Encouraging Practical Skill-Building: Programs Helping Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma gain a fresh perspective. 
Our program is located in Utah, and we help teens from all over the country including Oklahoma.
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.
Relationship-Based Treatment Programs Build Social Skills In Oklahoma Teens with Autism
Teens with autism spectrum disorders often become discouraged when they fail to earn good grades in school, connect meaningfully with peers that they admire, or effectively manage their own schedules. New Focus Academy is an autism program for teens who have struggled to thrive in traditional classrooms or social settings. We help students and their families work together, learn about each other, and strengthen their relationship. Located in Utah, our program helps families from all over the country, including Oklahoma. 
At New Focus Academy, we have made relationships the foundation of every single program. One of the ways that we do this is by matching each individual student with a highly trained coach, who will work alongside their family and primary therapist to set achievable short- and long-term goals for improvement. All our coaches participate in intensive, continuous enrichment programs to ensure that they are offering students the highest quality of mentoring and support. Here are some of the principles of our relationship-based autism program:
- Health: By improving students’ overall fitness and nutrition, coaches build a strong foundation for independence
- Education: Our coaches work alongside education professionals to help students develop their minds, meet academic benchmarks, and gain confidence in their own abilities
- Practical Skills: To prepare students for the challenges of everyday life, coaches teach valuable competencies such as managing finances and using transportation
- Social Skills: Learning how to build positive relationships is a key element of success, and our coaches support this goal through community-based programs focusing on interpersonal relationships and conflict resolution
- Executive Functions: Our coaches use fun, engaging activities to teach students principles such as time management, information organization, and attention to detail
Since these programs are all completed within the context of a strong personal relationship and a home-like setting, students are better able to retain the lessons they learn and apply them to their lives. And since the student’s family is involved every step of the way, they’re prepared to offer support once they return home.
Could New Focus Academy’s autism program be the best step forward for your family? Find out more by contacting our team today at (844) 313-6749.
New Focus Academy helps Oklahoma teens struggling with challenges like:
– Developmental Immaturity
– Anxiety
– Traumatic Brain Injuries
– Mood Disorders
– Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
– Rigidity
– Academic Failure
– Low Processing Speed
– Autism
– Social Difficulties
– Sensory Issues
– Social Pragmatic Communication Disorders
– Nonverbal Learning Disorder
– Aspergers
– Low Working Memory
– Academic Difficulties
Resources
Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Association:Founded as a support for self-advocacy, this organization provides a variety of services to individuals, parents, and caretakers. It offers one-on-one consultation sessions over the phone, holds monthly support meetings for everyone from young children to independent adults, and hosts a wide-ranging forum for anyone to discuss relevant issues and share helpful information.
Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership:This multinational organization runs a variety of community programs, conducts professional development workshops for schools and businesses, and face-to-face support meetings for individuals and family members. Their blog also offers a range of perspectives on living with an autism spectrum disorder, addressing issues such as employment, interpersonal relationships, and adult life.
New Focus Academy helps families from Oklahoma and all over the country
New Focus Academy helps Oklahoma families from cities and towns like: Nichols Hills Edmond Goldsby Forest Park Piedmont Jenks Bixby Newcastle Blanchard Dickson