6425 Willow Springs Road
LaGrange, IL 60525
708.579.9040
6880 North Frontage Road
Suite 100
Burr Ridge, IL 60527
708.639.4222
Admission open
Previous records involving evaluations from the public school, medical professionals, and Acacia Academy are used to develop a program personalized for the autism spectrum student. The student receives modified instruction and materials to ensure maximum learning. They receive services that are identified as needed and stated in the IEP. Many of these students have co-existing learning, attention, and social communication differences. Academic instruction is presented and modified accordingly. Individual and small group social skills training, as well as, conflict resolution training is constantly implemented to improve social awareness and communication. Socially, the child is helped to develop awareness of the existence or feelings of others, to learn how to seek comfort at times of distress and to socially interact or participate in activities involving other children. Every social interaction is seen as an opportunity for learning utilizing the student’s strengths and modifying areas of difficulty.
In addition to the comprehension of one’s surroundings, oral and written comprehension is often impaired. A specific program of instruction to further develop these skills, as well as others, is offered.
Academic:
Acacia’s autism programming is highly individualized because each child with autism presents with different strengths and needs. Rather than having a specific program that molds the child, we let the child’s strengths and needs mold their specific program. We think of our various programs as a set of tools that may be used to value strengths and help with needs.
The Acacia Toolbox:
Highly individualized case management and coordination:
As an independent test and measurement center, we provide cognitive/intelligence, processing, academics, speech/language, social assessments, and occupational therapy evaluations. Examples of evaluations:
Acacia Academy uses a wide ranging eclectic approach that is both culturally responsive and relevant to the academic environment. Our positive behavioral supports and interventions are helpful for all students and adaptive to the individual student’s behavioral needs. Our positive behavioral interventions have a wide body of research (Sugai et al.2000; Lewis and Sugai, 1999; see https://www.pbis.org) that illustrates the strength of these approaches.
Examples of Interventions:
Context:
Tim is a fifth grade student. He has a difficult time focusing on his math work and cannot read text for more than five minutes at a time.
Interventions:
Tim’s teacher creates a calm working environment with cool lighting and a quiet work environment.
Tim’s teacher develops project based lessons, experiential learning, and hands-on activities that incorporate the 2 ½ acre Acacia Nature Center into each subject the student is learning. This incorporates a natural reason to be outside in the Nature Center providing an additional environment to soothe and calm the student.
Tim’s teacher provides Tim and a group of peers with additional academic accommodations including listening to textbooks and multi-media presentations of material through the use of up-to-date software and educational enhancing programs.
Tim’s teacher would provide indoor and outdoor sensory breaks when he appears agitated that address his specific sensory related behaviors.
The vital difference in positive behavioral intervention is the proactive and positive approach to behavioral interventions. As opposed to a punishment approach, positive behavioral intervention reinforces “appropriate” behavior rather than punishing “bad” behavior. The student then acquires a set of appropriate behaviors that they have learned through reinforcement rather than a behavioral repertoire that they are punished for and do not have behaviors that are acceptable replacements.
Visual Schedules: Students may be provided with visual scheduling for their daily routines and academic tasks. These schedules are specific, tailored for the students that need them.
Time Timers: Some students struggle with a sense of time or become anxious during transitions. By using the highly visual time timer (Time Timer), students have additional tools for anticipating transitions and independently monitoring the timing of activities and assignments.
Proactive Sensory Breaks: Students often have hypo or hyper sensitivities to a variety of sensory inputs. Acacia collaborates with occupational therapists and classroom teachers/aides, to provide proactive sensory breaks before they become over stimulated.
Social Skills Coaching
Generally, students with autism/aspergers struggle with social interactions and appropriate behaviors in social settings. Through collaboration with the social work team and teachers, students are provided with instruction and opportunities to practice social skills in a variety of contexts and settings. The variety of tools may include:
Acacia Academy offers a Transition Program for students ages 18-22 to develop independent living skills, academic skills, and vocational training to ensure a successful transition into the adult world and further educational and employment opportunities.
Sensory Facilitations
Additionally