The Oakstone Academy at The Children’s Center for Developmental Enrichment is an independent, private school that offers a challenging academic experience for children in pre-school through the middle school grades. Oakstone Academy is unique in that it offers an inclusive, classroom based intervention model to promote independent performance for children with autism spectrum disorder along side their typically developing peers. Each classroom is designed to provide a structured, positive atmosphere focusing on each student’s unique strengths. We pride ourselves on providing a challenging curriculum in settings with low student to teacher ratios that allows children to progress at their own pace under the close supervision of highly qualified teachers, specialists, and instructional assistants. Most of our teachers have their Masters of Education degrees that enhance their abilities to teach to a broad range of student abilities. Additionally, most classrooms are staffed by two teachers who work cooperatively to meet the needs of the students in their classroom and ensure the success of all students.
Our program offers a unique blend of traditional and progressive curricula in mathematics, language arts, foreign language study, science, social studies, visual arts, music, and physical education. The overall approach to academics at Oakstone Academy reflects the latest in educational research, all of which is conducted in a nurturing and supportive environment that brings experienced educators and bright students together in a success-oriented environment.
At Oakstone Academy, the ability of each student to reach his or her potential in academics and independent productivity is paramount. For this reason, classrooms provide a fully inclusive environment for their students. Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), who have average to above average intellectual ability experience the same academic coursework as their typically developing classmates. By encouraging an inclusive learning environment, students with autism learn with and from their typically developing peers. While educational research has long recognized the advantages of inclusive settings for children with a range of disabilities, recent studies have shown significant benefits for typical students such as increased leadership skills, improved self-esteem, as well as increased fluency in academic performance.
In order to meet the needs of all students, specialized assessment tools are used to determine students’ unique strengths and needs. Classes are smaller than are typically found in other educational settings, generally having fewer than 16 students per classroom. In addition, the profile of each room is carefully assembled to consist of equal numbers of peers and students with ASD, with classroom student progress continuously monitored to ensure individual goals are met.
The guiding principal of The Oakstone Academy is to deliver the highest quality private education that embraces cultural and learning differences. Affordable tuition costs reflect our desire to attract a diverse blend of socio-economic and cultural communities while our outstanding teachers and curriculum emphasizes The Oakstone Academy’s high educational standards. High educational standards are a shared vision with the school’s founding organization – The Children’s Center for Developmental Enrichment (CCDE), a non-profit organization established to provide a challenging academic environment that was inclusive of typically developing students and students with autism spectrum disorders. The Oakstone Academy naturally branched out of CCDE to provide the educational instruction to the community while benefiting from the resources, community ties, and nationally respected reputation of CCDE.
The primary focus of these half day classes is to promote and support positive social communicative behavior while providing developmentally appropriate activities that encourage growth across all developmental domains. The curriculum is rich in literacy-based activities to promote language development and social interaction, as well as pre-literacy skills. Math, science, and social studies concepts are explored through a wide range of multi-modality, interactive learning experiences embedded within classroom routine. Motor and movement, music and art are critical elements of the toddler curriculum also. Behavior and communication supports for children include consistent behavior management strategies, picture activity schedules and complementary visual supports (i.e first this/then this), and alternate communication strategies (picture exchange, sign language). Class size is limited to 10 children with one certified educator and two instructional assistants.
Our half day preschool includes children with autism spectrum disorder and their typically developing peers in an educational environment that strives to provide meaningful social interactions, tolerance of individual differences, and advancement of academic competency. The curriculum is designed to meet the needs of the typically developing children through developmentally appropriate activities while providing support for children with ASD. Multi-sensory activities designed to promote positive growth across all developmental domains are provided. Independent functioning and problem-solving skills are fostered on a daily basis. For many of these youngsters, this is their first school experience. All of the children benefit from our use of consistent behavior management strategies, picture schedules, other visual and communication supports. At this young age, fostering independence across the school day and learning to follow a group schedule successfully are core skills that are targeted in our half-day preschool program.
Our full-day, inclusive preschool classes build and expand on skills learned in earlier school settings but provides a more structured school day. Introduction to more advanced academic and problem-solving skills occurs across the curriculum. Consistency is stressed using the picture schedules however picture icons and written text replace actual photographs as the children develop higher level abstract thinking abilities. The curriculum exposes students to activities in early literacy, sensory awareness, mathematics, handwriting, music and movement, and art. The idea of self-monitoring of behaviors is introduced to children and expectations are raised as we see the children’s social, communicative, and cognitive abilities increase. Our Pre-K classes are geared towards preparing each student with the skills necessary for successful entry into kindergarten. Children continue to engage in age appropriate, socially interactive, multi-sensory activities however academic skills that align with Ohio state content standards receive more emphasis here.
Our full-day kindergarten classes are fully inclusive and build on the skills taught in preschool. Kindergarten curriculum is aligned with Ohio state content standards in literacy, mathematics, social studies, handwriting and science. Activities to promote sensory development, including music and movement are integral components of the curriculum. Children with autism spectrum disorder are exposed to activities alongside their typically developing peers. Visual schedules and other supports continue to be used in the kindergarten classrooms, although daily schedules become more complex at this age and children are taught and expected to manage their own behaviors with less adult support than in preschool. Reading groups are established based on individual assessment in Kindergarten. Children are taught using Direct Instruction as well as a variety of other empirically tested methods.
Currently, our full day school-age programs include children with autism spectrum disorder and their typically developing peers in primary through the middle school grades. Class sizes are small, typically no more than 16 students in each classroom with two or three instructional staff. The curriculum was developed by the CCDE staff to not only address the diverse needs of our learners but also to align with Ohio state content standards. Our curriculum provides instruction in all academic subjects including reading, mathematics, science, social studies, Spanish, art, music, and physical education. Classrooms look very much like any elementary or middle school classroom with students grouped by ability in reading and mathematics. Supports are available and accessible for children with autism spectrum disorders. Behavior supports include, but are not limited to, group and individual reinforcement for appropriate behaviors, accurate and timely completion of assignments, and positive social interactions with peers and staff.