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DDI
established the Young Autism Program (YAP), a comprehensive effort that
has the goal of returning autistic children to regular kindergarten by
age six. This program is among the most intensive of its kind in the
United States. Autistic children are accepted into YAP prior to 48
months of age provided their school districts approve. Once admitted,
children receive six hours a day of 1:1 therapy in school and an
additional two hours a day at home.
Since autism affects a child’s ability to communicate and socialize with
others, the initial focus of our intervention is to treat each child’s
difficulties in these two areas. Children receive continuous
instruction in order to initially make beginning sounds, then words and
phrases and ultimately reciprocal conversation.
This unique balance of 1:1 instruction and group practice continues
until staff, parents, and the school district agree the child is ready
to enroll in kindergarten. |
