Encouraging Practical Skill-Building: Programs Helping South Carolina 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 South Carolina gain a fresh perspective. 
Our program is located in Utah, and we help teens from all over the country including South Carolina.
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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina. 
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.
Resources
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.
Association Of University Centers On Disabilities:The AUCD’s national coalition of University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs) promotes connections between people with disabilities and local governmental and community organizations that are equipped to offer training, education, and technical assistance. They also work to coordinate healthcare, employment and housing, and assistive technology to people with disabilities.
New Focus Academy helps South Carolina teens struggling with challenges like:
– Low Working Memory
– Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
– Rigidity
– Autism
– Academic Failure
– Developmental Immaturity
– Social Pragmatic Communication Disorders
– Sensory Issues
– Academic Difficulties
– Nonverbal Learning Disorder
– Sensory Issues
– Low Processing Speed
– Aspergers
– Social Difficulties
– Traumatic Brain Injuries
– Mood Disorders
New Focus Academy helps families from South Carolina and all over the country
New Focus Academy helps South Carolina families from cities and towns like: Sullivans Island Kiawah Island Isle of Palms Folly Beach Seabrook Island Meggett Mount Pleasant Hilton Head Island Awendaw Edisto Beach