What Can This Program Do For My Child?

Our program is designed to include your child in a small classroom of typically developing peers with a teacher who is trained to work with children on the autism spectrum.  After an initial assessment, we will meet with you and set specific goals designed to meet your child’s individual needs and to build upon his or her strengths. 

Your child  will have the chance to interact with typically developing peers who will serve as role models, classmates and friends.  Classrooms have a low teacher to child ratio throughout the curriculum day.  Your child’s progress will be guided and monitored by skilled teachers so that your child is constantly moving forward toward their individual goals. 

Our program provides an enriched language environment which encourages both receptive and expressive language through story telling, reading and listening activities, as well as opportunities for learning how to express themselves through dramatic play and play therapy. 

The children also experience activities which foster development and integration of  both fine and gross motor skills through a wide variety of daily activities designed to refine and  improve their  skills.  Socialization and self help activities are a regular part of the classroom day and are adapted to meet the needs of each child in the program.

Our program is part of the National School Lunch program and children receive a well-balanced breakfast and lunch.  The children benefit from programs which provide a variety of enrichment activities with art, music, environmental science and creative exploration as a regular part of the learning experience

In addition to the regular teaching staff, Covina Development Center  engages a number of support staff to assist us in meeting the needs of children and thier families:

• Parent Educator
• Art Therapist
• Play Therapist
• Music Therapist
• Speech Therapist
•  Special Educator

Together these professional provide multiple opportunities for growth and development of each child.

A fully inclusive preschool program for children on the Autism Spectrum

These are some things that we believe regarding children on the Autism Spectrum

• Children on the spectrum learn best in an environment with typically developing  peers
• They require teachers with special training and a low teacher child ratio to allow for individual instruction
• Each child on the autism spectrum has unique areas of both strengths and needs
• Education for each child must be tailored to meet the needs of that child
• Specialized teaching techniques such as SCERTS, Floortime, PECS, behavior intervention, play, art and music therapy, social stories,  sensory integration and others may be helpful for individual children to meet the goals of indiviual children.
  
• Each child is assessed within thirty days after enrollment and then Parents and Staff meet to design a program to address this child’s unique needs.
• Peer modeling can provide reinforcement for learning
• The intellectual capacity or potential of a child on the autism spectrum may not be easily measurable by standardized tests.  Each child has a unique repertoire of needs and strengths which need to be addressed as part of their development and reflected in their individual program plan.
• Children should be given a wide range of learning experiences to allow them to realize their potential.  All modalities such as play, art and music,  and creative and expressive experiences may be helpful to reinforce learning and growth and maximize the child’s potential.
• Art, Music and Play Therapy are included in the program.
• Speech, PT and OT consultation available
• Parent Support and advisement

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Is this program for your child ?

If your child has been diagnosed with ASD but has not  been provided with center based fully inclusion preschool  by Regional Center or a full inclusion intervention preschool program to implement their IEP  by the public school, we can help.  We accept children at nearly all levels of development, ages 0-6 years old.  This is a private-pay program so you don’t spend time fighting for the care of your child's needs.   We welcome your call today to schedule an  evaluation and tour of our school.