Admissions

Milestones runs 12 months/216 days per year.  Our hours during the school year are 8:30-3pm M-F and during the summer we run 8:30-3pm M-Th & 8:30-12 F.  We have the same staff and students throughout the year.

Milestones has small class sizes and a high staff to student ratio.  We have approximately 100 staff and 90 students.

Ages 5-22

Yes, all of Milestones’ teachers and clinicians are licensed and appropriately credentialed in their area of expertise. In addition, all staff receive additional training each year on the various disabilities we serve and interventions used.

Yes.  All students are provided with a laptop computer or Chromebook and we use a variety of programs to permit maximum access to the curriculum.  In addition, our classrooms are outfitted with the latest in technology such as Smart Boards for multiple learning modalities. We have staff members who have extensive expertise in assistive technology and guide individual and group applications.

No.  All of our students share challenges mostly in the areas of executive functioning, social pragmatics, coping & sensory regulation, and anxiety.  As these deficits are very prevalent on the autism spectrum, many of our students carry a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder.  Some students have other related neurocognitive disabilities such as NLD, anxiety disorder, etc.

One of the most commonly misunderstood characteristics of a person diagnosed on the autism spectrum is in the domain of social pragmatics.  While all of our students share this particular deficit to some degree, most of our students crave meaningful friendships — to feel like they “belong.”  The opportunity for a person to identify with a peer in this area of challenge can actually be a very normalizing and confidence boosting experience. Among the many aspects of social pragmatics that are not always intuitive for our students, are the ability to empathize, problem solve, take perspective, and have self-awareness, which leads to self-advocacy. Our therapeutic classes are designed to group students with like skills, therefore providing an opportunity for the mastery, or generalization of these skills.  Throughout the day when students engage in our therapeutic curriculum, they are modeling appropriate social behavior.  Milestones has more than 25 years of experience developing strong social skills for students.

No.  Milestones uses an eclectic approach in helping our students. We look at what underlying skills students are missing, teach those skills, and work to eliminate any unuseful behavior students exhibit.  Our team stays up to date with the latest effective techniques and high standard best practices from a variety of disciplines, including Board Certified Behavior Analysts.   Some students come to Milestones because of maladaptive behavior, but once they learn specific skills or strategies their counterproductive behavior can often improve or be eliminated.

Generally, this is not an inherent concern for our students.   Students often refrain from imitation of others.  However, should this occur our therapeutic and educational staff is familiar with strategies to teach more appropriate behavior.

No!  All of our students are at Milestones as a result of not succeeding in their past school placement.  Our students require intensive, and preventative therapeutic support in some cases, simply to physically be in class.  Generally speaking, punitive measures are not effective with our population of students.  Staff will help students explore the most productive coping strategies to help them engage in class.  Support staff are always available to redirect a student in the event that they are having a difficult time or need a break outside of the classroom.

Yes.  The overarching goal of our therapeutic program is to help our students master the very skills they need to be successful, confident and engaged across all settings.  As an educational institution, we are devoted to providing an effective education, delivered in a manner that is accessible, given our student’s challenges.  The comprehensive team for each student works collaboratively with our families, students, and sending districts toward the goal of students moving on with increased independence.  In many cases, moving back into the public school is a goal that is realized through long term and strategic planning.  The best interest of the student is always the primary concern when considering what the next steps will be.

Yes.  Milestones issues official diplomas to those who pass graduation requirements just like the student’s district school.  It is also possible to receive a diploma from both Milestones and your district as well.