| First Hope of The First Academy "For surely I know the plans I have for you, |  |
The First Academy is proud to announce the opening of First Hope: a Christian Special Needs school using a combination of Applied Behavior Analysis, inclusion opportunities, and parent training to help your child reach for a future filled with hope.
“Applied Behavior Analysis” (ABA) - the science of changing behavior using a unique plan of events orchestrated to help repetitively expose the child to situations in which they must learn the desired reaction; then, using observation and generalization in order to ensure that the child has progressed in each individual goal. Each goal is contingent upon the other and they all work together to give the child the tools to learn and grow in all areas of development.
“Inclusion” - the opportunity for special needs children to interact with typically developing children within a regular school day participating in “typical” activities. This gives the First Hope Student a chance to practice the skills they have learned in the ABA classroom in a “safe” environment. This also helps your child to develop confidence and a chance to further their own social skills. It provides awareness to typically developing children, and creates an acceptance of special needs people everywhere.
Inclusion opportunities at First Hope begin at the first level of the program with lunch and recess. As your child advances socially, educationally, and behaviorally she/he will be integrated into various activities of the regular education classroom with an aide from the ABA classroom.
One of the components of inclusion is the awareness and sensitivity of others who interact with the ABA student. First Hope teaches awareness to the regular education students through a program called “Just Like Me Awareness”. This program uses hands-on activities to help a “typical” child to understand what obstacles some special needs children have to overcome.
First Hope Offerings • First Hope Schedule
Parent Testimony: “When I was faced with trying to find a special needs school to meet all of my son’s needs, I was disappointed to find that I had no faith-based programs to choose from. My son not only needs structure, one-on-one attention, inclusion, and a fun environment; but he also needs to hear the love of Christ. Knowing he will have a safe place to learn and grow is priceless. Now, my special needs son has the same quality education taught on a firm spiritual foundation as my typically developing son.”
For more information about this program, contact Daly Schmidt at (407)232-5726. For information regarding donations or teaching positions, please contact us at FirstHope@thefirstacademy.org.