Rocky Point Academy
Autism Program Stages
Science agrees that all children progress through a series of developmental steps. Some children may not progress through all the steps, may miss some pieces of a step, or even skip a step altogether. When this occurs, there are holes found in that individual’s abilities as they continue to grow.
How many pieces are missing determines how and where your levels of functioning will be. We all have little pieces missing somewhere… and everyone can benefit from this program. However, if someone is missing too many pieces, it begins to hinder them from reaching their full potential. When enough pieces are missing, it can result in a diagnosis of being on the Autism Spectrum.
If we can fill in the missing pieces in a systematic and complete way, we are going to find that the characteristics begin to fall away, and natural growth occurs in those deficient areas… allowing for removal of barriers, lifelong learning, and full participation in life. In order for someone to reach their full potential, three stages need to be completed:
Step 1: Pre-Screening
1. Online video information seminar:
A complimentary 50 minute online information session provides potential clients, parents, teachers or others with information about:
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How unorientation causes the symptoms of autism.
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The program structure and tools.
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How our methods resolve the root cause of the issues.
2. Online Intake Forms:
Due to the personalized nature of our approach, these forms will help us gain a clearer understanding of how to design a program that will resolve struggles, and use their personal interests to achieve the client’s and family’s goals.
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Client Profile: (To be filled out by parents/guardians and/or adult clients)
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Characteristics Profile: (To be filled out by parents/guardians and/or adult clients)
3. Consultation:
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Once we have had an opportunity to go carefully over the information you send in, you will be contacted by Rocky Point Academy to arrange for a free phone consultation to discuss the program further. During this consultation we will share our findings and how the program will be specifically designed for you or your child’s needs and goals.
4. Registration and Deposit:
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When you decide that you are ready for a program, we can register you over the phone. A non-refundable deposit will be taken to reserve your date and then a confirmation packet will be sent to you via email. We accept VISA, MasterCard, Interac, eTransfer or cheque.
Step 2: Individuation
Learning Readiness Tools
These tools and techniques create a mental state that is present, aware, and ready for learning. Tools can be helpful for sustaining attention, focusing, following directions, communicating, relieving stress/anxiety, reducing constant movement… and more. We use a variety of methods to assist this process: visual, auditory, or tactile depending on the participant’s natural strengths.
Self-Development and Awareness
Developing a sense of self is an important step – it is the first stage of natural development. People on the spectrum have often partially got there but not fully… resulting in inaccurate perceptions, sensory overload, hypo/hyper sensitivities, meltdowns, and blockages in learning. Learning is much more than memorized knowledge. Learning requires that the participant is actively involved, empowered and making connections to their own experiences. In order for this connection to happen- one must connect learning to a foundation concept of self. Once this connection is made, learning happens naturally.
Step 3: Social Integration
Typical children begin a developmental journey at birth and meet what are known as ‘developmental milestones’ in a more-or-less organized and predictable trajectory and within a generally predictable time-frame. Being in an oriented state most of the time is a requirement if these milestones are going to be met as expected. If an individual is disoriented most, or even much, of the time, development does not follow the typical pattern. Once individuation takes place, the individual is able to move through those developmental steps.
This stage of the program consists of the series of core life concepts found naturally in development. These concepts are necessary for functioning effectively and confidently in this world. Concepts such as change, consequence, time, sequence, and order. Active engagement is assured through a series of powerful, and multi-modal (visual, auditory and kinesthetic) learning steps:
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Participants discover the concepts through instruction and exploration.
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They instill the missing concepts using the multisensory medium of clay, empowering them with the learning process (Link why clay?)
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Learning is consolidated through exploration with support. This makes lasting and meaningful connections to real-life situations.
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Self-directed application and experimentation in their everyday life -- resulting in lifelong learning, confidence, and ability to reach their fullest potential.
There are a series of over thirty life concepts. Each concept builds easily on the prior concept and flows naturally into the next concept. Explorations of each concept can be embedded into everyday activities and routines and adjusted according to age, ability level, interests, pace and environment to ensure the comfort of the participant. Because we are addressing the root concepts behind different struggles and behaviors- we do not need to specifically address each behavior. Instead, we address the root, and the result is a wide range of changes… many different behavioral patterns may come from one root.
Step 4: Social Integration
This stage of the program focuses on helping the individual to apply the concepts in their own life to create meaningful change. The desired changes will depend on each person’s specific needs, goals and situation.
Theory of Mind:
Prior to attending a program, clients often become frustrated or argumentative when others have different thoughts, feelings, and desires than their own. The concepts enable a client to discover what is or is not within their control and to allow for differences.
How to make good choices:
discovering what choices are acceptable and good for the well-being of the client and those around them.
Establishing Order:
learning how to use the concepts to establish order, determine order, create order and maintain order in one’s self and environment.
Creating New Behaviours:
exploring behaviours that have had negative consequences and learning how to use the concepts to create more positive outcomes.
Developing Self-responsibility:
use the concepts to identify what is hindering motivation and determine which skills need to be developed, and how to develop them, in order to be responsible.
Strengthening Executive Functioning Skills:
implement the concepts to effectively improve self-regulation (emotions, focus, etc.), organization, time management, project management and flexible thinking.
Improving Social Interaction:
discover the types of relationships, how to relate to others, and discern healthy from unhealthy relationships.
Step 5: Post Program
Support Training:
A support person will be taught the self regulation tools and be familiar with the life concepts. They will be shown how to coach the client in implementing the strategies.
Review & Consultation:
We provide unlimited phone support and are glad to answer any questions which may arise after a program. When needed, the client may return for review sessions at no additional charge.