ABA and Classroom Combined Programming
Believe is a language based program that provides half-day and full-day small-group classes and one-on-one instruction in a classroom and ABA setting. Believe is just one of the ways The Shafer Center for Early Intervention is improving skills for children with autism.
Child/Staff Ratio
- 5 children/2 adults (master’s level special educator, bachelor’s level classroom assistant)
- 7.5 hours of integrated speech-language pathology services per week
- 5 hours per week of behavior consultation by BCBA or BCaBA
Days/Times
- Half-Day Option
- 3 hours per day; 9:00-12:00 or 12:00-3:00
- 5 days per week of small group instruction in a classroom setting
- Full-Day Option
- 6 hours per day; 3 hours of small group instruction and 3 hours of ABA; 9:00-3:00
- 5 days per week
Prerequisite Skills
- Answer simple questions
- one to two word utterances (verbal or with communication device)
- Follow simple one-step group directions
- Request Spontaneously
- Plays functionally with some toys
- Expressively and receptively identifies at least 10 items
- Imitates some gross motor actions
- Matches simple pictures
- Some pre-academic skills, identify colors, shapes, letters and numbers
Target Skills
- Improve classroom readiness skills; sitting in a group, orienting towards teacher, following classroom routines, raising hand, answering a question, manage personal belongings, and completing tasks
- Follow two to three step group directions
- Improve complexity, function, and rate of spontaneous language including commenting, requesting, and asking questions
- Improve interactive peer play and turn-taking skills, symbolic and pretend play skills, and learn to play games with rules
- Phonics
- Phonemic awareness
- Reading Comprehension
- Math
- Handwriting
- Early reading comprehension skills by participating in our Connect XYZ™ program
- Curriculums & Programs Utilized for Academic Instruction
- Maryland Common Core Curriculum
- Orton-Gillingham
- Recipe for Reading
- Seeing Stars
- Phonemic Awareness in Young Children
- Talkies
- Touch Math, Touch Money, Touch Time
- Handwriting without Tears