1:1 Sessions
Research demonstrating the benefits of early, intensive behavioral intervention has existed for over five decades. Following assessment, an individualized program will be created for your child and delivered during one-to-one teaching sessions with an experienced clinician. Programs follow an all-encompassing approach to build skills in areas needed for the learner to meet developmental milestones and their greatest ability. Development of language and communication, attention, social, play, and leisure skills, gross and fine motor abilities, self-care and pre-academic skills are areas that may be addressed during teaching. Instruction is delivered through naturalistic, play-based teaching as well as discrete trial teaching.
Developmental Play Group
Play builds creativity, imagination, and social skills. The Developmental Play Group is geared towards children with autism, ages 2-5, who also participate in our 1:1 instruction sessions. Learners in this group have emerging communication, social, and play skills and benefit from additional support to participate in small group activities and structured play opportunities with similarly aged peers. A variety of weekly themes are used to foster positive peer interaction, increase use of toys for their intended function, improve ability to request and comment during play, and increase ability to participate as a member of a group. Weekly themes are taught using fun, interactive, and engaging activities that are individualized to each child’s abilities and provide repetition that allows learners to practice skills multiple times throughout a session.
Sample of skills taught:
- Requesting from peers and adults
- Giving and receiving items from peers
- Imitating peer play
- Following group directions
- Taking turns
- Kindergarten readiness: attending, waiting, transitioning
Elementary Social Skills Group
Social skills are complex and friendships can be difficult to navigate for children with autism. The Elementary Social Skills Group is for children with autism, ages 5-10, who benefit from additional support to build the skills needed to participate in groups and navigate relationships with peers. Weekly themes, structured lessons, and supported peer play are intended to teach age appropriate play, social problem solving, awareness of social cues, and development of shared interests. Teaching occurs in a small group setting and involves the use of modeling, role play, and supported social and play opportunities.
Sample of skills taught:
- Initiating and maintaining conversation
- Finding a topic of shared interest and staying on topic
- Reading a communication partner’s social cues when engaged in conversation
- Personal space
- Perspective taking
- Initiating, joining, and maintaining pretend play
- Sharing
- Game play
Family Involvement and Training
Collaboration with families is an integral part of a learner’s success. Families will participate in monthly meetings with the BCBA/LBA to share progress, discuss future goals for their child’s services, and learn ways to carry over skills their child is learning into their everyday life. Families will also have the opportunity to participate in group training with other Accelerate families on common topics of interest.
All programs are supervised by a Board Certified and NYS Licensed Behavior Analyst. Progress is closely monitored and programs are adjusted as each learner acquires target skills.