The River Street Autism Program

The River Street Autism Program

(CREC - Capitol Region Education Council)

• 601 River Street
  
• Windsor, CT 06095
  
• (860) 298-9079
  
• (860) 298-8413 (Fax)
• Send email

The River Street Autism Program
Serving Young Children with Autism and Their Families

The River Street Autism Program provides intensive year round services for children with autism between 3-10 years of age. Intervention is provided through one-on-one instruction using the principles of applied behavior analysis. The curriculum follows a developmental progression using discrete trial teaching with a strong emphasis on the generalization of skills to more natural learning environments.

The development of speech, language and social skills are the primary components of the treatment program. Facilitating the child's integration into normal peer groups and enrollment in preschool are the secondary components. In addition, training is provided to family members to encourage active participation in their child's program.

Service Delivery Models
Home-Based Programs: Children aged 2-6 receive intensive one-to-one home-based behavioral intervention from 30-40 hours a week. Program supervision is provided through weekly team meetings and monthly workshops where all tutors are observed working directly with the student.

Model ABA Classrooms: Located in public school systems, these classrooms are ABA programs that employ discrete trial intervention for initial acquisition of programs, with programming for generalization in group activities with other children. The public school classrooms provide opportunities for inclusion and peer integration. In these contexts, the children receive shadow support with the goal of transferring control to the classroom teachers.

Individual Consultation in Public School Classrooms: In this model, the child receives ABA services in the context of a regular or special education classroom. Similar to our model classrooms, discrete trial programming may be provided for initial acquisition of programs, and shadow support is provided for inclusion opportunities.

Coltsville School
The River Street Autism Program began offering intensive intervention as a satellite of River Street School (Windsor) in June, 2000. Due to increased demand for service, it substantially expanded operations in September, 2003. Our full day, intensive behavioral intervention program moved to a newly renovated site in Hartford near the Colt Manufacturing complex. The River Street Autism Program at Coltsville occupies approximately 33,000 square feet of space and can accommodate approximately 50 children with autism and 50 typically developing preschoolers.

• 10 classrooms for children with autism spectrum disorders
• 3 preschool rooms for inclusion opportunities with typically developing children
• 6 instructional rooms with one-way windows
• Cafeteria and kitchen
• Gross motor and sensory motor rooms
• Nurses station
• Offices, staff lounge and conference roomsA portion of the new space will be used as a training site for parents and school district staff.

Program components include:

• 30 – 40 hour weekly ABA program – up to 240 days per year
• Videotaped reviews conducted by Ph.D. level Clinical Supervisor
• Board Certified Behavior Analysts
• Certified Special Education Teachers
• 1:1 Staffing
• Speech, OT and PT services provided by certified, licensed staff

What is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)?
“ABA is the science in which procedures derived from the principles of behavior are systematically applied to improve socially significant behavior.”
-Cooper, Heron and Heward, (1987)

What are considered to be the essential components of quality ABA treatment?
The River Street Autism Program strives to provide the highest quality treatment possible. Optimal treatment includes the following elements:

• Treatment delivered by persons thoroughly trained in the methods, and supervised by degreed professionals trained in ABA.
• Treatment occurring 30-40 hours per week
• Family members actively participate in teaching their child.
• At least two years of intensive intervention, beginning with one-to-one instruction, and followed by programmed inclusion with typical peers.

What are the qualifications of the staff?
Our clinical supervisor, Dr. Kathleen Dyer, is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and a certified speech pathologist. She holds her doctorate in Speech and Hearing Science. Our staff supervisors are also Board Certified Behavior Analysts. All of our staff receive thorough competency training and ongoing supervision by our BCBA supervisors. All teachers are certified by the Connecticut Department of Special Education.