Princeton Child Development Institute

TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE, SCIENCE-BASED INTERVENTION FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH AUTISM AND, THROUGH RESEARCH AND DISSEMINATION, TO EXTEND TREATMENT RESOURCES TO PEOPLE WITH AUTISM, BOTH NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY.

EDUCATION PROGRAMPRESCHOOLERS AND SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN ATTEND SCHOOL FROM 8:30 A.M. TO 2:30 P.M. FIVE DAYS PER WEEK. INDIVIDUALIZED PRE-ACADEMIC AND ACADEMIC PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH AGES 3 TO 21. INTENSIVE, ONE-TO-ONE SESSIONS ALTERNATE WITH SMALL-GROUP ACTIVITIES THAT TEACH CHILDREN TO RELATE TO CLASSMATES AND PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL SITUATIONS. EACH CHILD'S SCHEDULE OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES IS ESPECIALLY DESIGNED TO MEET HIS OR HER NEEDS; BUT ALL YOUNGSTERS' PROGRAMS EMPHASIZE LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL INTERACTION.THE PRESCHOOL AND SCHOOL ARE ACCREDITED AND CERTIFIED BY THE MERCER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. PARENTS, LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, OR OTHER CHILD ADVOCATES OR HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES MAY REFER CHILDREN.BECAUSE YOUNGSTERS WITH SEVERE BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS REQUIRE CONTINUOUS AND SYSTEMATIC INTERVENTION, A VARIETY OF TRAINING ACTIVITIES ARE PROVIDED TO ENABLE PARENTS AND SIBLINGS TO PARTICIPATE IN CHILDREN'S LEARNING EXPERIENCES. HOME PROGRAMMING SERVICES HELP PARENTS ACQUIRE SKILLS AS HOME TUTORS FOR THEIR OWN CHILDREN. IN ADDITION, INSTITUTE STAFF MEMBERS MAKE REGULAR VISITS TO EACH FAMILY TO CONSULT WITH PARENTS ON HOME PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION.

GROUP HOMESFAMILY FOCUS, FOUNDED IN 1977, WAS THE FIRST GROUP HOME IN NEW JERSEY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH AUTISM. FAMILY FOCUS AT MOUNTAINVIEW, FOUNDED IN 1983, ALSO PROVIDES SERVICES TO PEOPLE WHOSE SEVERE DISABILITIES REQUIRE AROUND-THE-CLOCK TREATMENT. PROFESSIONAL FAMILY TEACHERS WHO LIVE IN THE HOME AND PROMOTE SUCCESSFUL FAMILY-PARTICIPATION EXPERIENCES STAFF BOTH OF THE HOMES. THE ADULTS WHO LIVE IN THE GROUP HOMES PARTICIPATE IN A VARIETY OF FAMILY-STYLE ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO TEACH RECEPTIVE AND EXPRESSIVE LANGUAGE, RECREATION AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES, HOME-LIVING SKILLS, HEALTH AND HYGIENE, AND PERSONAL SAFETY. INDIVIDUALIZED PROGRAMS HELP THEM LEARN TO INITIATE INTERACTIONS WITH OTHERS AND MAKE DECISIONS, AND FREQUENT COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN TO PARTICIPATE MORE FULLY IN COMMUNITY LIFE.

ADULT LIFE-SKILLS PROGRAMCONSISTENT WITH THE MISSION TO DEVELOP A CONTINUUM OF SERVICES SPANNING EARLY CHILDHOOD AND ADULTHOOD, THE INSTITUTE EMBARKED UPON THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADULT PROGRAM MODELS. THE ADULT LIFE-SKILLS PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY THE NEW JERSEY DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND NJ MEDICAID, AND PROVIDES PERSONAL AND CAREER-DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. SUPPORTED-EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS ENABLE ADULTS WITH AUTISM TO ENTER THE WORK FORCE IN JOBS SUCH AS BUILDING MAINTENANCE, FOOD SERVICE, DATA ENTRY, AND TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND THEIR SKILLS IN AREAS SUCH AS MONEY MANAGEMENT, LEISURE PURSUITS, AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION.