Pathways

The school’s autism program was designed to meet the needs of students who are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and have needs that demand resources beyond Elim’s cross-categorical program.

This program requires an extremely high staff-to-student ratio in order to meet the specialized demands of a highly-structured program. Classrooms are broken down into elementary, middle school, and high school sections with each classroom having a certified special education teacher, an assistant teacher, and three or four paraeducators working with six or seven students.

Curriculum and Approach

Each student has an Individual Educational Plan (IEP) that focuses on preparing the student to live, work, and socialize within the community tailored to meet the specific needs of the student.

Students who attend the Pathways program are immersed in a curriculum that is devoted to the content areas that directly prepare the students to be able to function in real-world situations; independent living, self-determination, self-advocacy, self-management, vocational, recreation/leisure and community integration. Our curriculum includes skills embedded throughout all aspects of a student’s educational program and includes the following skills:

• Development of functional communication & academic skills
• Development of social skills & self-advocacy skills
• Addressing sensory, gross and fine motor skills
• Real-life settings for instruction wherever possible
• Adapted materials & equipment
• Use of specialized computer hardware & software
• Alternative communication systems

We utilize an eclectic approach to provide educational services to all
students. Structured Teaching allows students to feel comfortable in a
predictable environment that fosters functional independence. Other methods
used may include, but are not limited to, functional communication
training, Partner Augmented Input (PAI), and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS).