Check out JumpStart's exciting Continuing to Learn Programs for children up to age 8
Frequently Asked Questions
JumpStart is a new approach to family training and education. Our intensive training program designed to get parents and their autistic child on the right track. Jumpstart seeks to help families learn the life skills they will need to support their child's development as he or she grows.
What will my family learn?
JumpStart programs are designed to:
- Child evaluation: JumpStart is, in part, an extended observation period in which different treatment approaches are tried and fine-tuned and the child's learning style explained for parents and future service providers.
- Teach parents ways they can teach their child everyday: JumpStart provides the opportunity for parents to learn to work with their child experientially so they can support their child's development during daily activities at home and in the community.
- Help parents become informed consumers of autism treatment services: JumpStart teaches parents to understand, evaluate, and work effectively with their child's services/ interventions and service providers in order to become effective interventionists and consumers of autism services.
Who is eligible for a JumpStart program?
JumpStart is designed to serve children ages 1-8 years who have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis including autism, PDD, nos, and Asperger's syndrome. JumpStart Learning to Learn services are designed for children who have been recently diagnosed and have not received other autism specific early intervention services. Jumpstart Continuing to Learn services are designed to meet the needs of children who have been in ongoing services for at least 1 year.
Is there funding assistance for the JumpStart program?
JumpStart services can be funded by your local Regional Center. To be eligible for Regional Center funded services children must:
- Have a diagnosis of autism from their Regional Center
- Be a current regional center client
- Have a purchase of service (POS) for JumpStart services
How is JumpStart different than other early intervention programs?
JumpStart is innovative because rather than offering intervention following one treatment model or another, we understand that all children with autism learn differently and will need intervention that draws upon many treatment models simultaneously.
Drawing on what we know about evidence-based best practice for young children with autism this intervention
- Involves the child and parents
- Uses behavioral methods to establish a 'learning contract' with the child
- Integrates verbal, non-verbal and augmentative communication skills
- Integrates play-based approaches in order to expand the goals of more structured teaching approaches
- Teaches parents to understand and respond to natural learning opportunities
- Teaches parents how to work with and to evaluate treatment approaches and their providers
- Supports transition from JumpStart into home or community based services.
Why do you call the Learning to Learn program a 'first intervention'?
JumpStart Learning to Learn is designed to be a very brief yet intensive parent training program. The goal of the program is not to provide ongoing services, but rather to help both parents and children get ready for ongoing services. JumpStart teaches children with autism spectrum disorders the skills they need to become learners and parents the specialized skills they need to care for their child.
What Services does JumpStart offer?
How do I get started with JumpStart Learning to Learn?
All families who participate in JumpStart must first participate in a 2 hour intake appointment. This appointment is designed for us to gain an understanding of your child so that we can individualize his or her JumpStart program. Please call our office to schedule an intake appointment.