The Discovery Program at Laurel Heights is dedicated to helping children with autism spectrum disorders and significant behavioral difficulties learn functional communication, social interaction, and self-management skills. The program is geared toward children with autism who may also have:

• Self-injurious, disruptive and aggressive behaviors
• Moods disorders, including depression and bipolar symptoms
• Difficulties with impulse control and self-regulation
• Symptoms of psychosis or other mental illnesses
• Communication Deficits
• Difficulty with self care and activities of daily living

We work very closely with families to identify strengths, preferences and needs to ensure that treatment is individualized and prepares each child to return to their family and community with new skills and needed support services. Our emphasis is on providing a supportive, nurturing environment with a focus on normalization and community integration.

A consistent team of staff work with the child across all settings including the residential program, classroom, recreation therapy and community outings ensuring consistency in implementation of teaching and behavior support plans. Our high staff-to-child ratio ensures that children receive highly individualized support and guidance with frequent reinforcement as they build new skills.

Parents are encouraged to participate in program routines and in community outings so that staff can provide direct support and coaching to parents as they learn and apply new interventions. This helps the child generalize and maintain new skills as he/she begins the transition back home or to a less structured setting.

The Discovery Program is supervised by a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and a Psychologist/Board Certified Behavior Analyst to ensure high quality psychiatric care and behavioral treatment and support. We tailor our services to meet the needs and treatment preferences of the children and families we serve. Our services include:

• Psychiatric Services by staff Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist
• Psychological Evaluation
• Functional Behavioral Assessments & Applied Behavior Analytic Approaches
• Individualized Treatment, Teaching and Behavior Support Plans
• Training in functional communication, self-care and social skills
• Family Therapy and training
• Recreation Therapy
• Individual and group treatment modalities
• Specialized Educational Setting, Speech and Occupational Therapy as needed

We work with families from many different states and make every effort to accommodate family schedules and needs. We offer family therapy and training on weekends and telephone sessions are available to complement face-to-face sessions.