As a parent of an autistic child, I can relate to the stress placed on selecting the right school for the child. The decision can be quite challenging since there are many of them, and every child is unique. The child has to be in an organization that will welcome rather than shun their diversity.
Being a parent has its ups and downs. After a lot of homework and parent meetings, I am pleased to announce five autism-friendly schools in the United States that promote inclusive education, a universal education for all children.
1. Crossroads Continuum, Massachusetts
Crossroads Continuum is a non-profit organization committed to enhancing the lives of individuals with autism and related disorders from birth through adulthood. For over twenty years, it has provided personalized, evidence-based services to support individuals at every stage of life.
Today, they work with individuals of all ages and their families in various settings, including homes, communities, and beyond, to meet their unique needs and foster meaningful progress.
2. Autism Academy of Learning, Ohio
As a privately owned child-centric school located in Toledo, Ohio, The Autism Academy of Learning is committed to providing an appropriate educational setting to students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other developmental disabilities. This school believes in community and incorporates Information Technologies in its classrooms.
All the teachers use different measures, strategies, and techniques to help every child address their learning needs. This allows the enhancement to approach each child in a manner that builds up their learning. For this reason, it is a good fit for parents who want to ensure their child receives an education tailored to their needs.
Monarch School in Houston, Texas, can be praised and distinguished as one of the centers that provide therapeutic education for people with neurological disabilities, specifically those that prioritize autonomy interests. Consequently, the students are given an opportunity to learn how to self-regulate and solve conflicts.
In addition, the Monarch School combats this challenge by placing a great deal of emphasis on the actual life effectiveness of its training and the incorporation of relevant academic and vocational skills among the students. It is ideal for parents whose children need education and wholesome growth.
4. Virginia Institute of Autism – Virginia
In Charlottesville, Virginia, the Virginia Institute of Autism (VIA) is already on its way to providing research-validated education for children from two to twenty-two years of age. VIA uses individualized behavior-analytic teaching strategies to educate its learners.
Most interestingly, parents are also actively involved in designing educational programs to ensure that every child has access to support for his or her learning in a conducive environment. The cooperation between parents and teachers can be a real boon to a child’s learning process.
5. The Little School, California
The Little School in Santa Monica, California, encourages children with autism to participate in regular play-based education aimed at helping with social and emotional development. To address students’ specific needs, the teachers are ready to work with the students, taking into account their characteristics. Engaging parents as partners in the learning process creates an environment at The Little School that benefits both the children and the families.
6. The New England Center for Children, Massachusetts
The New England Center for Children (NECC) in Southborough, Massachusetts, is focused on providing quality education and service to children with autism. NECC concentrates on systems that facilitate education and enable students to participate in the community, and as such, it takes a student-centered approach.
The center provides various services, including residential programs and transition services, so it is important to parents and guardians who seek to give their children quality education. This can enhance a child’s learning curve.
Choosing an educational institution for our children with autism is perhaps one of the most critical decisions one can make that will affect the child in years to come. Understanding institutions that cater to the child’s need for personal attention and belongingness is the only way we can guarantee our children’s needs are met.
Please take your child for a tour of these institutions, and you may find out how they may be useful to him or her. Remember that this is not something you must undertake alone – much help and assistance are available to help you through the process. For more resources and support, consider visiting OneAutismHealth.com, where you can find information to help you navigate your child's developmental journey.