School Age Intervention
Our school age programs are for children ages 6-18 and can be implemented after school or on weekends, for as few or many hours that your family can manage and that will be beneficial to your child. During our assessment process, we will be able to advise you as to how many hours per week your child will need in order to gain meaningful results.
Children and youth who are on a school aged program will work on the following areas as part of their individualized program:
1. Communication skills: It is important to recognize that all individuals, regardless of ability, can and do communicate. It is often our job as adults to figure out what our child is trying to say. Sometimes, your child may use actions instead of words to get their needs met. We focus on teaching children to use their words over their actions, because their words are meaningful and powerful!
2. Life Skills: Everyday functional life skills are taught in the natural environment. Can’t eat out because of your child’s behaviour? We will help you with that. Your child won’t sit down and eat with the family? That will be one of our targets. Your child can’t dress himself? That will be another goal of ours.
3. Academics: Our programs can include interventions within the area of academic learning. We typically collaborate with your child’s school team to ensure there is consistency and to promote maximum success.
4. Social Communication: Parents often come to us concerned that their child is never invited to birthday parties, or complain that they don’t have anyone to play with at recess. Social communication skills often need to be taught to individuals with ASD. Our teaching programs can involve skill building in this area, typically around your child’s interests and goals.
5. Executive Functioning: Our executive functions help us to problem solve, control our inhibitions, regulate our emotions, and make judgments. These functions are often impaired in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Skills can be developed within areas of weakness using strategies and supports to promote success.