Birchtree’s Day School Students
Birchtree’s year-round day school is approved by the New Hampshire Department of Education to serve students in grades preK-12 whose primary special education eligibility is any of the following:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Developmental Delay
- Multiple Disabilities (with one of those disabilities being autism)
Students who benefit from our individualized approach to applied behavior analysis (ABA) travel to our day school from New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts.
Many of our students are referred to Birchtree by school systems interested in partnering with our staff of knowledgeable and experienced specialists in the fields of applied behavior analysis (ABA), special education, communication, and occupational therapy.
Our Day School Program Welcomes Those Who Experience:
- A range of autism spectrum symptoms. Some students face severe challenges, others are considered mildly impacted, and still others fall somewhere in the middle of the autism spectrum.
- Multiple disabilities. All day school students have autism, but some face other challenges in addition. For example, Birchtree sometimes serves students who are blind, hearing impaired, or physically disabled. Other students have seizure disorders. To meet students’ unique needs, Birchtree’s staff sometimes collaborates with outside consultants provided by students’ sending school districts.
- A range of academic skill levels. Some students receive typical grade-level instruction, while other students receive differentiated instruction adapted to their current level of performance.
- Communication challenges. Some students are nonverbal or have only limited speech. Many communicate with the help of high-tech or low-tech Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC) systems such as electronic devices with individualized communication software, picture symbols, or sign language.
- Sensory processing disorders or other sensory needs. Some students are particularly sensitive to light, sound, smell, or texture, and may become overwhelmed or anxious when faced with excessive multisensory stimuli.
- Interfering behavior. In many cases, children and youth come to our program exhibiting behavior that interferes with their participation in educational and social activities. These challenging behaviors may include severe tantrums, frequent screaming, and/or aggressive or self-injurious behaviors because they lack communication skills, self-regulation skills, and other skills necessary to meet the challenges of everyday life.
- Underdeveloped functional living skills. Some students have difficulty executing self-care tasks such as toothbrushing, toileting, or dressing. Birchtree provides individualized instruction to help students develop these skills – and successfully use these skills at home.
Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students
Birchtree admits students of any sex, race, creed, color, marital status, national/ethnic origin, and economic status.