School for children with autism opens in South Portland
By Jim Keithley, General Assignment Reporter, [email protected]
Published On: Nov 12 2014 11:50:23 AM EST
Updated On: Nov 12 2014 09:30:01 PM EST
SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine -
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Wednesday at the Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders, a new school for children with autism.
The school, serving students from K-12, hosted an open house for parents.
Dr. Matthew Siegel showed off the new facility, which includes a sensory room.
"It teaches them how to regulate emotions and better control behavior," said Siegel.
There is also an observation room where doctors and parents can see the kids, but the kids can't see them.
The purpose of this is so the parent and teachers and other people involved in the child's life can come an observe and learn how to run the child's behavior plan," said Siegel.
The facility also has a clinic where more than half a dozen medical professionals are ready to help the children.
"In this clinic we have most of the people that a child or a family would need to see all under one roof," said Siegel.
Wendi O'Donovan has a teenage son with autism. She wished a center like the one in South Portland existed when her son was younger.
"It would have relieved a lot of stress on our family to have our services under one roof, have a team approach of providers," she said. "It's just an exciting day in the world of autism in the state of Maine."
Siegel said the school's mission is simple.
"So the focus of being in our school would be to work on the emotional and behavioral challenges, try to stabilize things, while also engaging in school and then be able to transfer the child back to their local school program," said Siegel.
New statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control indicate that 1 in 68 children are diagnosed with autism.
One in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls are considered autistic.
The CDC said most children are not diagnosed until after the age of 4.
Source: School for children with autism opens in South Portland | Local News - Home
By Jim Keithley, General Assignment Reporter, [email protected]
Published On: Nov 12 2014 11:50:23 AM EST
Updated On: Nov 12 2014 09:30:01 PM EST
SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine -
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Wednesday at the Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders, a new school for children with autism.
The school, serving students from K-12, hosted an open house for parents.
Dr. Matthew Siegel showed off the new facility, which includes a sensory room.
"It teaches them how to regulate emotions and better control behavior," said Siegel.
There is also an observation room where doctors and parents can see the kids, but the kids can't see them.
The purpose of this is so the parent and teachers and other people involved in the child's life can come an observe and learn how to run the child's behavior plan," said Siegel.
The facility also has a clinic where more than half a dozen medical professionals are ready to help the children.
"In this clinic we have most of the people that a child or a family would need to see all under one roof," said Siegel.
Wendi O'Donovan has a teenage son with autism. She wished a center like the one in South Portland existed when her son was younger.
"It would have relieved a lot of stress on our family to have our services under one roof, have a team approach of providers," she said. "It's just an exciting day in the world of autism in the state of Maine."
Siegel said the school's mission is simple.
"So the focus of being in our school would be to work on the emotional and behavioral challenges, try to stabilize things, while also engaging in school and then be able to transfer the child back to their local school program," said Siegel.
New statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control indicate that 1 in 68 children are diagnosed with autism.
One in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls are considered autistic.
The CDC said most children are not diagnosed until after the age of 4.
Source: School for children with autism opens in South Portland | Local News - Home
