Our History:
Dominion School for Autism was born five years ago out of a dream held by an idealistic young educator after working with children with Autism in a public school setting. During her time there, Jennifer Brizel Wood saw first hand the difficulties faced by public schools in providing the intensive programs and support services needed by children with Autism. She also became aware of the financial burdens placed on families who sought an alternative education for their children. With insight into the educational and social needs of children with Autism and the financial needs of families, Mrs. Wood developed a school that provided a comprehensive academic and therapeutic instruction model for students while maintaining as reasonable a cost as possible for families.
Now beginning its sixth year, DSFA provides a variety of educational programs including year round instruction, weekly community based instruction, separate preschool and school age programs with inclusion classrooms at the preschool level, and a vocational and life skills instruction program.
Each of these programs uses a highly researched, theory based instruction techniques called Applied Behavioral Analysis. At the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year, DSFA will have one full time staff person with a BCBA, which is the highest level of practitioner available for the teaching of children with Autism using ABA. By the end of this school year, DSFA will have two more staff completing the requirements for a BCBA, giving us one of the highest BCBA to student ratios in the state and allowing us to provide an education with unsurpassed quality.
Our Mission:
The mission and educational philosophy of DSFA is to provide children with autism an individualized educational program in a loving and supportive atmosphere.
To achieve this mission, DSFA assesses the strengths and challenges of each student to create individualized programs. Student to staff ratio is kept small for a more personalized experience and is based on each student’s educational and behavioral support needs. Generally, a staff to student ratio of 1-1 is provided. DSFA ensures that each teacher and assistant working with students is fully trained in ABA programmatic philosophy and techniques.
What We Believe:
Dominion School for Autism believes:
• Every child is capable of learning and should have the experience of learning and the feeling of success.
• The teacher and student relationship should be positive and uplifting.
• Parental insight and involvement are encouraged and are essential components of the educational program.
• The progress of each child is evaluated by measuring their educational and social growth. Student achievement is measured by using daily data, educational assessments and staff and parental observations.
DSFA strives to provide student education in a cost efficient manner, while making it possible for children with autism to reach their fullest educational and social potential.
DSFA gladly welcomes and encourages children and families from all faiths, genders, races and walks of life.
Autism and Education
Autism is a multifaceted, developmental disability. This requires a high level of flexibility among schools. At DSFA, all of our programs are designed to be individualized based on a student’s particular need. Because we are a small school, the ways in which we can adapt programs are seemingly endless. There is a very family style feel to the school with staff knowing each of the students and with staff being willing to go out of their way to adapt programs to meet a particular students needs.