Grant speaks to those who may not be able to
Judd Elem. School furthers programs to reach autistic students
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer

NORTH BRUNSWICK - Administrators fromJuddElementary School presented "Changing the Course of Autism Through TargetedEducation" during theBoard ofEducationmeeting on Dec. 13.

Principal Barbara Gibbons said that the school has received a $214,000 grant from the state to benefit over 40 students who have been diagnosed with various levels of autism. The neurological disorder, which causes communication deficits, affects sensory integration and creates the absence of social cues, is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the United States and needs to be addressed as early as possible.

"Hopefully some day our students, with the right education and the right programs, will be able to…join all of the teams and join all of the students in every event in as typical a way as possible," Gibbons said.

School behavioristCatherineHavens and Tania Herzog, the supervisor of special education at the elementary level, said that a new case of the spectrum disorder is diagnosed every 20minutes. Last year, nine new preschoolers at Juddwere diagnosed, and in the last four months six new preschoolers were diagnosed.

Havens said that theAmericanAcademy of Pediatrics suggests screening a child twice before they are 2 years of age, because if the beginnings of the disease are suspected, treatment should begin early on. She said that because some side effects include uneven academic skills, the school is working toward inclusion programs, applied behavior analysis, and speech, physical and occupational therapies.

"The simple task of reading from a piece of paper can be very difficult and annoying," Herzog said.

To increase knowledge of autism, teachers will undergo specified training, behavioral support, inclusion and transition planning and supervision and coordination. Materials will also be purchased.

"The grant has given us time to do this within the constraints of the school day," Havens said.

Havens said the goal is to have those students with minimal language to be able to communicate effectively with their friends down the hall, or to sit through an assembly and communicate their feelings when they leave. Results have already been seen: 12 students have been moved to a less-restrictive environment since school began in September.

"That'swhatwe consider to be truly powerful," Havens said.

The grantwaswritten inDecember 2006 and runs through June 2008.

"Let them be among the successful students at the North Brunswick High School and graduates who reach their full potential and lead very successful lives,"He zrzog said.