Jacksonville School for Autism

Full Description

Jacksonville School for Autism (JSA) operates as a not-for-profit private school that provides comprehensive, individualized special education to children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).   JSA recently relocated to a beautiful new campus which is centrally located right off  I-95 & Baymeadows Road.

JSA is an approved John McKay Scholarship School.

JSA Clinical Group provides behavior therapy to young children and adolescents with a variety of developmental and pervasive delays.   With a specialization in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and related behavioral health impairments,  JSA and JSA Clinical Group provide educational and behavioral services to children with Speech and Language Impairments and Learning/ Intellectual Disabilities.   JSA specializes in Autism assessment and intervention with an approach that emphasizes the Verbal Behavior Model (Sundberg & Partington, 1998).

Enrollment Opportunities:

• JSA School Program   (K-12)
• JSA Clinical Group      (2-22 yrs old)

JSA Program Model ~ An Integrative Approach to Education.
JSA is based on an Integrative Model that blends both intensive ABA Clinic Therapy and   highly structured Classroom teaching environments.  The Integrated Model combines the best and most child-appropriate elements from each of these approaches in order to produce natural and spontaneous behaviors and language.  Speech and language, occupational therapy, music therapy and related services are delivered as a core component of this model.
The JSA Model affords 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1 small group instruction. Research-based instruction methods and treatments form the core of the JSA Autism Program.   JSA celebrates the different personalities, interests and learning styles of its students.  Multi-sensory and transdisciplinary activities led by certified and  highly-trained teachers and master's level board certified therapists create social competence and academic success.

JSA Programs include Clinic, Classroom and Community transition instruction:

• Clinic programs are intensive and cater to the needs of students and are offered through outpatient clinic, as well as part-time and full-time student enrollment.
• Classrooms are structured to serve students with a range of academic and cognitive abilities, including, in some cases, those who have the potential to transition into a typical educational setting. Each classroom is assigned a certified special education teacher, a behavioral support specialist, and a para-professional to support learning. In addition, JSA has oversight by a PH.D/BCBA Education Consultant, M.Ed/BCBA Clinic Director and Education Director to work closely with families to assist with carry-over of skills into the home setting.
• Community Transition/Vocation Programs at JSA are based on an individualized, strengths-based approach to academic and behavioral growth.Our evidence-based strategies help to aid students’ academic and social growth, while increasing their ability to create long lasting relationships with peers and adults. We also teach life skills so that each child can become an independent member of their community.  Today, our campus allows for the education of  daily living  & vocation skills to help transition from high school to young adult.   Our effective, evidenced- based special education program help students enhance their academic functioning levels, learn appropriate replacement behaviors, develop coping skills, as well as build and maintain positive relationships with peers and trusted adults so that each child can be successful in their homes and communities.  Students are grouped by age and ability level and parents have a choice of flexible programs to meet their child’s needs.

Our effective, evidenced- based special education program help students enhance their academic functioning levels, learn appropriate replacement behaviors, develop coping skills, as well as build and maintain positive relationships with peers and trusted adults so that each child can be successful in their homes and communities. Students are grouped by age and ability level and parents have a choice of flexible programs to meet their child’s needs.
Program components include:

• Principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA)/ VB-MAPP.
• Direct instruction and therapeutic curriculum provided by special education teachers, and speech and occupational therapists in the areas of academics, social skills, communication, and functional skills
• Broad range of Academic Curricula based on individual student skills/needs
• Clinic & Classroom curricula meet all National Common Core Standards
• Brigance Comprehensive Inventory of Basic Skills-R assessment is used to identify student’s academic level of functioning and to identify areas of strengths and weaknesses.
• Positive behavior support plans developed using functional behavior assessments (FBA’s)
• Speech & Language Therapy, Occupational & Physical Therapy
• Pre-vocational skill development
• Community-based learning
• Reinforcement programs tailor-made to the students’ special interests
• Social Skills through video modeling, social stories and social scripts
• Sensory-friendly classrooms and a state-of-the-art sensory room
• Whole child approach with augmentative therapies such as Music/Piano, Karate Instruction, Tennis Labs, etc.