Residential Services for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Are you searching for a caring and nurturing group home environment that provides residential services for children & teens diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder in South Eastern PA? Well look no further, Woods is the place where your child will be safe, will grow and learn at their own pace keeping in mind the their special needs.
Woods Autism Residential Treatment Facility (RTF)
The target population for the Woods Autism RTF will consist of children and adolescents (under 21 years of age) who have a DSM-IV Axis I diagnosis of autistic disorder or one of the related pervasive developmental disorders. Individuals who are referred to this program are likely to display symptoms of psychiatric disturbance of sufficient severity and/or frequency as to no longer be candidates for continued placement in the family home, public school, or similarly minimally restrictive setting.
These psychiatric symptoms may include:
- Aggression
- Self Injury
- Property Destruction
- General Non-Compliance
- Other Maladaptive Behaviors
The program is specifically designed to address the treatment needs of individuals on the lower end of the autism spectrum. The persons served in this program will have a functioning level consistent with intellectual disability, whether or not someone has actually applied that classification. The individuals will also have significant deficits in conceptual, social, and practical adaptive functioning in all of the individuals to be served in this program.
Residential Programs for Autistic Disorders
The Autism RTF uses a strength-based approach and tailors each child’s program to meet his/her individual needs. The approach has been to attempt to incorporate all aspects of a child’s functioning into the treatment planning. The treatment models are grounded in providing the structure and support necessary to help each individual feel safe, both physically and emotionally. Behavior change is able to occur within the safety of the environment. Children who have previously presented with socially inappropriate behaviors are able to develop healthier and more positive ways of interacting with the world, and coping with their psychiatric and emotional challenges. Within this broad context, several underlying
Autistic Treatment Principles Have Remained Consistent:
- Emotional Safety
- Resilience
- Recovery
- Milieu
- Evidence Based Practices
Autism Treatment Components:
- Behavior Therapy
- Psychiatry
- Residential Programming
- Special Education
- Adjunctive Therapies (Occupational, Physical, & Speech Therapy)
- Medical Care
- Family Therapy & Parent Training
Woods Autism Spectrum Disorders Clinical Team:
- Licensed Psychiatrist
- Clinical Psychologist
- Board Certified Behavioral Analyst
- Autism Program Specialist
- Speech, Physical, and Occupational Therapists
- Certified Special Education Instructors
- Registered Nurses
- Staff Counselor
Autism Spectrum Disorders Residential Staff Training
Given the expectation of autism behavioral expertise across all aspects of this program, our residential staff receives specific training geared toward working with children who are diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorders. This training includes, but not limited to:
- Basic Applied Behavior Analysis
- Data Collection
- Reinforcement Strategies
- Functions of Behavior
- Autism Myths and Realities
- SMART Training (behavioral prevention)