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Joshua School early intervention program

Contributed by: Robin Ginalick on 7/30/2008

The Joshua School, a year-round, non-profit educational center for children with autism, Asperger's Syndrome, and other developmental challenges, and the only school in Colorado designed specifically for children with autism approved by the Colorado Department of Education, will be opening an early intervention program in the fall of 2008. Parents of preschool age children are encouraged to apply immediately for open enrollment.

The Joshua School Early Intervention Program will provide full day services to children with autism spectrum disorders and related developmental disabilities between the ages of 2.5 and 6.0 years. The comprehensive program will offer individualized treatment based on the science of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). In addition the program will offer speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, music therapy, art therapy, weekly outings with access to typically developing peers, and home visits. Services will be provided by dedicated therapists that have specialized in the field of autism spectrum disorders for several years including a board certified behavior analyst, a licensed early childhood special education teacher, licensed speech therapists, and licensed occupational therapists.

Currently, The Joshua School serves 13 students in a rented building with small classrooms. The need for services is great in Colorado so in September, The Joshua School is moving to the Brown Mansion, on the corner of Dartmouth and University, which will allow the school to expand services and enroll nearly double the students.The new school will serve children, ages 2.5 to 21 in classrooms of four students with three to four teachers per classroom. Students learn through methods of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), the only research-based intervention known to consistently impact educational growth and development in children with autism.

"Simply not enough is being done for people with autism and other developmental challenges and the demand for educational services is growing dramatically in the Denver metro area," Jason Gruhl, Executive Director of The Joshua School said. "Autism is the most common of the Pervasive Developmental Disorders, affecting an estimated 1 in 169 Colorado births yet educational opportunities for these children are limited. By moving to this larger building, The Joshua School will be able to service nearly double the number of children we currently enroll."

According to the Autism Society of America, as many as 1.5 million Americans today are believed to have some form of autism, and autism is growing at a startling rate of 10-17 percent per year. Autism knows no racial, ethnic, social boundaries, family income, lifestyle, or educational levels and can affect any family, and any child. Although the overall incidence of autism is consistent around the globe, it is four times more prevalent in boys than in girls. There is no known single cause for autism, but it is generally accepted that it is caused by abnormalities in brain structure or function. Brain scans show differences in the shape and structure of the brain in autistic versus non-autistic children. Researchers are investigating a number of theories, including the link between heredity, genetics and medical problems. It also appears that some children are born with a susceptibility to autism, but researchers have not yet identified a single "trigger" that causes autism to develop.

For more information on the new Joshua School Early Intervention Program or for an enrollment application, call 303-758-7171 or visit www.joshuaschool.org.

About the Joshua School

The Joshua School is a private, non-profit school and resource center for individuals with autism, Asperger's syndrome, or other special needs, and their families. We are committed to building a community that offers the highest level of care and individual instruction for students, the most comprehensive array of services, and the strongest level of outreach and education regarding autism spectrum disorders (ASD) for the greater Colorado community. Our highly dedicated, passionate, and knowledgeable faculty have years of expertise in the fields of autism, education, special needs, OT, Speech, and others. We strive for balance in our approach, understanding that each student is unique and complex with varied interests, talents, and challenges. By taking the time to know our students, we build bonds with them and their families. In this structured, challenging, and encouraging environment, students discover themselves and the world around them.


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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Robin Ginalick

Denver , CO

Robin Ginalick has posted 1614 stories and 0 comments since joining on 4/25/2008. Robin Ginalick 's average story rating is 4.99.
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