At Elizabeth Academy, we believe that language and communication are the seed and sustenance of all knowledge and at the core of human intelligence. Supporting adolescents in their communication and expression is integral to their independence and success beyond our doors. The essential nature of speech and communication to the quality of human life puts speech therapy as a focus of our instruction and it isn’t just for those with a significant need. Speech therapists can strengthen communication skills for those seeking careers in areas such as media communications, performance arts, broadcasting, or other public speaking-oriented endeavors.

Private Speech Therapy

If students need additional speech therapy services, they can work privately with a speech-language pathologist who, once again, collaborates with the teaching teams and parents to incorporate goals into classroom lessons and practices, ensuring consistent reinforcement of strategies among all supporters and across all content areas. 

Integrated Speech Services

Our language arts curriculum is co-developed by a speech-language pathologist,  incorporating some of the fundamental principles of speech and language development, along with social nuances, within the general curriculum. This multi-faceted approach is utilized to support and strengthen student skills inside the classroom in myriad ways.

Music Therapy is an incredibly powerful and effective treatment option with myriad advantages, yet the benefits of music therapy are woefully misunderstood and therefore greatly underestimated. Where speech therapy addresses speech and communication, and reading therapy specifically addresses reading, the main purpose of music therapy is not to enhance musical skills (although this is a tremendous benefit), but to leverage music, and its unique properties (such as the fact that it stimulates all parts of the brain), to bring about positive change in everyday areas of functioning. Areas addressed by music therapy may include speech/communication, mathematical rhythm/cognition, fine and gross motor development, social skills, cognitive development (such as attention span, academics, and memory), sensory integration, and emotional issues.

Private Music Therapy and Music Instruction

Music Therapists have a level of certification and expertise that goes far beyond that of simple music instruction. Our music therapists are also highly qualified professional music instructors, especially in the area of vocal therapy and coaching. Private music therapy supports a multitude of needs and awakens the faculties in a variety of ways. Music therapists collaborate weekly with classroom teachers (and other therapists if applicable) in a cross-disciplinary approach to apply lesson themes and therapy techniques to strengthen academic and social skills. Music therapy also helps to support social, emotional and behavioral regulation.

Integrated Music Therapy and Music Instruction

Students who receive private music therapy often incorporate this learning into classroom projects and/or school-wide productions. All students reap the benefits of having music therapists and specialists support them in the classrooms in our cross-disciplinary teaching model, as well as in music electives and school productions.

Occupational therapy focuses on the development and reinforcement of the skills necessary for a student’s functional daily living. This includes: occupation of sensory regulation, executive functioning, and mainly fine motor, but also gross motor skills. Areas of intervention may include: fine motor skill development, visual perceptual skills, sensory integration, social skills, writing, and daily living activities. A student who struggles with the following areas would potentially benefit from Occupational Therapy: 

Difficulty transitioning between activities

Sensory Processing Issues

Motor skills and difficulty with balance 

Difficulty achieving age-appropriate milestones

Emotional Regulation 

For our students with physical needs, our physical therapist supports gross motor skills. As a student improves coordination and strength, they will experience increased independence. This becomes particularly important for teens craving independence and autonomy as they take metaphorical steps toward adulthood. Physical therapy provides a foundation and an opportunity to reinforce gross motor, postural, and physical skills, and the therapist may also make recommendations for adaptive equipment when needed. Our physical therapist is available for consultation and individual therapy for students with physical and motor needs.

Literacy is one of the most important skills students need to be independent. In our classrooms, we provide various levels of reading to ensure students have access to rich content and engaging discussion- however, we also recognize the importance of continued individualized instruction and skill-building for students who require it. We have teachers trained in a variety of programs, such as Orton Gillingham, which is a multi-sensorial approach to reading instruction that works for all students but particularly benefits students with dyslexia and similar disabilities. We use an integrated approach to this instruction, and we also recommend private therapy for students who are not reading independently. 

As a secondary school, we ensure that we approach reading support and therapy at the developmental level of our students. All of our students read grade-level books, even if some students need additional supports- such as audiobooks, large-print books, etc. We offer high-interest books as well as classics in fine literature. Stimulating student interest, engagement, and recognizing the developmental appropriateness of the reading materials and the supports we offer are key components to the success of our program and essential for our students to become fluent and well read readers!

Montessori philosophy instills a “peace education” and “grace and courtesy” is taught beginning in early childhood. Students are encouraged to work out differences at a “peace table” at this age and these habits, developed in early childhood, carry on, serving them well into adolescence and throughout their lives. Social skills continue to be taught appropriately through each plane of development (elementary through high school), as the social/emotional health and development of our students is of utmost importance to us at Elizabeth Academy. To ensure that our students achieve and maintain social/emotional growth and well-being, we provide social skills classes and social opportunities guided by teachers skilled in these areas and/or our social worker or school counselor. When appropriate, we will also consult with professionals in BCBA (behavioral) therapy or refer parents to these private behavioral therapy or social services providers. We do not provide mental health and behavioral therapy services at our school but will provide referrals for private services to families if we feel they are needed. CLICK HERE to see our teams of SEB providers at Elizabeth Academy, as well as other outside resources in our local area for private mental health services.