Education: Schools

The Achievement Centers for Children’s Autism Program, in collaboration with the Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County, operates K-6th grade classrooms on the East Side of Cleveland serving children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

They are an alternative public school option, with many local school districts referring and transporting their students to the Achievement Centers. The curriculum is aligned with Ohio’s K-8 Academic Content Standards.

A six-week summer program to complete the 12-month educational and therapeutic focus is included in the yearly tuition.

A school serving students from kindergarten through eighth grade on the West Side in Westlake, Ohio.

They are an alternative public school option, with many local school districts referring and transporting their students to the Achievement Centers. The curriculum is aligned with Ohio’s K-8 Academic Content Standards.

A six-week summer program to complete the 12-month educational and therapeutic focus is included in the yearly tuition.

An alternative school option for students who are not successful in a typical classroom environment. For grades 3-12.

ABS is a center-based as well as a community-based treatment program for children, teens and young adults ages 3 through 22 with special needs. They provide classroom settings with low ratios for an intensive learning environment.

There are year-round programs including speech and language pathology services, behavioral counseling, art therapy, occupational therapy, music therapy, social skills groups, and afterschool 1:1 focus sessions. ABA-based education is taught in classrooms.

They also offer a full-year, full-day group education classroom with an individualized curriculum and BCBA services.

Accepts Medicaid and CareSource insurance plans.

Locations:

Dayton:
2570 Technical Drive, Miamisburg, OH 45342
Brenna Aschermann, Clinical Director
(937) 847-8750
brenna.aschermann@appliedbehavioralscience.com

Cincinnati:
4850 Madison Road, Cincinnati, OH 45227
Lori Watson, Executive Director & Founder
(513) 861-0300
lori.watson@appliedbehavioralservices.com

West Chester:
7413 Squire Ct, West Chester, OH 45069
Alicia Cachat, Director
(513) 847-4685
alicia.cachat@appliedbehavioralscience.com

Preschool program for children with special needs centered around music therapy. The program is designed to provide developmentally appropriate opportunities to strengthen behavioral, social and communication skills.
School offers classes for children age 3 to 5.

Classes held Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:00pm-3:00pm

This preschool program is designed to meet the unique needs of young children between the ages of three and six. Based upon knowledge of growth and development, teachers will select learning materials, design classroom space and organize schedules in order to best meet the individual needs of the children in each session. The program includes children with special needs, along with typical peers.

Stepping Stones and United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Cincinnati (UCP) combined services and facilities to become a single agency. Stepping Stones serves children, teens and adults ages 5 to 22 with an array of developmental disabilities including autism.

Stepping Stones works with schools to provide an alternative education for elementary, middle school and high school students on the autism spectrum who are not succeeding in a traditional school setting.

The program is designed to enable students to increase communication, social skills, functional academics, and functional living skills while developing acceptable behaviors so they may participate more fully in family interaction and community. The goal of the program is to provide each student with the tools to transition back to their community school district.

Three additional locations in Southwestern Ohio.
More than 85% of participants qualify for government or other financial assistance. Also, there are a limited number of scholarships available. They also accept Waiver funding, 3rd party funding and personal funding.

This autism high school in Cincinnati offers low student ratios and an open door policy, so parents can observe and learn from the researched based techniques of teaching: Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and the Teaching Family Model (TFM).

The school offers:
Low student to teacher ratios
Specialized academic programming
Music therapy and instruction
Speech-language and occupational therapy services
Art therapy and instruction
Daily integration of social skills and instruction and systematic application across settings
Transition to adulthood programming, including job readiness classes

Alternative school program for ages 12 – 22, Summer Enrichment (Extended School Year plus summer camp activities), adult day program, and community living services. Applicants must be a resident of the state of Ohio and must have an autism diagnosis.

Waivers accepted.

Bridgeway Academy is a non-profit organization with the mission to meet the educational and therapeutic needs of children with autism and other developmental disabilities. They are a full service Education and Therapy center. They offer full day educational services for preschool through high school aged students as well as a full array of therapeutic services that include speech, occupational, physical music therapy as well as behavioral and psychological services.

They serve students within 9 counties in central and southern Ohio.

They accept some insurance companies for psychological services and publically funded child care (school services) and state plan Medicaid (therapy services). They also accept Level 1, I/O and Self Waivers.

An educational, training and resource facility for children and young adults with autism and their families. It serves students ages kindergarten (age 5) through age 21. The focus is on academics, behavior, social skills, communication and language development, independent living, and pre-vocational and community skills.

CCA was formed with the sole purpose of improving the outcome for children with autism spectrum disorder and their families. They are committed to offering a variety of programs which address the communication, educational, social and behavioral needs of children with ASD, to assure that they are able to achieve happy, fulfilling lives.

They offer speech, occupational, physical and music therapy, as well as 1:1 ABA therapy. Social skills, academic intervention, and sibling groups are also available.

In addition, the CCA School Program incorporates ABA into their school programming. All programs are offered to students ages 3-21

The Clinic Center encompasses a variety of services for individuals with autism in their state-of-the-art autism facility. It is dedicated to treatment, education, and research for children, adolescents, young adults and families dealing with autism spectrum disorders and is uniquely integrated within the healthcare system and housed in the Debra Ann November Wing at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation Campus.

Outreach and consultation services are available for children as young as 3 for initial diagnosis or second-opinion autism evaluations.

Functional behavioral assessments are offered for families to increase a child’s functioning and independence to the fullest extent possible.

The Outpatient Center in Rocky River includes a variety of therapies available on an outpatient basis.

Offers a diagnositic clinic, functional behavior assessments and outreach/consultation. Speech/language assessments are also available.

The Lerner School for Autism serves students from preschool to age 22.

Social SPIES Programs for children with high-functioning Autism/Asperger’s Disorder offers a social skills program in conjunction with a parent training group.

A public high school for students who thrive in a non-traditional high school setting. Fieldstone Farm and Geauga Educational Service Center (Geauga ESC) have combined a learning opportunity with hands-on experiential learning opportunities with horses and the farm environment.

The school also offers a Transitional Job Training program.

Genacross Family & Youth Services provides residential treatment, parental support, behavioral health, day treatment, and homemaker/personal care services to children, youth, families, and adults. Long-term residental opportunity for children and teens with Aspergers and high-functioning autism from ages 6-21 accepted.

Student must be a resident of Ohio or Michigan to apply.

Waivers are accepted.

Serves students from K-9th grade

A variety of schools, ABA services, and summer camps for children, teens and young adults ages 3 – 22 with ASD. Schools are broken up based on age and academic needs, and are offered in a traditional school setting or in a home-based program. Transition services are also available, as well as consultation and tutoring services. Summer camps are either Extended School Year-based or more traditional summer camp formats.

Haughland offers a range of counseling outpatient services as well, including group and individual counseling for peer support, social skills, life skills and management, behavior disorders, and successful mainstreaming.

Haugland Therapy Services is able to access county funding, Medicaid, Private Insurance, Autism and Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarships, as well as private pay options.

Additional locations in Athens, Sandusky, Lancaster and Pedro/Ironton Ohio.

Highlands offers a school and learning experience to children in grades 4-12 with autism. (They will be serving K-3rd graders in the near future.) Each student will be taught a specific curriculum based on their IEP requirements. Therapy services offered include Speech Therapy, Individual Counseling, Anger Management, and Individual Group Counseling.

In addition to a traditional learning environment, Highlands offers a Career-Based Intervention program. This program focuses on students identified as disadvantaged and having barriers to career and academic success.

IDEA House is a year-round homeschooling program located in Canal Fulton, Ohio. A year-round, K-12 non-profit school program, their students participate in a stage-not-age program that meets all state standards for graduation.

Licensed psychologists working with children, adolescents and adults.

They offer the following services:
15 different social skills groups ages 6-26 (ongoing — join any time)
Alternative Education Program- Perspectives Academy
Advocacy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
In home services
Individual, group and family therapy
School Consultation
Testing

Also offers a weekly social club for ages 8-18. Parents can drop off and leave their child for 3 hours. Kids will be divided by age. Reservations preferred by calling the main number listed below.

Note that this resource offers some therapies that are not evidence-based. Milestones only promotes evidence-based therapies, and we encourage anyone who is not familiar with what those therapies are to contact our Helpdesk.

Additional Mentor location: 7200 Center Rd Suite 204, 44060

Insurance is accepted: Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, Cleveland Clinic EHP, Humana, Medical Mutual, Sumacare, United Behavioral Health, Oscar. Autism and Jon Peterson scholarship provider.

A Catholic alternative school for children of any faith who experience special learning needs. The school serves kindergarden through 8th grade.

A Catholic alternative school for children of any faith who experience special learning needs. The school serves kindergarden through 8th grade.

Kennedy Academy is in Eastlake, OH and offers several alternative learning environments for children with autism spectrum disorders.

In the SAIL program, children with autism have access to a structured educational program that has language acquisition and social skills as the cornerstone. It serves students in grades K–12.

The LEAD classrooms provide an opportunity for students to feel a sense of belonging and demonstrate success and generosity on a regular basis. Emphasis is placed on students developing independence by taking responsibility for their decisions and actions. Students will participate in learning that is relevant and applicable to life outside of school while attending LEAD.

School for children with autism, from kindergarden through 8th grade. The school is operated through the Summit County Educational Service Center. The school also offers a high school vocational program.

Children wishing to attend must acquire a district referral for admittance. It is a public school program and is not eligible for private pay enrollment.

Offers many services for children and young adults (ages 18 months – 22 yrs.) with a multitude of neurological and psychological diagnoses, including treatment services and intervention with an emphasis on prevention, behavior management and positive behavioral supports.

New programs include an autism diagnostic clinic (with a guarantee of 4-week scheduled appointments) ;
A new adult services division called Link Up offering a day program, which will accept the medicaid waivers;
KidsLink Connect — an insurance-based intensive ABA home and/or center programming

All professionals are experts in behavioral intervention.

These therapists have experience working with children and adolescents with autism: Michele DePolo; Richard Cowan

An independent, coeducational school serving students with learning differences and attention deficits. Lawrence School is one of only three independent schools in the state of Ohio to exclusively serve bright students with learning differences, and one of only a handful in the country to offer a stand-alone Upper School serving this population.

The Lower School (grades 1-6) is located in Broadview Heights, OH.
The Upper School (grades 7-12) is located in Sagamore Hills, OH.

Offering programs for children of all abilities.
Offers preschool inclusion classes and summer camp programs for children ages 2 1/2-5 years old.

Tutoring services throughout the school year available for children through third grade.

School age summer camp for children kindergarten through age 10.

The state-of-the-art Lerner School for Autism is the centerpiece of the 20,000-square-foot Debra Ann November Wing at the Hospital for Rehabilitation Campus. This chartered, non-public day school, certified by the state of Ohio, serves students from diagnosis to age 22. Staff includes:

Board-certified behavior analysts
Certified intervention specialists
Classroom behavior therapists
Pediatric psychologists
Speech/language pathologists

Their educational program emphasizes research-supported autism intervention, based on the philosophy and interventional techniques of ABA. The Lerner School provides:

Full-day, year-round programs
Highly individualized programs
Low student-to-staff ratio
Strong parental involvement
Tiered levels of instruction

Linden Grove School is a private, state-accredited, not-for-profit school that offers an alternative learning program for students primarily diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder and who struggle in a more traditional school setting.

They provide a specialized, progressive educational program for K-12 students with autism and other related learning needs.

Marburn Academy is the only school in Central Ohio with an academic and extra-curricular program that is designed to address the full range of learning and personal development needs of bright children with learning differences such as dyslexia and ADHD. School is not specifically an autism school, but does have students with autism. Focuses on students in grades 2 through 12.

Accepts Autism scholarship and Medicaid.

An Ohio tuition-free community school focused solely on serving gifted learners, educating the whole child and offering flexible options for modern families.

This Kindergarten through 8th grade public school is not affiliated with any one local school district, so they accept any student in the state of Ohio, provided they meet the academic entrance requirements.

Offers a wide array of programs and services for people with autism and their families, including:

Preschool and Day School for children and adolescents
Transitional education program
Residential treatment for children, adolescents and adults
Summer and extended school year programs
The Soap Shop (a business that offers vocational experience for individuals with autism)
VizZle (visual language technology)
An online autism resource center developed in partnership with the Women’s General Hospital Fund of the Cleveland Foundation.

New Hope Center is not a school. It is a very special therapeutic center for children ages 5-14 with moderate to almost severe autism in grades K through 8. Children attend New Hope Center in much the same way they would attend school – a full day program following a traditional school calendar.

New Hope began with a clear vision of a program that could offer an outstanding, special education for children with Autism in a structured, yet nurturing atmosphere. New Hope Center provides children with unique instruction, inspiration and opportunity to learn and achieve their highest potential. While they do have academic groups that work on reading, writing, math, etc, the focus at New Hope is on the therapies that most benefit the child. They can implement an IEP from a public school district, but they can also write our own additional goals based on the needs, wants, and desires of the child and family.

Children at New Hope Center can receive self care training, applied behavioral therapy, speech and communications therapy, occupational therapy, academic tutoring and more.

This orientation guide offers tips from other parents for success in private school, shares questions you can ask your child’s teacher(s) to make sure you are all on the same page, and explains the ins-and-outs of Ohio’s scholarship programs.

An ungraded school for children with special needs for kindergarden through 8th grade. The school near Dayton, Ohio incorporates perceptual motor skill training into the academic setting through individual or small group classes.

PEP focuses on developing skills that have real life utility for each child. Using positive and proactive strategies, PEP professionals teach young people with autism new ways of relating, communicating, and behaving. This is a year-round program.

Prentiss serves school-age children and youth who demonstrate severe and challenging behavior ages 5-22 with autism spectrum disorder and other complex developmental disabilities, all of whom are experiencing significant impairments in communication. The following methods are offered: Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA); Augmentative and Alternative Communication; Developmental Teaching – Developmental Therapy; DIR/Floortime Model; PECS; and TEACCH.

They provide children with autism a safe, structured educational environment with supportive services that give our students the necessary skills and independence to lead a productive life. They offer a preschool, primary and middle school, and high school.

Utilizing the Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH) method, which focuses on structured teaching, highly visual planning and organization strategies, and predictable environments to help learners on the autism spectrum to become more independent, Potential Development offers learning opportunities for all students with autism.

Preschool address: 880 E. Indianola Ave., Youngstown, OH 44507
Primary/Middle School: 2400 Market Street, Youngstown, Ohio 44507
High School: 2405 Market Street, Youngstown, Ohio 44507

Hanna Perkins offers a small class for high functioning PreK and Kindergarten children on the Autism Spectrum (ages 4-6).

The program blends the Hanna Perkins approach to working with parents as a team to promote social emotional development and educational techniques tailored for children on the spectrum. The class includes two experienced teachers for four to six children, two Hanna Perkins therapists, an ABA consultant from the Cleveland Clinic, and OT and Speech and Language services tailored to individual and group needs.

ACCESS: All Children with autism Can Experience School Success
A structured setting, direct instruction and positive reinforcement along with communication/socialization tools and strategies.
Serves students from PreK – Grade 12

ASPIRE: Alternative Student Programming Inspired by Re-Education
The ASPIRE program theory is based on the idea that students will excel in an environment where the teacher is viewed as not only an educator but a counselor as well.

TRANSITION
Serves adults ages 18-22
The transition program offers varied and different levels of vocational training, in-house and community based. Students are met at their individual levels with continued growth in all areas.

Re-Education Services has two locations:
Mentor Campus:
6176 Reynolds Rd
Mentor, Oh 44060

Bedford Campus
370 Center Rd
Bedford, Oh 44146

Reach Educational Services offers a variety of services to children with special needs in Central and Northwest Ohio. The services they provide varies depending upon which part of Ohio your family lives in. Their focus is working with learners who have autism spectrum disorders and associated behavior and learning differences.

Reach clinic-based services (Columbus) provide special education and behavior analytic services (ABA Therapy) to students with autism between the ages of 3 and 21. They offer small group as well as 1:1 services. The clinic is open year round and follows a traditional school calendar with classes held Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

In-home ABA services and county-funded services are also available.

Reach Services can be fully funded by the Autism Scholarship Program, Private Health Insurance, and via school district contracts. They do not accept Medicaid or CareSource.

The Paula and Anthony Rich Center for the Study and Treatment of Autism is an externally funded unit of Youngstown State University.

The primary mission of The Rich Center for Autism is to improve the lives of individuals with autism through innovative educational programs that allow them to reach their full potential and improve their quality of life. The Rich Center for Autism focuses on increasing skills in communication, socialization, academics and daily living by incorporating basic principles of ABA across the student’s school day.

The Rich Center for Autism serves as a conduit between the University, educators, health and human service professionals. Children are enrolled in their programs regardless of the ability to pay. Referral, treatment, and support are provided at no cost to families.

Speech and Occupational Therapies are services offered at the Rich Center in the Kids Choice Pediatric Rehab & Therapy Center.

The Specialized Teaching for students with Autism and Resource Support (S.T.A.R.S.) program provides educational services to school-aged students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, in an academic environment that fosters acceptance, independence, and success. Their highly trained staff utilizes both Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and TEACCH structures, in addition to other evidence-based teaching tools.

Classroom locations are in certain schools in the Cardinal district, Kenston district and West Geauga.

Ages 6 – 21

Students Using Proven Educational Resources (S.U.P.E.R.) Learning Center is a chartered, nonpublic, faith-based school for students with special learning needs. Their student body is comprised of both typical and special needs students grades K-12.

This webpage offers links to relevant resources and information from the Ohio Department of Education relating to students with special needs.

Spectrum’s area of expertise extends into the areas of curriculum design, teacher training, educational resources, and technical support.

Currently, Spectrum provides the administrative oversight of Spectrum Resource Center  (an Autism Scholarship Provider) & School and is underway with the development of Spectrum Academy of Excellence, a proposed public charter school for grades 6 through 12.

Spectrum provides consulting and training services to interested parent groups, school districts, educators as well as developmental disability, mental health, juvenile justice and child welfare agencies across the country and internationally.

Saint William School provides a faith-based education that recognizes that each student is an individual. Our parish families, teachers and staff work together to create a spirit of community and service.

They currently enroll students in traditional pre-K through 8th grade as well as those with learning disabilities and students with autism. They accept the Edchoice Voucher, EdChoice Expansion Voucher, Jon Peterson Scholarship and Autism Scholarship systems.

Single Point of Contact – Tracy Lichtenfels
(440) 324-5777 ext. 1136

Special Education Contact – Sarah Walker
Phone: (440) 324-5777 Ext 1136

Parent and Family Contact – Jennifer Heim
Phone (440) 324-5777 Ext 1148

ELSR Contact – Jackie Plantner
Phone (440) 324-5777 ext. 1157

ELSS Contact – Nancy Osko
Phone (440) 324-5777 Ext 1118

The STEPS Center was developed to meet the needs of children diagnosed on the autism spectrum and related developmental delays ages 2 1/2 -22 in a center-based program. This allows for intense instruction with a focus on language and communication, as well as academics.

The STEPS Academy is a center-based program with an emphasis on speech, OT, social skills and ABA Therapy.

STEPS also offers consulting to help identify team, classroom, and school or district goals and generate effective solutions to improve student progress and increase independence.

School enrollment is required in order to receive ABA services.

A second location in Broadview Heights is scheduled to open in August, 2018.

A residential school for people ages 12 and up with disabilities. The school offers educational, social, recreational, community and vocational opportunities for students. There are ample athletic opportunities, and students can participate in the Special Olympics. The school has been around for over 120 years.

Stewart is located in Frankfort, Kentucky.

There are Summit Academy schools throughout the state of Ohio. Grades vary by school, please visit their website to find details on the school closest to you.

Each school is designed to meet the unique educational and social needs of students who are at risk for potential academic challenges due to ADHD, Autistic Spectrum Disorders or other related challenges. All Summit Academies are public, tuition-free, 501(c) (3) non-profit schools.

The Autism Model School utilizes the science of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) as a foundation for developing language/communication skills, adaptive behavior, social/leisure skills, fine and gross motor development, activities of daily living and independent living, learner readiness skills, traditional academics, and community participation/job-readiness.

They offer a transition program for students ages 14 and up, to help prepare them for transitioning to adulthood.

The school is open to students ages 5 through age 21, and must be a legal resident of the state of Ohio.

The program contracts with local school districts to provide academic instruction to students with a developmental disability and challenging behaviors. Their four classrooms are staffed by teachers, assistants and aides who are trained in behavioral support as well as each student’s Individualized Education Program.

The program is available for students with a developmental disability who have an IEP and are experiencing behavioral problems that require a higher level of intervention than their home school district can provide.

The Bryan Center serves children with autism, PDD and Asperger’s Syndrome. It is a full day program and offers academics as well as therapies and activities tailored to the need of each individual child based on their IEP. Serves children from ages 3 through 22.

A year-round program, including a summer camp, is offered.

A structured, sensory-friendly environment where children with autism receive individual 1-on-1 and small group therapies and instruction based on the fundamental principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Verbal Behavior and Direct Instruction. They serve individuals from preschool through age 21.

Additional location in Lima, OH:
2280 Baton Rouge Drive
Lima, OH 45805
Ph: 567-208-9267
limacenterforautism@yahoo.com

A state chartered, non-public, alternative educational option for for children who have difficulty succeeding in a traditional school setting. All children referred to the school must have an IEP and district referral, which covers the cost of tuition and provides transportation to and from school.

The Home School is a K-8 Integrated Therapeutic classroom.

The High School for Students with Autism and Related Disorders is for students in grades 9-12.

In addition, their Upper School Virtual Academy is a computer based online curriculum that allows credit deficient students grades 9-12 to earn credits towards a high school diploma.

The Golden Key Center is a charter school open to children with disabilities and places a special focus on children (ages 2 1/2 through 22) who require nursing services and are qualified as medically fragile, although they welcome all children.

They offer special needs and typically developing child care, before and after school care, School Aide/Paraprofessional training, Tutoring services, Consultation for school programs, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and medical support.

The KidsLink School provides individualized and intensive programming for students with autism and other behavioral developmental disabilities that are between 5 and 22 years old.

They provide year-round school programming with licensed and certified staff. Instruction is based on intake assessments and highly individualized to meet the behavioral, educational and therapeutic needs of the student. All interventions are methodology- and research-based, including the foundation of Applied Behavioral Analysis.

The overall vision of The Learning Spectrum is to provide families with services designed to meet the individualized needs of children with autism and related services in and out of the school setting.

The Learning Spectrum provides OT, Speech therapy, music therapy, 1-on-1 Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), support groups, and educational services to with autism spectrum disorder.

There are four locations throughout Central Ohio (Columbus area). Visit their website for specifics.

A free public community school for students in grades 7 through 12 (ages 12-21) who learn differently. Some are gifted, others have learning disabilities caused by dyslexia, ADHD, Asperger’s or other disorders on the Autism spectrum. All struggle to learn in mainstream educational systems. They use unique teaching methods that encourage lifelong learning.

Threshold is a 2-year, campus-based program for motivated young adults with special needs and diverse learning challenges. After graduation, students can enroll in 1 of 2 post-graduate programs to help them further develop independent living skills and job skills.

Their mission is to aid academically at-risk, or physically challenged children by providing psycho-educational services for them to achieve academic success leading to a productive and rewarding lifestyle.

They offer educational testing, therapy and tutoring with professionals who are the top of their field. They also offer an online learning curriculum called E-Tree. Eligible students are in grades K-12.

Additional areas of assistance include:
Behavioral Assessments
Counseling and Therapy
Speech Therapy
Physical Therapy
Occupational Therapy

They are a Jon Peterson scholarship and Autism Scholarship provider.