REED Academy
Early Intervention Services
For more information about REED Academy’s Early Intervention Services, please email kdonaghy@reedacademy.org.
REED Academy Early Intervention Services: The Right Start for Your Child
Director Kim Donaghy, M.A. BCBA, shares the unique values and aspects that make the REED Academy Early Intervention Program a key step in your child’s education.
Kim Donaghy, M.A., BCBA, has spent 13 years at REED Academy. Now as Director of the Early Intervention Center, she shares what makes this program so essential for little learners from diagnosis to age 5, setting them up for a brighter future.
We know how to help little ones develop a love of learning. The Early Intervention Center was established after more than a decade of deep clinical expertise in teaching individuals with autism ages 3 to 21 at our school, REED Academy. Educators and medical professionals agree: Early intervention is essential when it comes to teaching children with autism.
At such a young age, children need to learn how to learn. As with REED Academy, the Early Intervention Center is guided by the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis, the gold standard of teaching individuals on the autism spectrum. Our ABA-trained clinicians focus on each child’s strengths and challenges, to drive meaningful behavior change and motivate each child to be curious about the world around them. We also focus on language, communication, and social skills. Challenging behavior like self-injury, aggression, or tantrum behavior can impact a child’s ability to learn; here, we work steadily to decrease those behaviors and teach appropriate replacement behaviors.
Parent participation benefits everyone. We’re in constant communication with parents—from daily drop-off and pick-up to regular one-on-one meetings. When families are brought into the learning process, everyone benefits. It’s not enough for children to learn certain behaviors and skills in the clinic setting—for the children to really absorb and master each new skill, it’s important that they be able to do them at home as well. If a child learns how to ask for a cookie at school, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll ask for a cookie at home. Parents are instrumental in reinforcing lessons and behaviors in the family environment, and beyond.
Each child’s educational program is tailored exclusively to them. The information we get from parents and the child, as well as assessments we make during the application process, all help inform the unique program that will best suit your child. We consider how many hours we’ll need with your child per week, as well as what goals to strive for. We want everything we teach to be functional for your child and your family, based on what’s most important for them at this time. Comprehensive home-based services are available when needed.
During their days in the clinic setting, your child will be surrounded by kids their age. Highly-trained BCBAs (Board Certified Behavior Analysts) will lead them in one-on-one and group instruction: they play games together, go on wagon rides together, eat snack and lunch, and have circle time. With kids this young, even play can be incredibly instructional, setting them up for success in the school setting.
With REED Academy’s Early Intervention Program, newly-diagnosed children get a jump start on the crucial learning skills they need to grow and thrive in their home, their school, and their community.
For more information about REED Academy’s Early Intervention Services, please email kdonaghy@reedacademy.org.
REED Academy Early Intervention Services: The Right Start for Your Child
To learn more about REED Academy’s Early Intervention Services, please email kdonaghy@reedacademy.org.
Director Kim Donaghy, M.A. BCBA, shares the unique values and aspects that make the REED Academy Early Intervention Program a key step in your child’s education.
Kim Donaghy, M.A., BCBA, has spent 13 years at REED Academy. Now as Director of the Early Intervention Center, she shares what makes this program so essential for little learners from diagnosis to age 5, setting them up for a brighter future.
We know how to help little ones develop a love of learning. The Early Intervention Center was established after more than a decade of deep clinical expertise in teaching individuals with autism ages 3 to 21 at our school, REED Academy. Educators and medical professionals agree: Early intervention is essential when it comes to teaching children with autism.
At such a young age, children need to learn how to learn. As with REED Academy, the Early Intervention Center is guided by the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis, the gold standard of teaching individuals on the autism spectrum. Our ABA-trained clinicians focus on each child’s strengths and challenges, to drive meaningful behavior change and motivate each child to be curious about the world around them. We also focus on language, communication, and social skills. Challenging behavior like self-injury, aggression, or tantrum behavior can impact a child’s ability to learn; here, we work steadily to decrease those behaviors and teach appropriate replacement behaviors.
Parent participation benefits everyone. We’re in constant communication with parents—from daily drop-off and pick-up to regular one-on-one meetings. When families are brought into the learning process, everyone benefits. It’s not enough for children to learn certain behaviors and skills in the clinic setting—for the children to really absorb and master each new skill, it’s important that they be able to do them at home as well. If a child learns how to ask for a cookie at school, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll ask for a cookie at home. Parents are instrumental in reinforcing lessons and behaviors in the family environment, and beyond.
Each child’s educational program is tailored exclusively to them. The information we get from parents and the child, as well as assessments we make during the application process, all help inform the unique program that will best suit your child. We consider how many hours we’ll need with your child per week, as well as what goals to strive for. We want everything we teach to be functional for your child and your family, based on what’s most important for them at this time. Comprehensive home-based services are available when needed.
During their days in the clinic setting, your child will be surrounded by kids their age. Highly-trained BCBAs (Board Certified Behavior Analysts) will lead them in one-on-one and group instruction: they play games together, go on wagon rides together, eat snack and lunch, and have circle time. With kids this young, even play can be incredibly instructional, setting them up for success in the school setting.
With REED Academy’s Early Intervention Program, newly-diagnosed children get a jump start on the crucial learning skills they need to grow and thrive in their home, their school, and their community.
For more information about REED Academy’s Early Intervention Services, please email kdonaghy@reedacademy.org.