Special schools for autism

In today’s society there are no mainstream schools that cater for all the needs of all individuals on the autism spectrum. While there is more acceptance and there is more awareness, there are still no schools that open their doors unreservedly to individuals with autism. Over time as awareness and acceptance of autism has increased, and while more individuals present with autism and families desperately seek for aid and special schools for autism there has been an increase of privately owned special schools for autism. Some better than others of course as some will be just a care facility that caters to “look after” the child with autism during the course of the day, while others strive to use the best techniques to make it a special school for autism. The Star Academy has really found the recipe to comprehensive autism treatment – a whole-child and whole-family solution. The Star Academy does not quite classify itself as a special school for autism but rather an intervention centre which provides an international standard of intervention for children and adolescents on the autism spectrum. What is really needed is for our government to recognise and mandate funding from medical aid for autism treatment the way it is recognised and mandated for in the United States, where The Star Academy’s treatment method, Applied Behaviour Analysis, was created and developed. The Star Academy take each individual with autism as a unique case. They do not generalize the same teachings to all instead they cater for the special needs of each individual and design their own programme to follow with a set of very skilled instructors to give each individual with autism theirs own “special school”. Autism is a spectrum disorder and because each individual presents differently, each individual must be provided with a tailor-made intervention plan. For those children who are ready to benefit from a school environment, The Star Academy also offers instructors who can facilitate a child in a mainstream or remedial school. What this means is that if the child with autism that attends this special school has the correct prerequisites to be in a mainstream school such as compliance, following instructions, being able to communicate, etc. The Star Academy will with the permission of the accepting school start to integrate that child from the special school for autism into the school setting with the aid of a facilitator by their side. The Star Academy also thinks outside of the microcosms of the school and centre environment, and offers parent training, home sessions, community outings, facilitation on playdates, and facilitation in extracurricular settings such as karate classes or soccer classes. Parents can rest assured that their children are in good hands with The Star Academy’s Board Certified Behaviour Analysts and Board Certified Autism Technicians on staff.