Autism Program Fosters Healthy Independence In Iowa Teens
Many students come to New Focus Academy’s autism program believing that they will never be able to build meaningful one-on-one connections with the people that they love and admire. Often, this misconception results from bullying or rejection from their peers. Our students learn to build positive, thriving connections with their families and friends, and to articulate sensible boundaries and expectations for their relationships. Located in Utah, away from your home in Iowa, New Focus offers a safe environment with none of the doubts and struggles of home. 
We do this by emphasizing the Academy’s six core principles for success, which were created by students to build their community:
- Community: Supporting and caring for each other in order to truly better yourself and others.
- Respect: Valuing others’ needs as highly as your own
- Dedication: Being determined to accomplish goals, even in the face of opposition.
- Integrity and Honesty: Doing what you know is right even when no one is looking, this includes honesty.
- Responsibility: Being true to your words and accountable for your actions.
- Gratitude: Being grateful for all the things you have and expressing thankfulness to those who help you.
In addition to interpersonal skills, our evidence-based Brain Training autism program focuses on cognitive development and covers a range of everyday skills, from making confident eye contact and respecting personal space to reading a daily bus schedule and using a computer program.
But learning the principles is only half the journey to independence. In order to fully trust their own abilities, students also need to feel prepared to adapt those principles to fit the situations they may come across in everyday life. By participating in our comprehensive, relationship-based coaching program, students are given the opportunity to practice these essential life skills in a supportive environment. Along with a trained mentor, they build a step-by-step plan to reach their goals, work collaboratively in a team of peers, and share their success with the special people in their lives. The confidence that grows out of this achievement makes a huge difference in our students’ lives.
To learn more about how New Focus Academy’s autism program can develop your child’s confidence and develop a healthy, independent mindset, please contact us today at (844) 313-6749.
Encouraging Practical Skill-Building: Programs Helping Iowa Teens With Autism
Many parents of children and teens with an autism spectrum disorder express concern for their child’s independence. If you are one of those parents, you may be wondering whether they will ever celebrate life milestones like getting a job or living away from home. New Focus Academy is a residential program for teens with autism designed to address these concerns among teens. By immersing our students in an engaging environment away from the frustrations of home, we help teens from Iowa gain a fresh perspective. 
Our program is located in Utah, and we help teens from all over the country including Iowa.
Research has shown that these students’ emotional struggles are connected to the difficulty they experience performing executive tasks. A lack of opportunities for learning and practicing new skills can hamper their ability to regulate their emotions. As they develop these executive functions, our students gain confidence that can be applied to any area of life.
At New Focus Academy, we use a wide variety of skill-building exercises to refine resident’s executive skills. Depending on their age and maturity level, our residents:
- Create and complete detailed daily to-do lists
- Shop for food, manage payments, and cook their own meals
- Find a part-time job and earn their own paycheck
Our trained staff also uses a Positive Behavior Support system to help students identify their highest ambitions and goals. Then we investigate the assistance they will need to reach those goals and any potential barriers that might make it difficult to succeed. We build a flexible, step-by-step plan to support the student, and provide the resources they need.
To find out more about the autism program at New Focus Academy, please contact us at (844) 313-6749.
New Focus Academy helps Iowa teens struggling with challenges like:
– Academic Difficulties
– Sensory Issues
– Social Difficulties
– Anxiety
– Nonverbal Learning Disorder
– Low Processing Speed
– Traumatic Brain Injuries
– Developmental Immaturity
– Autism
– Low Working Memory
– Aspergers
– Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
– Social Pragmatic Communication Disorders
– Rigidity
– Academic Failure
– Mood Disorders
Resources
Autistic Self Advocacy Network:Founded and run by members of the community, this non-profit organization empowers individuals to seek out new opportunities and upholds autistic voices in the public conversation about disability rights. They offer members the chance to participate in public policy programs, contribute to cultural awareness activities, and attend free advocacy training events. They also publish a number of educational resources about the autistic community.
Middletown Centre For Autism Sensory Processing Resource:Designed for teachers but useful for parents and other family members, these evidence-based activities can help individuals with processing disorders learn to regulate and manage input from their senses. With activities based around seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, smelling, and moving, you are sure to find something to stimulate.
New Focus helps struggling teens from Iowa
Some examples of cities from Iowa which may have families who may be interested in New Focus Academy include: Des Moines Cedar Rapids Davenport Sioux Iowa City Waterloo West Des Moines Ames Council Bluffs Dubuque Ankeny