Benhaven School

Benhaven School is located in Wallingford, CT. Benhaven is approved by the Connecticut State Department of Education and provides educational services and support to children and adolescents with autism and related disabilities, ages 5-21. Benhaven School is in session 9:30 to 4:00, Monday through Friday, 12 months per year. The intensive nature of the program is critical to the educational success of many of our students.

A certified special education teacher oversees the educational plans for the 6-7 students in each classroom. Trained teaching assistants work under the direction of the teachers to implement lessons. A speech/language pathologist and an occupational therapist are also part of the team.

Benhaven uses a person-centered approach to develop goals and objectives that are meaningful to the student's current and subsequent environments. This plan is the result of collaboration between the family and the professional staff and emphasizes the development of age-appropriate, functional and enriching skills taught in natural environments in response to natural cues and consequences whenever possible. The following areas are typically addressed in each student's plan:

• Communication: a number of modalities, including manual sign language, object and picture systems, written, are utilized depending on the needs of the student. The goal is to improve the student's ability to positively impact his/her environment.
• Academics: addressed at the student's level and include reading, math and functional skills.
• Community Learning: opportunities for teaching skills in the environments in which they will be used are provided weekly, daily for older students. Students gain daily living skills, recreational skills, fitness skills in a variety of settings.
• Vocational Training: when appropriate, vocational experiences are provided in community settings and within the school. The goal is for the student to participate in a number of placements to build a resume, which indicates strengths, skills and support needs.
• Adaptive Behavior: Benhaven utilizes positive behavioral support strategies to address problem behaviors. A functional analysis yields hypotheses about the function of the behavior and generates alternatives for the student to learn, as well as the supports needed for the student to experience success. The plans that follow are often multi disciplinary.
• Daily Living Skills: addressed in community settings and within the school building.
• Physical Education: motor and fitness skills are addressed in the gym as well as in the community. Community recreation is also part of the phys. ed. program.

Referrals are accepted from school districts only. Families are welcome to visit the program. Arrangements should be made through the school director.