Explore, Discover, Learn and Grow!
The mission of Lakeside Academy is to provide fun-filled and developmentally appropriate learning and sensory experiences in a group environment through an intensive, comprehensive program for children with autism spectrum disorders ages 3-6. Lakeside Academy is a relationship-based and sensory rich program delivered by an interdisciplinary team. Our program offers children the opportunity to explore and discover their social, cognitive, communicative, fine and gross motor capabilities in a structured and supportive environment.
Lakeside Academy Preschool implements a Classroom Pivotal Response Teaching (CPRT) framework to support everyday learning for children. CPRT was developed to help meet the educational needs of students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and is rooted in the principles and methods outlined by pivotal response treatment (PRT), but the principles apply to all children. Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) is one of the best studied and validated treatments for autism. Derived from applied behavioral analysis (ABA), PRT is naturalistic, interaction-based, and child-initiated.
PRT goals include the development of communication, language, and positive social behaviors along with the reduction of disruptive self-stimulatory behaviors. The purpose of developing CPRT was to adapt these strong treatment components and results to the demands of teaching within a classroom environment. The components of CPRT are designed to be used throughout the day in a variety of settings, with materials and activities that are commonly used in the classroom.. Motivation serves as the foundation for all learning so we work to embed learning opportunities within engaging and motivating activities. Lakeside Academy utilizes CPRT as a model of education delivery because it is an effective, research-supported intervention and is a teaching method that can be easily adopted into a repertoire of many great teaching strategies. In short:
- CPRT is fun!
- CPRT is versatile!
- CPRT is adaptable!
- CPRT is effective!
Individualized Program
Lakeside Academy has a maximum of 8 children and has an adult to child ratio no higher than 1:2 with one on one support when needed. After an initial intake and observation process, our interdisciplinary team will develop an individual treatment plan and recommend the level and types of support your child will need in order to make meaningful progress.
Interdisciplinary Approach
Our holistic and interdisciplinary approach gives all our children a running start when they start school. Our team consists of Masters level teachers, a speech language pathologist, an occupational therapist, a physical therapist, an assistive technology specialist, and three PRT therapists, all with their bachelors in education, psychology, or a related field. The entire team collaborates on the development and implementation of children’s individual goals. Our program includes center-based activities led by physical, occupational, and speech therapists
Curriculum
Our curriculum is planned with an understanding of children’s interests and individual needs. Our curriculum allows children to learn strategies and skills in meaningful situations and build upon their current knowledge base by connecting what they know with what they are learning. Skill building is embedded in play, making it authentic, interesting and relevant. Our curriculum incorporates pre-literacy skills such as identifying letters, phonemic awareness, vocabulary building and handwriting as well as pre-math skills such as numbers, counting, patterns, adding and subtracting. Our interdisciplinary team integrates sensory regulation, social interactions, problem solving, play skill development and communication into all curriculum activities.
Peer Models
Integrating peer models into the classroom provides excellent learning opportunities for the typically developing peers as well as the children with developmental delays. We are confident that our curriculum is appropriate and challenging for typically developing children and with our high staff to child ratios every child receives individual attention. With our individualized approach to curriculum development, we are able to meet all the children at their “just right challenge” level to encourage maximal growth. With our emphasis on social interaction, we find that our typical peers develop higher social emotional intelligence and empathy for people with differences.
Morning Program 9:00am to 12:00pm
4 Days: M/T/TH/F = $4300*
Afternoon Program 1:00pm to 4:00pm
2 Days**: M/Th or T/F = $2150*
*If your child has an ABA benefit, this benefit can cover up to 95% of the program fees. Please check your insurance benefits and then contact us for more information.
**Two-day option is only available if there is another child enrolling in the opposite two days.
To Enroll
- Call (425-657-0620) or email info@lakesideautism.com to begin the intake process. At this time you can also set up an appointment for a tour of our facility.
- Our Admissions Director will set up your initial intake appointment with our clinical psychologist (unless this has already been completed). During the clinical intake interview, our psychologist will meet with you and thoroughly discuss the present concerns you have about your child. The clinical intake interview is an opportunity for the psychologist to gather the necessary background and family information that can be used to help address important clinical questions and aid in designing a treatment plan for your child. This 90-minute interview also provides a perfect opportunity for the psychologist to answer any questions or address any concerns that you may have about services, therapies, symptoms, or development. This interview sets the foundation for developing a successful treatment plan for your child’s services at Lakeside Academy.
- Following the initial intake we will schedule your child for an observation in our early childhood classroom. This observation will help our interdisciplinary team develop an initial treatment plan and determine supports your child may need to be successful. Additional observations, either in our classroom or in your child’s current educational setting, may be scheduled as needed following the initial observation.
- Once the admissions process is completed and a spot has been offered, you will have 3 days to commit to the program; a $500 enrollment deposit is due at this time. This deposit includes a $100 non-refundable application fee, $200 that will be applied to the first month’s program fees, and $200 applied to the last month’s program fees. The remaining first month’s program fees will be due on the first day of class.
We look forward to meeting you and your child. Please feel free to call or email us with any questions in the meantime at: 425.657.0620 or info@lakesideautism.com
Looking forward to seeing you in class!