Academy360 Lower School

We offer a full-day integrated preschool program, comprised of students ages 3 – 5 years with autism and related disabilities, as well as a cohort of typically developing peers. Our kindergarten classes are integrated when peers are available.

Students receive related services on site, in accordance with their IEPs.

Our Lower School’s Elementary and Middle School programs are safe, positive and exciting environments for children. Our curriculum incorporates important social skills training, which are built into all aspects of instruction, electives and extracurricular activities.

We offer individualized programs based on a student’s IEP, plus a range of related services including on-site occupational and physical therapy, speech, supplemental reading support and more. Elective subjects include music, art, film, digital literacy, gardening and more.

Offered to students who require this service as part of their IEP. 

Communication related challenges vary from student to student. By focusing on teaching our students to communicate utilizing the methods best suited to their own unique abilities, we’re able to provide the right tools for them.

Conducted in individual and group sessions in accordance with a student’s IEP requirements, our services target skills in expressive, receptive and pragmatic language, as well as oral motor and feeding. Speech and Language Therapists are part of each classroom’s support team.

Lower School Speech and Language Therapists receive training in several specialized approaches to intervention including Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), Applied Behavior Analysis and programming/implementation of various speech generating devices and applications. (Proloquo2Go, TouchChat, GoTalkNow, etc.)

Offered to students who require this service as part of their IEP.

By assessing each student’s needs in the areas of motor development, coordination, visual motor skills, sensory processing and self-help, our therapists support activities that help students engage purposefully in their day. Whether in our therapy offices, multi-sensory rooms, in the classroom or out in the community, these activities include: 

• Social skills
• Writing
• Behavior management and self-regulation
• Play skills
• Sports and exercise
• Self-help skills
• Pre-vocational skills
• And more

Our behavioral support team provides hands-on coaching, modeling and feedback to classroom staff in applying Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) principles. Fully staffed with over two dozen Behavior Analysts, Assistant Behaviorists and department assistants, our teams collaborate across both campuses to ensure that supports are successfully carried over as students transition from theLower to Upper School.

Parents are an integral part of our team approach in assisting students at home and in the community with applying planned strategies. Our behaviorists provide support, resources and training for families at all stages of their child’s school-age life.

Our clinician team, comprised of Certified School Psychologists, Social Workers and Counselors, are here to help students in need build self-esteem, develop independence and promote self-advocacy. By collaborating with our staff they establish immediate and long-term goals and deliver a variety of services including group and individual counseling; crisis response and family support groups.

Dr. Mark Faber, our school psychiatrist, is available to consult with your family, as well as make recommendations to best support your student.

Learn more about our Clinicians: An Alphabet Soup of Acronyms: What’s a Clinician Anyway?

Supplemental Reading supports students in developing critical skills associated with reading. This reading intervention program is based on referral, assessment and determination of need.

Students take part in elective coursework, activities and clubs to develop skill sets in areas that interest them and discover new ones, including:

Electives

• Art
• Cooking
• Film/Media
• Gardening
• Music/Music Therapy
• Drama
• Digital Literacy/Library

Learn about Music Therapy at A360: New Music is Playing at Academy360

Activities

• Basketball
• Cheerleading
• Girl Scouts
• Class Trips

Clubs
Students participate in weekly enrichment clubs that rotate across the year, including:

• Drawing
• Robotics
• Photography
• Drawing
• Gaming Club
• Karaoke
• Fitness

And more!

For an additional cost, students can take part in after-school activities both on and off campus. Our After School Program offers students the opportunity to engage in a variety of high-interest activities and provides opportunities for socialization with their peers. Activities vary from term-to-term, and have included fitness, bowling, cooking, yoga, rock climbing, swimming and more.

Our Respite program offers students ages 12 and up an overnight social experience with peers under the careful supervision and support of our staff. Students enjoy a day trip to a local destination, prepare meals together and sleep over in our fully-equipped Life Skills Apartment. Participants learn to apply social, self-help and communication skills — and have fun!

In the past, students have enjoyed trips to Monster Golf, Turtleback Zoo, Jumpnasium and Paper Mill Playhouse, to name a few.

Adapted Physical Education is physical education made appropriate for a student’s specific capabilities and limitations. Federal law mandates that physical education be provided to students with disabilities and defines Physical Education as the development of:

• Physical and motor skills
• Fundamental motor skills and patterns (throwing, catching, walking, running, etc)
• Skills in aquatics, dance, and individual and group games and sports (including intramural and lifetime sports)

Our facilities include:

• Exercise equipment
• Gymnasium
• Outdoor PE facilities
• Physical Therapy rooms

Learn more about our teachers: Meet our Teachers: Sports & Fitness at Academy360