Y.A.L.E. School Philadelphia Programs
Elementary School
Our youngest students enjoy an individualized, challenging, and creative curriculum that encourages progress. Most Y.A.L.E. Philadelphia classrooms enjoy a staff-to-student ratio of 8:1, with no classroom exceeding 12:1, allowing for each student to thrive under individual attention at every age. Through individualized educational plans (IEPs), students work at a pace that fits their specific goals.
We proudly provide students:
- Flexibility to exercise choice and creativity in order to develop the personal learning style that fits their needs, guided by our skilled educators and staff
- Proactive instructional strategies that address multiple learning styles, processing difficulties, and/or academic and social deficits so all students can benefit from grade level standards
- Educators that follow the principles and practices of Universal Design for Learning, with teachers creating lesson plans based on individual interests, needs, and abilities
- Material presented in various formats, and multiple opportunities for students to express what they have learned
Middle School
As students grow, acquiring verbal and non-verbal social skills becomes even more important. With social skills instruction throughout all classes, group projects and community-based instruction, as well as weekly social classes that provide skills instruction, students learn and practice social abilities.
We proudly provide students:
- A safe and secure learning environment so students can prepare to effectively navigate the world around them
- Social skills remediation and instruction, with an effective curriculum including lessons on perspective taking, rigidity, reciprocity, reading social cues, concrete thinking, perseverative interests, adapting to changing circumstances, and more
- A peer-mentoring program with a nearby school, where mentors implement collaborative service-learning projects and build shared experiences through community-based instruction
- Transition-based programming, including training in self-advocacy, self-determination, and self-knowledge
High School & Beyond
At age 14, students may continue at Y.A.L.E. School Philadelphia if they require more intense functional skills training and language development. Our high school program provides continuing face-to-face instruction for students ages 15-21 with autism, intellectual, and developmental disabilities.
We proudly provide students:
- An individualized education with small class sizes focused on readying students for the transition to adulthood
- Evidence-based curriculum and versatile teaching methods, such as TouchMath, Handwriting Without Tears, and digital tablets equipped with PRC-Saltillo LAMP Words for Life and Unity, as well as Toca Boca for functional skills
- Enrichment opportunities that feature experiential, community-based learning and provide avenues for all forms of self-expression through digital technology, art, and music
- Social skills development through weekly class instruction and integrated practice throughout the day based on Michelle Garcia Winner’s Social Thinking approach
- Highly certified staff including compassionate teachers, classroom aides, occupational therapists, speech therapists, physical therapists, and counselors
- Daily written communications for parents/guardians from teachers, as well as frequent scheduled phone calls and quarterly written IEP progress reports
- Instruction and experiences expand in the 18–21 years to emphasize functional living skills and work readiness, concentrating on practical academics, self-care and self-advocacy, home tasks, soft skills for employment in simulated work experiences, and participating in work-based learning in the community to gain marketable, transferable skills when ready
