Valley Achievement Center has two programs for children with Autism from ages 2 to 5 years old. Both of these programs focus on skills required for participating in pre-school and/or kindergarten. Early detection is often delayed because it is difficult to diagnosis before the ages of two and three. These years are crucial given that significant developments in the brain are occurring. Early Intervention is essential to appropriately addressing the child's needs in all developmental areas, and most importantly, to develop the child's ability to function independently in all aspects of his/her life. Any transition for a child with autism is difficult. Teaching independent skills, such as the ones our programs focus on, are essential. This will help determine appropriate placement depending on their functioning level. The curriculum provided to the students is based on VAC's comprehensive assessment, as well as a parent interview. An Individual Program Plan (IPP) or Individual Education Plan (IEP) is then developed to address the needs of each child as an individual. Basic components of a student's program may include attending, imitation, understanding and use of communication, play-skills, and increasing appropriate behavior through positive programming. All of the goals and activities of each child are recorded on a daily basis. Progress is then documented and given to the parents on a quarterly basis. A daily journal is also sent back and forth from school and home with any pertinent information regarding updates on all progress, new strategies, and overall behavior. An open dialogue of suggestions between VAC staff and parents is maintained via the journal. Meetings and phone calls are made frequently by the staff. Parents are always welcome to come in at anytime to visit and watch their child's actions and progress on close circuit television. This allows parents to observe without distracting the student. This will also help staff offer advice for the future teachers and help parents in the home. We take into account the individual needs of each skill, set up highly structured activities and routines, and set up visual schedules and token systems specialized for each child.

Pre-School Afternoon Program

This program operates from 1pm to 5pm Monday through Friday. The primary goal of this program is for socialization and daily living skills that a regular education program may not focus on. This program includes communication skills, functional living skills, social/behavioral skills, recreation skills, motor skills (fine and gross motor), self-help skills (skills such as hygiene), peer play skills with classmates and regular Ed children, and community-based instruction. All students are taught in a one-to-one setting for up to 20 hours a week of intensive Discrete Trail Teaching (DTT) developed from the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) model. This program is an all year round program and we offer swimming in the summer months. Other methods used in the classrooms are "Floor Time", Pivotal Response Training, Picture Communication System, and Precision Teaching. Positive Behavior Therapy is used to address individual behavioral needs.

Preschool Morning Program

This program operates from 9am to 2pm Monday through Friday. These students receive 25 hours a week of intense DTT. The difference between VAC's morning and afternoon program is that the morning program offers a child's primary academic skills. This program offers all of the skills listed in the afternoon program as well as pre-academic/academic skills, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.

Staff

Michelle Graves
Pre-School Administrator
mranuschio@autism-vac.org

Michelle Graves started working at VAC in August 1998. She attended CSUB where she received a Bachelors Degree in Liberal Studies and a Credential in Special Education-Moderate/Severe disabilities. She has also completed her Master's Degree in Special Education. She is currently enrolled at Cal State University of Northridge where she is completing a second credential in Early Childhood Special Education. She has also received specialized training in Applied Behavioral Analysis, Professional Assault Response Training, now called Pro-Act, Floor-Time, Pivitol Response Training, and several other Autism training workshops. She entered the field of special education not really knowing her own expectations. "I have seen the progress in the children I help everyday as well as the happiness this brings to the parents and this is the most motivating thing I could ever ask for. I have the greatest expectations for all of my students and it is wonderful to see them accomplish them on a daily basis."

Sterling Hawks
Pre-School Program Manager
sterlinghawks_vac@hotmail.com

Sterling Hawks is the Program Manager for the Preschool Program since August of 2005 and has been employed directly working with autistic children at the Valley Achievement Center since November 2003. She will receive her Bachelor's Degree in Child Development in spring of 2008. She has received specialized training in Applied Behavioral Analysis, Professional Assault Response Training (Pro-Act), Visual Strategies for children with Autism, Community Care Licensing (CCL), and several other Autism training workshops. She started working at VAC as an aide in the afternoon program and then moved on to the basic education program and then the preschool program. She has a love for her job and an enthusiasm that shines when working with the students. "I'm a very optimistic person who believes that each of my students should be pushed to their highest potential because in an environment like our preschool, they have unlimited opportunities to grow and flourish."

Tiffany Bell
Pre-School Program Manager