Early Childhood Program

What is the Early Childhood Program?

The Early Childhood program serves children 18 months to 5 years of age who will benefit from an individualized, structured learning program.    Our treatment model places value on the combined knowledge of typical infant/child development, research on most effective interventions for young children with autism, and the science of learning.  We use intensive instructional programming and naturalistic teaching within daily routines to establish, maintain, and increase the children’s active engagement with people and their surroundings. 

Program Description

Intensive, high quality intervention

• 1:1 and group instruction that includes incidental teaching, structured learning opportunities, relationship building, sensory social routines
• Planned opportunities for interactions with typical peers
• Nationally recognized pre and post assessments
• Individualized data collection
• Regular review and holistic consideration of individual children by clinical management team

Speech and occupational therapy

• Weekly consultation and direct individual therapy from highly experienced autism professionals
• Speech and occupational therapy goals embedded in natural daily routines
• Daily activities focusing on social-relatedness and communication development

Parent training

• Quarterly parent training sessions
• Training includes observation, feedback, hands-on learning opportunities
• Initial home visits
• Individualized, regular progress meetings

Staff

• Highly qualified staff meeting or exceeding Colorado Department of Education standards
• Masters level, Early Childhood Program Coordinator and licensed Childcare Director
• Board certified behavior analyst
• Speech/language pathologists, occupational therapist, clinical psychologist, licensed teachers
• Leadership and teachers fully invested in children’s progress and care
• Ongoing commitment to professional development, training, and autism education

Family and community

• Monthly, affordable respite opportunities (Parents Night Out)
• Field trips
• Routine-based family interview and goals to facilitate engagement and continual learning opportunities within the home

Schedule

We offer full and half-day programs providing up to 30 hours of intervention per week. Program options include:

Full day (8:30-2:30) and half day (8:30-11:30 or 11:30-2:30pm), Mon-Friday. Individualized programs include school readiness-related and home-based goals, such as eating, toilet training, peer/sibling interactions, and dressing routines.  Parents have daily interaction with teaching staff.

Admissions

Contact info@altavista-autism.org or call 303-759-1192 ext 10 regarding admission.