Program
ProgramOur Personal Living Program, Academic Program, Communication Program, Fitness Program, and Student Employment are the anchors of the two residential years, which are enhanced by a unique association with ASU West and Scottsdale Community College. Resident Directors are onsite 24/7, and are responsible for providing student meals; transportation to and from college; overseeing and offering “reminders and strategies”; establishing a safe environment; and work in conjunction with our Clinical and Academic Directors.
Our Academic Director is responsible for academic, social and life skills development both onsite and offsite campus; tutorial programs; social success programs; and employment. All Directors support the need to be on time for class and class attendance; are a close liaison with ASU West and Scottsdale Community College; and our student’s individual needs. Our residence is set up to accommodate the sensory sensitive needs of our student population.
Our Clinical Director runs weekly group therapy sessions, as well as individual therapy sessions on an as needed basis. These weekly sessions help the students reflect on their week and each session is given considerable thought and care around each student’s needs and interactions.
The Student Work Program encourages each student to develop a strong work ethic, increase their skills, and contribute to their community. This is an opportunity for our students to develop these skills with the ongoing support and structure of our staff.
The benefits of a Co-Ed Residential Dorm Include:
- Students get to live and socialize safely with members of the opposite sex.
- Coed dorms provide more opportunities to create valuable friendships and promote gender equality.
- A co-educational environment is more reflective of society.
- Coed dorms offer more social diversity.
Curriculum
Our curriculum is centered around our Communication Program, which is uniquely designed to facilitate the following skills: Social Language, Social Problem Solving, Friendship Development, Nonverbal and Verbal Communication Skills, Language Processing, Idiomatic Language, and Pragmatic Prosody. Our Academic Program includes: self-advocacy skills, organizational skills, study skills, career exploration, workplace skills, and an introduction to college life. Our Personal Living Program includes: cooking instruction, nutrition, laundry, time management, and money management. Get Fit: Mind & Body is a specially designed physical education program for our students with Asperger’s Syndrome and High Functioning Autism. We implement a focus on core fitness and strengthening curriculum with emphasis areas on balance development, body control, and spatial awareness training. We also incorporate all aspects of sports from coaching, training, skill development, and game facilitation. Beyond the physical aspects, Get Fit: Mind & Body, addresses topics of health, nutrition & hygiene, and develops practical application skills that are necessary to each student’s success.
Students meet weekly with staff and their positive behavior support team to monitor progress and identify goals. The overall goal is to develop strategies based on the student’s individual needs, which will assist him to successfully earn a college degree.
We facilitate the acquisition of knowledge through study, creativity, experience and application. We encourage a commitment to lifelong learning.