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Connecticut Center for Child Development’s private school was the first applied behavior analytic special education program in the state of Connecticut. This program is designed for students demonstrating the symptoms of autism spectrum disorders. However, a specific diagnosis of autism is not required, and students with another secondary diagnosis can be enrolled as students in the program.
The school provides a full day, year round center-based educational program for 40 students; as well as intensive in-home consultation and training for families and home support teams. A curriculum is customized to meet each child's individual educational requirements. Depending on each student's unique strengths and deficits, intensive instruction is provided to teach basic and advanced communication skills, social skills, daily living skills, play skills, pre-academic and academic skills, self-help skills and leisure and recreational activities. Specific programs are developed to reduce or replace undesirable behaviors with more socially appropriate behaviors. Skills are taught and practiced in several environments - home, school and in the community - in order to assure that newly acquired skills can be applied successfully across all of these environments. Students also participate in a variety of occupational and recreational activities as their age, skills, and interests dictate. Communication and collaboration between home and school, as well as family support are critical components of the school program. Parents work as partners with school personnel to maximize each student's learning potential.
A ratio of approximately 2 clinical staff to each student is maintained, however, as children progress, teaching situations are expanded to include independent activities, peer interactions and group instruction. When children have the prerequisite skills necessary for success, opportunities for interaction with typically developing peers, such as participation in typical classroom settings and local community activities are incorporated into their educational programs. For those students who are able to "graduate" into less restrictive settings, CCCD offers transition and follow-up educational and consultative services on a life-long basis to our former students and their families. However, not all students will make the kind of gains necessary to allow them to function within a regular classroom or other less restrictive educational settings. CCCD is expanding and modifying our programs and services to provide continuing support of our adolescent and young adult students throughout their lifetime to maximize their potential for a meaningful, independent life.
Parents, school district personnel, or other professionals interested learning more about the CCCD school program are invited to attend one of our regularly scheduled Visitor’s Days. Visitor’s Days are generally held once per month from 9:30 am to 11:30 am. A general overview of the CCCD programs is provided, followed by a tour of the school. Whenever possible, individual program tours for those visiting from out of state or School District Planning and Placement Teams can be scheduled upon request. Please contact Holly Sickles to schedule a visit.
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