Texana Center received notice that the Texas Education Agency (TEA) has approved the Children’s Center for Autism as an accredited non-public school site. The TEA awarded this designation following a site visit to determine if the program met their eligibility criteria.
This means that Children’s Center for Autism, which uses applied behavior analysis to treat autism, will be now able to help children where local school districts are struggling to provide an appropriate education. However, before a child is admitted to Texana’s program the school districts must get approval from the TEA to send them. The Texana Children’s Center for Autism will be listed on the TEA website as an approved non-public site, making it easier for school districts to find the center and access the services when needed. In the past, if a school district wanted to send a child, they also had to send staff with the child each day, effective May 31 this will no longer be necessary.
The Children’s Center for Autism has one certified teacher in general and special education as well as a second certified teacher who is also a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. The center staff will participate with the school in the development of Individualized Education Programs (IEP) for the student and then will implement the IEP. The center’s staff will also attend Admission, Review and Dismissal (ARD) meetings and will collaborate and coordinate with the school district to facilitate maximum success for each child.
Kate Johnson-Patagoc, Director of Specialized Services at Texana said “We are very excited about becoming a TEA approved site, as this gives us an opportunity to work more closely with the school districts. I believe our partnership with the schools and special education teachers will result in children with an autism diagnosis being more successful in the classroom.”
The Texana Children’s Center for Autism is a nationally recognized program for treating autism with applied behavior analysis.