Our Mission
To educate, advocate for and empower individuals on the autism spectrum, their families, and communities, and to build mutually beneficial relationships among them.
Our Core Values
Learning should be individualized and occur across all developmental domains.
Our students come to us with very diverse and specialized needs. We strive to work with each student at their developmental level while maintaining age appropriate activities. We look for opportunities to teach the “whole child” and develop skills in all developmental domains. Below is an example of curriculum areas addressed with our social skills groups during community outings.
• Behavior - following directions, reducing anxiety, being flexible
• Safety - buckling seat belts, walking in parking lots, crossing streets
• Self-Care - toileting, dressing, eating
• Communication - making requests, answering questions, having conversations
• Social Skills - joining/initiating with others, sharing, waiting, taking turns
• Money Skills - paying for items, ordering food, using vending machines
Therapy should be collaborative
The Autism Project will make all efforts to collaborate with families and other professionals delivering therapeutic activities to the student. We realize that collaboration is essential to progress and ensures consistency within programming.
An eclectic approach leads to the greatest progress
The Autism Project does not align itself with any particular treatment approach. Rather, we pride ourselves on using the “best practices” available for students on the autism spectrum. In that, we realize that what may work for one student may not work for another. Some of the treatment approaches commonly utilized in our therapies include TEACCH, Sensory Integration, Social Stories, PECS, Incidental Teaching, Floortime, Discrete Trial Training, Montessori and Daily Life Therapy.
Program Director
All programs will be under the direction under Angela Gaither. Ms. Gaither holds a B.S in Psychology and Physical Education; and an M.S. in Special Education. Additionally she has a graduate certificate in “Educating Students with Autism and Other Pervasive Developmental Disorders” from Johns Hopkins University. Ms. Gaither has over 10 years experience in treating students on the autism spectrum.
Our Program is designed for:
• students with an Autism Spectrum Diagnosis
• students of all abilities and intellectual capabilities
• students who are additionally diagnosed with ADHD, Bipolar, ODD, OCD, Anxiety Disorder, Executive Function Disorder or Sensory Integration Dysfunction
• students without severe conduct disorders to include behaviors such as theft, assault, drug/alcohol addiction and sex crimes
• students without a history of severe physical, emotional, mental, and sexual abuse
• families who are interested in generating awareness for Autism Spectrum Disorders through various fundraising efforts and community service projects
• families who will offer support to one another in times of crisis and in times of celebration
• families who embrace an eclectic approach to understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders