AutismOregon.org

Play Connections Early Learner Program

We are now recruiting students ages 18mos.- 35mos. for our Fall session beginning October 6.

Melanie Shaw, MA, BCBA will soon launch an exciting toddler program for young children with (or who are currently being evaluated for) autism spectrum disorder.

The Early Learner Program was first developed and piloted in Howard County, Maryland in 2006 in light of current research and best practices for treating young children with autism. Melanie Shaw was hired by the county to develop and launch this preschool program in collaboration with the autism society’s local chapter members. The renowned success of this program will now be replicated and adapted for even younger children as we recognize the importance of “very early intervention” for a child with ASD.

The Early Learner Program is specifically designed to give early learners a “jump start” in acquiring meaningful communication and critical skills that provide a foundation for learning. The program’s approach is rooted in Verbal Behavior Analysis, which focuses intensely on teaching functional language across environments and works directly with your child’s motivation. Natural environment strategies, including Pivotal Response Training, are also important components to the program. Primary areas of concentration include teaching initiation, joint attention, imitation, reciprocity, productive play, and visual/auditory discrimination. The goal of the program is to prepare our early learners for lifelong learning… in essence, for our students to ‘learn how to learn’.

Program will run in a home environment in the Rock Creek/Bethany area Monday through Friday 8:45-11:45am with a 3:2 (child to instructor) ratio. Call or email Melanie Shaw directly for more information: (503)737-4693 www.playconnections.com/melanieshaw.html
mshaw@playconnections.com