Call us or email us 510.741.5440 for more information
Our programs for children with emotional disturbances (ED) are designed to meet the needs of students with significant behavioral challenges including aggression, destructive behavior, elopement, and self-injury. These students often have high academic, verbal, and cognitive skills and, because of their emotional challenges, may struggle to achieve their highest potential.
Emphasis
Our consistent and structured environment emphasizes intensive social skills training, academic instruction, and individualized behavior interventions. Throughout the program, we aim to facilitate the student’s successful transition back to a less restrictive classroom. The techniques we typically employ include:- Individualized Education Plan (IEP) plans.
- Measurable goals for behavioral and academic progress.
- Highly structured classrooms.
- Positive teaching and behavior management strategies.
- Small class sizes with intensive staff-to-student ratios.
- A strong emphasis on social development.
Strategies
We educate our ED students in an environment governed by respect and compassion, using positive, proven, research-based techniques. Specific components of the program include:
Applied Behavior Analysis
Our core strategy for addressing challenging behaviors in a safe, positive, respectful manner, teaches students to develop self-control and appropriate alternative behaviors, and improves each student’s ability to learn and communicate.
Second Step curriculum
Helps students improve their social skills, including anger management, problem solving, and empathy.
Academic instruction
Which uses district/state approved curriculum and an empirically based approach to educating special needs students.
Life- and work-related skills training
To prepare students for life after school.
Individualized programming
In academics and behavioral skills to help students transition into a less restrictive environment (e.g., public school, community college, or employment).
Direct instruction
A rigorously-developed, highly-structured teaching method that helps students acquire skills and practice them to fluency. The technique is deigned to ensure that students have mastered knowledge and skills before moving on to the next lesson.
For additional information about this program, or to discuss a referral to Spectrum, call (510) 741-5440 or contact us.