|
The Forbush Therapeutic Preschool at Towson serves students ages
three to seven. The program provides special education and related services to
children with autism, pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), developmental
delays in one or more areas, severe behavioral and emotional problems, multiple
learning problems, and other related disorders.
A unique component of this program is that it draws from many
different curricula. After a period of evaluation, an individual program is
developed to meet each student’s specific needs. Skills are taught in highly
structured settings, such as discrete trial instruction, then are introduced
into less structured, naturalistic settings. This design proves to enhance
skill development while improving generalization. Additional components of the
program include small group instruction, errorless learning techniques, sensory
diets, individualized student daily schedules, life skills training, and
leisure skills training. Parents are encouraged to participate in decisions
regarding programming for their children. Staff and parents can work together
to develop home programs for students.
The Therapeutic Preschool Program is approved
by the Maryland State Department of Education. Located in the Gibson building
on the Towson campus of Sheppard Pratt, this 12-month program operates on
a full day basis, five days a week.
The Staff:
The staff includes a program coordinator, certified teachers, teacher
assistants, speech/language pathologists, occupational therapists, a physical
therapist, a behavioral specialist, assistant behavioral specialists, nurse,
social workers, a licensed psychologist, and a child psychiatrist. A high
staff-to-child ratio is provided in each classroom.
|