RISE Program

Lisa Howard

Keerti Nagpure
Didy Edymar

Sheeba Khurram - Behavior Support

Helen Griffin

Lily Brooks

Maureen Doornbos
Nikki Murphy
Nancy Young Elementary is proud to house 3 RISE classrooms at our school.
Program Description
The RISE (Reaching Independence through Structured Education) program is designed with a focus on the intensive programming and supports that are needed for students exhibiting deficits in the areas of communication and emotional regulation, often stemming from their challenges as a student on the autism spectrum. Additional programmatic targets are social relationships, social cognition, academics, and de-escalation strategies. Because of the intensity of the supports given, the classroom size is smaller (approximately 8 students) with a lower staff to student ratio. Direct instruction in the areas of social skills and communication will be daily components of the program, often co-taught by the classroom teacher and speech-language pathologist or social worker. Access to the general education and core curriculum is also embedded in the structure of the day, per the recommendations as found in each student’s IEP. For students who need a more intensive instructional approach, modified and alternate curriculum options are available. All curriculum parallels what is taught in the general education classes and is aligned with state standards.
In addition to the focus on communicative and emotional functioning as it relates to educational success, students also are afforded a full complement of related services. These services can include counseling from either a school social worker or psychologist, occupational therapy, speech therapy and/or physical therapy. The specific related services for individual students are outlined in their IEPs.
The support from the services of a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) will also be embedded in the program to address individual, group, and classroom dynamics.








