Co-ser 208.003
The Autism Program Independent Education (APIE) was created to support students with demonstrated characteristics of autism. There are three options for service delivery.
- Through a departmentalized approach where students transition to different classrooms for their core content instruction and their exiting credential will be a Regents diploma (APIE).
- Self-contained, where students remain in one classroom for all core content areas instruction and their exiting credential will be a Regents diploma (APIE).
- A self-contained setting with an emphasis on embedded communication skills development and where the students’ exiting credential will be the Skills and Achievement Commencement Credential (SACC) for students with disabilities (APIE AA).
In all models, academics are delivered through a solid instructional and multidisciplinary framework and include prosocial skills development. Proactive and positive behavioral supports are provided through a targeted approach with support from a Support Specialist trained in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) and family/parent counseling and training, as needed.
The program will offer the following services in a group setting:
- Speech language therapy with an emphasis on pragmatic ability
- Counseling with an emphasis on social and communication skills training
- Occupational therapy
- Assistive technology services
- Life skills training
- Career and Technical education training
- Family/parent counseling and training (as needed)
This program bundles the instructional component with the above services, although individualized related services may be added based on the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).
