Horizon ASD Program
Class Structure
The program serves a maximum of eight students with autism in a Special Class (SC). The class is taught by one special education teacher and one classroom paraprofessional. Opportunities for inclusion with general education students are encouraged.
Curriculum and Instruction
Classes follow the New York Learning Standards and the same curriculum used in all DOE schools. ASD Horizon teachers are trained in special strategies for students with autism. Rethink Ed Platform Solutions provides support including evidence-based instructional materials, based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). These materials support the academic and social-emotional development of ASD Horizon students.
Social-Emotional Supports
Related service providers work together with classroom teachers using Rethink lessons to address students’ communication and socialization challenges.
Students must meet the following criteria:
Classification:
- Eligible for an educational disability classification of Autism.
Intelligence:
- Below average to average intelligence with areas of strengths and weaknesses.
Achievement:
- Academic skills on or near grade level.Students benefit from instruction based on the principles of ABA and can work independently with some support.
- Students participate in standard assessments, including New York State (NYS) Math and English Language Arts (ELA) exams.
- Accommodations are provided as written on the student’s IEP.
Language/Communication:
- May have mild to moderate language difficulties. They may have difficulty expressing themselves and understanding what others are saying. They may also have difficulty with social language. Students entering kindergarten can speak in at least 2-3-word, meaningful sentences.
- Older students are able to string words together to express needs and wants, but need support to communicate effectively in social situations
Social Functioning:
- May have mild to moderate delays in playing and interacting with other students. Students may participate in social activities, but often prefer to engage in activities by themselves.
Behavior:
- May have mild to moderate behavior difficulties. Student is not physically aggressive, does not engage in self-injurious behaviors, and does not show “escape behaviors,” such as running away from staff or exiting the classroom or school building.