small Group Instructional Approaches

• Applied Behavior Analysis/ Discrete Trial Training
• Kindergarten Readiness Curriculum
• Early Play and Socialization Curriculum
• Behavior Intervention Implementation and Development (BII & BID)
• Speech and Language Therapy/Whole Language Approach
• Picture Exchange Communication System
• Occupational and Sensory Integration Therapy
• Floortime Techniques
• Adaptive Physical Education
• Parent Training and Support
• Home Visits
• Computers in Every Classroom
• Outcome Data Collected for Each Student

oung Learners Preschool is affiliated with The Help Group Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders. The Center offers a wide range of the most up-to-date and clinically sound diagnostic and assessment procedures available for children suspected of having an autism spectrum disorder.

 

The following services are available:

Comprehensive diagnostic evaluations
Administration of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale (ADOS)
Cognitive/ Developmental Assessment
Social and Behavioral Assessment