Our Program

Soaring Eagle Academy will provide an educational and social program for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders and related disorders including Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Aspergers, Regulatory Disorder, or Sensory Processing Disorder. Each child’s program will be designed to fit their developmental level, individual differences, sensory profile and interests. Families will be engaged as a partner in educating their child. The Academy’s staff will be a comprehensive team of certified professionals with initial and ongoing training in both the DIR® approach and educational best practices. Each child’s team will consist of a Special Education Teacher, Teacher Assistant, Speech/Language Pathologist, Occupational Therapist, DIR® Consultant, Social Worker, Psychologist and Program Facilitator who will collaborate as a team to design and fine-tune each child’s program. Together we will respect, embrace and empower students to guide, learn and teach.

The Academy’s educational and social program will follow educational best practices within a DIR® methodology. The learning environment will support each child¹s interests and ideas and welcome opportunities for student-directed learning. Students will be actively engaged in experiential and dynamic learning that will promote problem solving, critical thinking and social emotional development. Process-oriented activities will be the foundation for building thinking capacities in our students at the Academy. Social emotional development will be facilitated through the building of relationships with staff and peers. Development of relationships and social interactions will be considered the foundation for all learning at the Academy. Emotional thinking empowers students to develop their own strategies to manage and support their individual differences in the real world. Staff will create and facilitate emotionally, meaningful interactions that will encourage student growth in all areas of development.

The Academy will provide two educational DIR® Programs for students age three through adolescence. Within each program, every child’s individualized therapeutic goals, academic curriculum, and sensory profile will be developed and respected to facilitate engaged and interactive learning.

• Intensive Therapeutic Day Program for Students with Autistic Spectrum Disorders
  
  Classrooms in this program will accommodate up to 6-7 students diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorders or Other Health Impaired (OHI). The classroom teacher will be Special Education Teacher with certification in Autistic Spectrum Disorders for primary through high school and a Certified Early Childhood Teacher for the pre-school program. Each child will have a one on one teaching assistant who will support each student within the classroom, therapy sessions and Floortime sessions. Related services to each child will include Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and a Social Worker and will be based on their IEP (Individualized Educational Plan) and the Soaring Eagle Academy Initial Assessment and Therapeutic Plan. The Psychologist will perform any necessary Psychological Assessment and support the school staff. Additionally, a DIR® Consultant will provide services within the classroom, consultation to classroom staff, and consultation and coaching to families. The Program Facilitator will oversee the educational and social program for each child and act as a liaison between the Academy and each child’s home school district.
• Transdisciplinary Academic and Social Program for Students with PDD, Aspergers, Regulatory Disorders or Sensory Processing Disorders
  
  Classrooms in this program will accommodate up to 10 students with the above diagnosis. The classroom staff will consist of a Special Education Teacher and one Teaching Assistant for every five students. Related service will include a Speech and Language Therapist and Occupational Therapist and will be provided within the classroom setting through small and large group activities and consultation to classroom staff. The Psychologist will perform any necessary Psychological Assessment and support the school staff. Additionally, a DIR® Consultant will provide services within the classroom, consultation to classroom staff, and consultation and coaching to families. A Social Worker will provide support services to families. The Program Facilitator will oversee the educational and social program for each child and act as a liaison between the Academy and each child’s home school district as necessary.

Soaring Eagle Academy will be a non-public special education facility approved by the Illinois State Board of Education ("ISBE") to serve children with Autism or OHI (Other Health Impaired). The Academy will contract with Illinois public school districts to serve students with disabilities. A self-pay tuition will also be available for families seeking a DIR® educational and social program for their child. The facility will follow a typical school year calendar and be in session full-time five days per week during the regular school year with an additional summer school session. Our curriculum will follow Illinois State Board of Education Learning Standards and guidelines for Reading/Language Arts, Math, Social Science and Science.