Offering Individualized
Educational Programs For K-12 Students
FAQ
AAED School FAQ 2024
Find answers to your questions about our educational programs
AAED's curriculum addresses each child's specific strengths, challenges, and learning styles through several key approaches. The program emphasizes individual assessment to understand unique needs, allowing educators to tailor instruction accordingly. They adapt teaching methods to accommodate various learning styles, whether visual, auditory, or kinesthetic.
In addition, AAED employs flexible grouping strategies, enabling small group activities or one-on-one instruction to support different intellectual levels within the classroom. The curriculum also includes social skills development that recognizes the social communication needs of students with autism.
Behavioral support strategies are implemented to help manage challenges, ensuring a nurturing environment where each child can thrive. Furthermore, AAED values collaboration with families, engaging parents and caregivers to create a cohesive support system that meets each child's specific needs. This comprehensive approach allows AAED to effectively accommodate significant intellectual differences among students with autism.AAED employs several strategies to personalize instruction and track each child's progress. They utilize individualized education plans (IEPs) that are tailored to meet the specific needs and goals of each student. This allows educators to focus on the child's strengths and areas for growth.
The program incorporates ongoing assessments, both formal and informal, to monitor student progress regularly. These assessments help inform instructional decisions and adjustments to teaching methods as needed.
AAED also emphasizes collaboration among educators, specialists, and families to ensure a comprehensive understanding of each child's development. By maintaining open lines of communication, they can share insights and strategies that support personalized learning.
Additionally, the use of data-driven approaches enables staff to analyze student performance trends over time, ensuring that instruction remains responsive to each child's evolving needs. This multifaceted strategy allows AAED to provide effective, individualized support while tracking progress meaningfully.AAED prepares students for higher education and vocational training through a multifaceted approach. The school emphasizes the development of essential academic skills and critical thinking abilities, ensuring students are well-equipped for post-graduation challenges.
The program includes personalized services that guide students in exploring their interests and strengths. This support helps them make informed decisions regarding higher education and vocational pathways, including assistance with college applications and vocational assessments.
Additionally, AAED provides practical experiences, such as internships and job shadowing opportunities, which allow students to gain valuable insights into various career fields. The curriculum also focuses on life skills development, covering areas like time management, organization, and self-advocacy, all of which are vital for success in college and the workplace.
Moreover, AAED maintains connections local organizations to offer ongoing support and resources as students transition into higher education or vocational training. This comprehensive support system ensures that students are well-prepared for their next steps after graduation.AAED builds social skills and fosters positive peer interactions in a real-world context through a variety of structured programs and activities. The school incorporates social skills training into its curriculum, focusing on communication, cooperation, character trait, and conflict resolution.
Students participate in group activities and collaborative projects that encourage teamwork and mutual respect, providing opportunities for them to practice social interactions in a supportive environment.
Additionally, AAED offers community-based experiences, such as field trips and volunteer opportunities, where students can engage with peers and the broader community, reinforcing their social skills in real-world settings.AAED employs a range of behavioral approaches to address challenging behaviors while promoting positive reinforcement. The school utilizes evidence-based strategies that focus on understanding the underlying causes of behavior, allowing staff to tailor interventions to each student's needs.
One key approach is the implementation of individualized positive behavior supports, which are developed based on thorough assessments of each student's behaviors and triggers. These interventions help reduce challenging behaviors and are designed to promote positive behaviors.
AAED emphasizes positive reinforcement techniques, encouraging students to engage in appropriate behaviors by recognizing and rewarding their successes. This may include verbal praise, tangible rewards, or opportunities for preferred activities, reinforcing positive choices and outcomes.
Additionally, staff are trained to use proactive strategies, such as creating structured environments and providing clear expectations, to minimize the occurrence of challenging behaviors. By fostering a supportive and understanding atmosphere, AAED helps students develop self-regulation skills and promotes a positive school culture.AAED supports the emotional well-being of students with autism by implementing a comprehensive approach that addresses anxiety and related needs. The school provides a safe and nurturing environment where students feel comfortable expressing their emotions and concerns.
AAED incorporates social-emotional learning into the curriculum, helping students build resilience, self-awareness, and emotional regulation skills. This approach equips them with tools to navigate challenging situations effectively.
The school also fosters strong relationships between students and staff, creating a supportive community that encourages open communication. By promoting a sense of belonging and understanding, AAED helps students manage their emotional well-being and fosters a positive school experience.AAED offers a range of on-site therapies, including speech-language therapy and occupational therapy. These services are designed to support the diverse needs of students, ensuring that they receive comprehensive care within the school environment.
The on-site therapists collaborate closely with teachers and staff to create individualized treatment plans that align with each student's goals. This integrated approach allows for consistent support and reinforcement of skills throughout the school day.
By providing these therapies on campus, AAED ensures that students have access to essential resources that promote their communication, daily living skills, and behavioral development, enhancing their overall educational experience.AAED accommodates and addresses the sensory needs of autistic students within the classroom and school environment through several thoughtful strategies. The school recognizes that sensory processing differences can impact students' learning experiences, and it proactively creates a supportive environment.
Classrooms are designed with sensory-friendly elements, including designated quiet areas where students can retreat when they feel overwhelmed. These spaces are equipped with calming tools and resources to help students self-regulate.
Additionally, the curriculum includes sensory breaks and structured activities that allow students to engage in movement or sensory play, promoting focus and reducing anxiety. Staff members are trained to recognize and respond to sensory needs, ensuring that individualized support is provided.
AAED also collaborates with occupational therapists to implement specific strategies and tools tailored to each student's sensory preferences, fostering a more inclusive and comfortable learning environment. This comprehensive approach helps students manage their sensory experiences effectively while promoting their overall well-being and engagement in the classroom.AAED works collaboratively with students' outside therapists and healthcare providers to ensure a comprehensive approach to each child's care. The school values communication and partnership with these professionals, recognizing that such collaboration enhances the support provided to students.
By coordinating efforts, AAED aims to align strategies and goals across different settings, ensuring consistency in therapeutic interventions and educational practices. This collaboration may involve meetings and sharing of progress updates.
The school's commitment to working with outside therapists helps create a cohesive support system that addresses the unique needs of each student, fostering their overall development and success in both academic and therapeutic contexts.AAED has admission criteria and an application process designed to ensure that each student's needs align with the school's offerings. The admission criteria includes a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.
The application process involves several steps, including the submission of an application form, supporting documentation such as assessments and IEPs, and a student interview to assess the student's individual needs. This process allows AAED to gather comprehensive information to make informed decisions about placement.
Regarding enrollment, AAED may have waitlists depending on program availability and demand. Families are encouraged to inquire about current enrollment status and potential wait times during the application process. The school prioritizes communication with applicants to provide updates and guidance throughout the admission journey.AAED has an annual tuition cost that varies based on grade level. Yearly tuition costs can be found on the AAED website, under the enrollment tab, by selecting "Tuition". To support families, the school provides information about available scholarships and financial assistance programs that can help alleviate the financial burden of tuition.
Additionally, AAED accepts state funding options, including Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs), to further assist families in accessing educational resources. The school encourages interested families to inquire about financial aid opportunities and state funding eligibility during the application process to ensure they receive the necessary support for their child's education.AAED communicates regularly with parents regarding their child's progress, challenges, and educational goals. The school has established a consistent schedule for updates, which typically includes regular progress reports and scheduled meetings throughout the academic year.
In addition to these formal communications, AAED encourages ongoing dialogue between parents through our app system and email. This proactive approach ensures that parents are well-informed and involved in their child's educational journey, allowing for timely adjustments to support strategies as needed.AAED involves families in the decision-making process for their child's education through a collaborative approach that emphasizes open communication and partnership. The school actively encourages parental participation in meetings, such as IEP reviews and progress discussions, where families can share insights and contribute to the development of individualized education plans.
Additionally, AAED seeks input from parents regarding their child's goals and preferences, ensuring that their voices are heard in shaping educational strategies. The school also hosts workshops and informational sessions to engage families and provide them with resources to support their child's learning at home.
By fostering a supportive environment that values family involvement, AAED ensures that parents are integral partners in their child's educational journey, promoting a cohesive approach to meeting each child's unique needs.AAED is committed to connecting families with relevant support groups, autism organizations, and other community resources. The school actively collaborates with various local and national organizations to provide families with information and access to additional support services.
Through these connections, AAED helps parents and students find resources that can enhance their educational experience and offer guidance in navigating challenges related to autism. The school may also host events or workshops that facilitate networking among families, promoting a sense of community and shared experiences.The atmosphere at AAED is described as inclusive, supportive, and focused on student success. The school fosters a welcoming environment where all students feel valued and accepted, promoting a strong sense of belonging.
Staff members are dedicated to creating a nurturing atmosphere, ensuring that each student's unique strengths and challenges are recognized and addressed. This supportive culture encourages collaboration among students, educators, and families, reinforcing a community-oriented approach to learning.
AAED's commitment to student success is evident in its individualized support strategies and proactive interventions, which are designed to help each child thrive academically, socially and behaviorally. Overall, the environment at AAED is characterized by positivity and encouragement, making it a place where students can achieve their full potential.The teachers and other professionals at AAED possess extensive experience and qualifications tailored to meet the needs of students with autism and related challenges. Staff members typically hold advanced degrees in education, special education, or related fields, along with relevant certifications that demonstrate their expertise in working with diverse learners.
Additionally, many educators have specialized training in various therapeutic approaches, behavioral strategies, and instructional methods that are effective for students with autism. The school emphasizes ongoing professional development, ensuring that staff remain current with best practices and research in the field.
AAED also employs a multidisciplinary team, including speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and behavioral specialists, who collaborate closely with teachers to provide comprehensive support. This diverse and highly qualified team is committed to fostering a positive learning environment that promotes student growth and success.