Due to the nature and severity of our students’ disabilities our programs use a functional, experiential academic and life skills curriculum using the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks as a guide. ACCEPT provides academic instruction in the areas of English/Language Arts, Reading, History and Social Sciences, Math, and Science and Technology.  Goals, curriculum, strategies, and interventions are jointly developed by educators, related services personnel, and parents.  When appropriate, students receive instruction in activities of daily living, including grooming, hygiene, and leisure skills with the goal of generalizing the skills into the students’ daily routine.  The entire team is focused on achieving a common set of goals/objectives/benchmarks that are focused on minimizing the impact of the student’s disability in order to maximize the student’s achievement and participation in the community.

Related service staff provide direct service to students and they also provide consultation to insure that therapeutic strategies are interwoven and carried over into instructional activities and routines throughout the day.  Skills are taught and integrated within the context of both academic and natural settings.  Speech and Language Therapists develop individualized communication programs that are implemented throughout the student’s day.  The main focus of the communication program is enhanced vocabulary, improved comprehension, and increased social pragmatic communication skills.  For some students, this requires augmentative communication systems such as communication books, sign language, and electronic switches and other devices.  Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists offer students instruction to improve motor skills, coordination, range of motion, muscle power, and posture using adaptive equipment as necessary.  To optimize students’ opportunities to enter the work force activities to develop general work habits and a positive attitude toward employment are provided.  Some students participate in supported employment in the community with job coaching as needed. 

ACCEPT’s Extended Year Services are for students who require consistency of programming during the summer to maintain educational progress. The classes provide structured individual, small group, and classroom instruction based on the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).  ACCEPT’s Extended Year Services provides a bridge between academic years.  The services are geared to minimize the impact of the disability and maximize opportunities for individuals with autism, developmental disabilities, and intellectual impairments.  We foster an educational environment to allow individuals to achieve their full potential and participate in their community.

Name of Program:  Opportunities for Success

Location:  Ashland Middle School 

Primary Disabilities served:  Moderate Intellectual Impairments

 Intellectual Impairments, students demonstrate moderate developmental delays or physical handicaps that impact their functioning.

The classroom provides a caring, supportive and highly structured environment, with consistent routines geared to develop reading, writing, math, expressive language and social skills based on the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks.  Direct Instruction and positive behavior support strategies are used to maximize each student’s abilities and independence.  Related services and assistive technologies are provided and integrated throughout the day.  The class has a nurse assigned for students with complex medical needs.

Number of students in program:  6-8

 Ages of students in program: 10-14 years old

 Length of school year: 180 days  Summer program: 25 days 8:30-2:30 daily

 Other services provided: Speech/Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Nursing, Behavioral Consultation and Music Therapy.

 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Name of Program: Autism/PDD Middle School Level I

 Location:  Ashland Middle School

 Primary Disabilities Served: Autism/Pervasive Developmental Disorder

Students show atypical social/cognitive development and severe language delays.

Students in this program have atypical social, cognitive and/ or language delays.  The program is designed to develop and strengthen academic, social, language and life skills to promote independence and participation in the community.  The classroom provides a caring, supportive and highly structured environment with consistent routines.  The classroom uses an eclectic approach consisting of ABA and TEACCH strategies.  The curriculum is aligned with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks.  Individualized positive behavior support plans and specially designed instruction are based on each student’s IEP.   

Number of students in program:  6 - 8

 Ages of students in program:  9 - 13 years old

 Length of school year: 180 days   Summer program: 25 days 8:30-2:30 daily

 Other services provided:  Speech/Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Assistive Technology and Behavioral Consultation are provided to address unique learning needs and are integrated throughout the day.

Location:  Millis Middle School

 Primary Disabilities served:  Autism/Pervasive Developmental Disorder.

Students show atypical social/cognitive development and some have severe language delays.

The classroom provides a caring, supportive and highly structured environment, consistent routines, limited distractions, and individualized positive behavior support plans for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders.  The program is designed to maximize each student’s unique social, cognitive and language needs.  Academic, social, behavioral, vocational and functional skills training are based on each student’s IEP to promote independence and participation in the community.  TEACCH, ABA and Picture Exchange approaches are used and the curriculum is aligned with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. 

Number of students in program:  6 - 8

Ages of students in program: 12-15 years old

Length of school year: 180 days  Summer program: 25 days 8:30-2:30 daily

Other services provided:  Speech/Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Assistive Technology, Behavioral Consultation are provided to address unique learning needs and are integrated throughout the day.

Name of Program:   Autism/PDD Middle School Level III

Location:  Walsh Middle School, Framingham

 Primary Disabilities served:  Autism/Pervasive Developmental Disorder

Students show atypical social/cognitive development, severe language delays, and behavioral issues.

The classroom provides a caring, supportive and highly structured environment, consistent routines, limited distractions, and individualized positive behavior support plans.  Academic, social, behavioral and functional life skills training are developed to maximize independence and participation in the community.  The curriculum is aligned with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks.  Picture exchange programs, TEACCH and ABA approaches are used as well some discrete trial training where appropriate. 

Number of students in program:  5 - 7

Ages of students in program:  9-13 years old

Length of school year:  180 days   Summer program: 25 days 8:30-2:30 daily

Other services provided: Speech/Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Assistive Technology, Behavioral Consultation and Music Therapy are provided to address unique learning needs and are integrated throughout the day.

Name of Program:  High School PDD/Autism Program  HS Level 111

Location:  Millis High School

 Primary Disabilities served: Autism/Pervasive Developmental Disorder

Students show atypical social/cognitive development, severe language delays, and behavioral issues.

The classroom provides a caring, supportive and highly structured environment, consistent routines, and individualized positive behavior support plans.  The curriculum is aligned with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks and TEACCH, ABA, language and picture communication systems and discrete trial training are used as specified in Individualized Education Programs.  The program provides community, vocational, social and functional life skill activities to enhance and generalize students’ skills and facilitate transition to life beyond age 22. 

Number of students in program: : 6 – 8

 Ages of students in program:  17 - 22 years old

 Length of school year:  180 days   Summer program: 25 days 8:30-2:30 daily

Other services provided:  Nursing, Speech/Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Behavioral Consultation and Music Therapy

Name of Program:  JET (Job Entry Training) HS Level I

Location:  Keefe Vocational Technical School, Framingham

 Primary Disabilities served: Mild to Moderate Disabilities

The Job Entry Training Program is designed to develop vocational and academic skills for students, ranging in age from 14 to 18, with intellectual impairments.  The Program’s philosophy is to challenge students academically, socially, and vocationally to acquire the skills necessary to be responsible members of the community.  JET’s academic component is aligned with the Massachusetts Department of Education Curriculum Frameworks. Instruction is provided in structured settings based on the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).  JET’s vocational component assists students develop entry-level employment skills. 

Number of students in program:  30

Ages of students in program:  14-18 years old

Length of school year:  180 days   Summer program: 25 days 8:30-11:30 daily

Other services provided:  Speech/Language Therapy

Name of Program: Passages Post HS Level I-II

Location:  Ashland High School

Primary Disabilities served: Mild to moderate disabilities

Passages is a comprehensive post high school transitional curriculum designed to better prepare 18-22 year old students for their rightful place as active members of their communities.  Program features include:

·         Vocational Training including individual skill assessment, job shadowing, volunteer internships, job search training, applications and interviewing skills,  exploring community-based employment opportunities and job coach support as needed

·         Independent Living Skills including exploring living situations, domestic responsibilities (cooking, cleaning, and shopping), telephone skills, accessing the community

·         Personal Growth including health awareness, leisure skills, peer relationships and appropriate social behaviors

·         Communication Skills including augmentative communication strategies, vocabulary skills, functional receptive and expressive language and social pragmatics embedded in activities throughout the day

·         Relevant Academic Studies including functional mathematics, reading and writing

·         Use of research-based strategies and differentiated instruction to appeal to a wide variety of learning styles and needs

·         Ongoing assessments and data analysis conducted on routine basis in order to consistently adapt to students current abilities and needs

·         Multiple activities to reinforce targeted skills, presented in both engineered and naturally occurring environments, including the classroom, community and workplace

Number of students in program:  18

Ages of students in program: 18-22 years old

Length of school year:  180 days   Summer program: 25 days 8:30-11:30 daily

Other services provided:  Speech/Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Behavioral Consultation

Name of Program:  Multi Handicapped Medically Involved

Location:  Wheelock School, Medfield

Primary Disabilities served:  Students in this class are medically fragile, functioning between 1-12 months. Direct hands-on input is required for sensory-motor integration, physical therapy, and feeding and language development

 Number of students in program:  4 - 6

 Ages of students in program:  3 - 5 years old

 Length of school year: 180 days   Summer program: 25 days 8:30-2:30 daily 

Other services provided:  Nursing, Speech/Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Behavioral Consultation and Music Therapy.