Autism Program
At NCS we have a fully inclusive program for Autistic students. Our program provides highly rigorous academic instruction paired with social, sensory, and behavioral support to provide an inclusive environment for all students. Our Autism program serves diagnosed students who have average or above-average cognitive and verbal abilities. Within our program, we offer smaller class sizes, two lead teachers in every room, and small group social instruction within “Social Club.” Additionally, we provide family support and education to expand the partnership between school and home. Our goal is to provide a supportive learning environment that educates the whole child, fostering an equitable educational experience that ensures our students achieve their full academic potential.
Please click here to see if your child would be a good fit for the NCS Autism program.
Social Club
Social Club is a small group interactive session, led by speech-language pathologists, intended to support improving social competencies. Social Club sessions largely use frameworks and methodologies from Social Thinking®, an educational company created by founder Michelle Garcia Winner, which provides evidence-based strategies and curricula to help individuals of all ages develop social competencies by deeply connecting social, emotional, and cognitive development. In these sessions, students work on concepts such as perspective-taking, understanding thoughts and feelings of themselves and others, becoming flexible thinkers, and more! All scholars in the NCS Autism program participate in Social Club.
Co-Teaching
All core contents at NCS are co-taught by two lead teachers. Co-teaching creates a more inclusive, dynamic, supportive, and equitable classroom environment. Our teachers use a variety of different models throughout the day to meet students’ academic, social, and behavioral needs. Our leadership teams help to coach teachers around the utilization of different models to help meet the individual needs of the students within each classroom. Using these models allows for students to receive more individualized attention, as teachers can more effectively provide differentiated instruction to a range of abilities.
12:1 Classes
The purpose of the 12:1 program at NCS is to address the unique needs of scholars who require more instructional support in select core contents than an ICT classroom provides. This program is listed on a student’s IEP as “12:1” and gives scholars a chance to receive the individualized and foundational support they need while still participating in some inclusive programming throughout the day. Our program allows students to feel successful academically and foster a love of learning in school. Our 12:1 teachers utilize different programs and modalities to address foundational skills and grade-level standards to fill in knowledge gaps, build student access to grade-level content, and create an environment where students feel successful. Instruction is planned and developed through data study to ensure that individualized student needs are being met.
Multilingual Learning (MLL program)
Tailored to address the unique needs of students speaking more than one language, our program provides targeted support in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. We strive to bridge language gaps, ensuring academic success in English while fostering a connection to each student’s background and culture.
The MLL program’s criteria prioritize the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), offering specialized support to students scoring entering, emerging, or transitioning on NYSITELL. We also consider students from bilingual households facing academic challenges, ensuring an inclusive and supportive environment.
Parents talk about the ASD program
The Enrollment Process
Key Aspects of Our Programs
Smaller class sizes
Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT)
Two teachers per classroom
High expectations
Academic growth
Social emotional development
Autism best practices
Predictability and strong routines
Consistency in environments
Visual supports
Individualized, family centered planning
‘Social Club’
Small group social skills lessons
Led by Speech Language Pathologists (SLP)
Opportunities to practice through play
Social Thinking Curriculum
Parent Collaboration and Support
Regular parent events (social and educational)
Access to support from extensive Special Education Leadership Team
