Preparing Students for Adulthood
Students with autism who attend Birchtree’s year-round special-education day school in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, participate in transition activities from ages 14 to 21.
Our autism experts work closely with students’ families and local agencies to develop individualized plans to promote independence for life.
Service Locations
Students develop and practice their skills across multiple settings:
In the Classroom
Autism specialists work with students one-on-one and in small groups to develop communication, academic, social skills, and more.
Throughout Our School Building
Students use fully equipped kitchens, a laundry room, school bathrooms, and the Life Skills Area to learn self-care and independent-living skills. Students learn vocational skills working at our school store, school library, and more.
In Our Neighborhood
A variety of local stores, restaurants, and shops within walking distance of our center welcome our students to visit their locations to develop shopping, vocational, social, and leisure skills.
In the Community
Students and staff make regular trips to nearby libraries, grocery stores, nature preserves, and more to learn to access resources in our community as independently as possible. They also exercise at local pools and fitness centers to develop the healthy habit of regular exercise.
Transition Activities
Birchtree’s transition activities prepare students with autism for full and productive adult lives and include intensive, year-round instruction in four essential areas:
Vocational Skills
Birchtree’s Transition Coordinator works with local employers to find opportunities for students to gain practical workplace experience. We strive to match the vocational abilities and interests of every student.
Students sample a variety of jobs at our school to help them develop marketable skills and to identify areas of strength and interest. School-based jobs include working as cashiers or servers at our school store, operating a snack-cart service, inventorying and stocking supplies, delivering notices, and working in our school library and in other designated areas throughout our school building.
Many of our students participate in vocational skill building in collaboration with our community partners. Students develop vocational and prevocational skills while doing supervised work at local nonprofits, schools, and businesses. Students also operate a light-assembly and mail-stuffing service for nonprofits and small businesses.
Community Participation
Students learn to access resources in our community with as much independence as possible. We help students develop leisure, social, vocational, communication, and life skills so they are prepared to become active participants in their communities.
We facilitate the development of healthy fitness habits by encouraging students to exercise in our school gym and at local fitness centers and pools. We also help students explore their leisure interests and establish community connections that will allow them to enjoy meaningful leisure experiences in adulthood.
Birchtree students also learn to give back to our community through service projects such as maintaining public gardens, organizing food drives, or volunteering for other local nonprofit organizations.
Independent Living
Students with autism need intensive instruction and consistent practice to maintain the skills essential to adult success, such as healthy eating, food preparation, cleaning, shopping, laundry, and personal hygiene.
Our highly trained staff members give students practical, hands-on learning experiences in our Life Skills Area and in a variety of community settings so independence is generalized across environments.
Lifelong Learning
Throughout the school day, students strengthen their functional application of literacy, language, math, and other academic skills, and prepare for a lifetime of active learning. Instruction takes place one-on-one and in small groups in our classrooms, throughout our center, and in the community.
This practical, experience-based instruction allows students to apply their academic skills in a variety of settings and prepares them to continue their education as adults.
Helping students help themselves... and give back to our community
We teach students with autism the skills they need to maximize their independence and productivity in adulthood.
Students learn job skills by volunteering at local businesses and nonprofits. They learn to give back by participating in community service projects. Some students also offer light-assembly and mail-stuffing services for local organizations as part of their pre-vocational training.
Can our students help you?
If your business or organization would like to partner with Birchtree’s autism experts to provide hands-on, real-world experience to Birchtree’s students with autism, please contact Debbie Patten, Transition Coordinator, at transition@birchtreenh.org or 603-433-4192 x22.