You may have heard about the region’s newest school for children with Autism. Hello! I am Rebecca Moyes, director of the Pressley Ridge School for Autism. I’d like to give you an inside look of our new school where children with Autism Spectrum Disorders are learning and thriving and are on the path to reaching their fullest potential.

We know that children with Autism experience sensory challenges. Each of our classrooms is “sensory friendly”. Flex chairs that allow movement, special filters that soften fluorescent lighting and calming corners that allow children to take a break. These sensory adaptations greatly improve a child’s ability to attend to his or her lessons.

In our horticulture room, students learn ways to work with plants and the importance of plant life in our environment. Our students grow herbs, catnip and other plants that are used in local businesses as well as in our culinary classes, right here on campus. Our culinary room is another new addition to our school. Here, students are working in a fun, supportive, and interactive classroom environment. But more importantly, they are beginning to learn skills that would enable them to be employable citizens of the future.

In our state-of-the-art sensory room, we provide both calming and stimulating activities to meet the individual sensory needs of all of our students. Some of our key features include a platform swing, a bubble column, fiber optic lights, and a tactile panel that provides many different shapes and textures to help facilitate learning.

Our evidence based program includes Discreet Trial Training, principles of TEACCH and ABA. We utilize Direct Instruction with Video-Modeling, PECS and Social Stories to teach needed replacement skills. Our family liaisons work closely with parents to carry new found skills to the home setting. Our students participate in art, music and physical education classes just as they would in their home schools.

With an eye to the future, Pressley Ridge has created a small business for students to provide needed services to the community and we are initiating others. Our “Memorial Florals” company is one such endeavor. As these small businesses grow, they will provide future employment opportunities for our students.

There’s so much more to see! We would love to have you visit our beautiful school and learn more about how we can help to fit the puzzles pieces of Autism together.

Rebecca Moyes is a recognized author in the field of Autism, as well as an international speaker and consultant. Her newest textbook “Building Sensory Friendly Classrooms” is now more than a book…it’s a reality, at the Pressley Ridge School for Autism.