CREC: River Street Autism Program

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Located in Bloomfield, Connecticut, the River Street Autism Program - Birken Campus is a comprehensive program for students identified with autism spectrum disorder from preschool through grade 8. We offer year-round programming that may include up to an 8-hour school day and up to 240 calendar days per year. Classroom sizes are small and have a high staff-to-student ratio.

Our intensive program utilizes evidence-based practices focusing on skills that enhance our learners' quality of life. Student-specific programming is individualized and focuses on academics, functional living skills, communication, and social and leisure skills. Clinical reviews with the educational team and the student’s family are an integral part of our program for collaboration and ensuring student progress.

In addition to Special Education Teachers, our multi-disciplinary clinical staff includes Board Certified Behavior Analysts, Speech and Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and Physical Therapists. A School Psychologist and Social Worker also support our community. The Special Education Teacher and the clinical staff collaborate to provide a highly individualized program for each student. In addition, our students benefit from Adaptive Physical Education, art group, music group, and other small-group activities to foster social skills, participation in leisure activities, and increased independence.

All program staff receive training and daily oversight from supervisors certified through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB®) and thoroughly trained in behavioral intervention for children with autism. Our program utilizes evidence-based strategies, including systematic teaching, incidental teaching, naturalistic training, task analysis of skills, communication training, functional assessment of problem behaviors, preference assessments, and generalization of skills. There is a strong emphasis on generalizing skills to group instruction, fading adult support, and increasing the students’ independence.

River Street Preschool/Early Learning Center is a high-quality, NAEYC-accredited integrated preschool program serving students ages 3 to 5. Our mission is to meet the needs of every student by providing meaningful experiences that promote social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development in partnership with the CREC River Street Autism Program. Students attending the River Street Early Learning Center serve as role models for the students at the River Street Autism Program during learning opportunities throughout the day.

Program Components

Options include 209 to 240 school days per year (including extended school year)
Length of school day options are 8:25 am to 2:30 pm or 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Professional staff includes Special Education Teachers, Adaptive Physical Education Teachers, Board Certified Behavior Analysts, Speech and Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Social Worker, School Psychologist and Physical Therapists
Highly trained ABA Instructors and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs)
High student-to-staff ratio, which is faded as appropriate to increase student independence

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CREC River Street Autism Program and Early Learning Center

For information relating to program specific questions:

Shanon Tomassone, M.Ed., BCBA

Director

stomassone@crec.org

860-727-8481 x3813

For information relating to student referrals and intakes:

RSAP@crec.org

For all other questions, please contact us at:
860-727-8481 x3800

For information about current job openings, please visit the CREC Careers page.

Our Location

1289 Blue Hills Avenue
Bloomfield, CT 06002