After-School and Weekend Programs
Have Dreams, a leader in autism services since 1996, offers a variety of after school programs for individuals on the autism spectrum. Have Dreams’ weekly programs help foster social, communication and friendship-building skills within a highly structured environment. Instruction is based on the TEACCH philosophy of Structured Teaching, a best-practice autism intervention program developed by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Programs are offered for ages 16 months to 25 years with a low student to teacher ratio.
Click here for a program flyer (PDF):
An intake specialist can help you discern which program is right for your loved one.
Please email us at ajohnsen@havedreams.org for a personal consultation.
Wee Dream/Readiness SCILS (Social, Communication, & Independent Living Skills) is an early intervention program that helps children as soon as they receive a diagnosis develop skills of attending, waiting, turn-taking and other important skills to build readiness for their entry to school. These programs also provides opportunities for parents who are often dealing with a new diagnosis to meet with professionals to discuss questions or concerns about their child during their child’s class time.
Social Skills
This is a center-based program in which children are engaged in social learning opportunities and activities. Thematic units are integrated in each learning center. Learning centers include games, reading, art, gross motor activities, cooking and music. Skills such as turn taking, waiting, sharing and attending will all be practiced. Games are adapted to promote socialization and communication skills. Adaptations and prompts are faded as students become familiar with and understand the game concepts, enabling them to play the games in other settings.
Interactive Games and Music
This is a highly structured program in which participants play highly motivating adapted commercial games with their peers and social buddies. The goal is to practice and learn the rules of games, turn-taking and social cues. High interest music activities are implemented in the lesson plans to encourage age appropriate communication.
Instructional Swimming (Park Ridge Community Center)
Tech Club (S.T.E.A.M.)
Technology themed lessons focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (S.T.E.A.M.) are geared towards participants with High Functioning Autism. A half-hour of the class is dedicated to “tech” interests of the group such as computer programming, Minecraft, robots, new iPad apps, etc. The other hour of the class is focused on highly motivating and structured social activities. The interests of the students are the framework of each class.
Teen/Young Adult Club
An intake specialist can help you discern which program is right for your loved one. Please email us at ajohnsen@havedreams.org for a personal consultation.
