Your child receiving the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder can present a new set of challenges to parents, especially when you are unsure of the next steps to take. Studies show that early intervention post-diagnosis can improve a child’s ability to learn the skills they will need to reach their full potential.
ResponsiveEd operates a tuition-free public school option in San Antonio specifically designed to provide this critical intervention to students on the autism spectrum. Foundation School for Autism Program Supervisor Rheatha Miller, recently met with the Founder and CEO of San Antonio Charter Moms, Inga Cotton, to discuss this program in the San Antonio area.
Here are highlights from the conversation.
What is the mission of the Foundation School for Autism and how did the school come to be?
Our mission is to provide individualized, research-based education to children with autism that focuses on their social, communication, and academic skills. Almost eleven years ago ResponsiveEd teamed up with a local non-profit, Autism Community Network to launch the San Antonio school.
What are the ages of the students, size, and student-teacher ratio?
We serve students from age three in pre-K through first grade. There are a total of six classrooms, each classroom has up to seven students, a certified special education teacher, and an instructional aid per classroom. In total, we have a board-certified behavioral analyst with a master’s in special education. The campus also employs a speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist, and directional aids who all work together to service the children.
What are the benefits of having these specialized staff?
All staff members are there every day and don’t work at multiple campuses to provide a more specialized education based on the needs of the individual student.
How do you talk to the families about the transition from your program to elementary school?
Foundation School of Autism is a self-contained special education program, so we do not have general education students. We encourage our first-grade parents to reach out to their student’s new school they’ll attend in second grade early in the year to collaborate with the special education director for a smooth transition. We work with the new school to observe so they can get a better understanding of the child’s individual needs.
A new Foundation School for Autism is scheduled to open in fall 2021 in Plano, Texas. For more information about this tuition-free, early intervention school for students on the autism spectrum and the program that is coming to North Texas, visit FoundationSchool.net.
