Inside InBloom’s Learning Readiness Program



When the back-to-school season approaches, many parents may start to wonder how the upcoming school year will unfold. For parents with special needs children, this question can loom large. You may remember the struggles your child faced in the previous year or hope for a teacher who will lend a helping hand.

School can have many benefits, but it may be daunting for the parents of a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Let’s explore a program developed to support these children as they prepare for classroom dynamics and expectations.

Why School Readiness Matters for Children With Autism

Why is preparing for entry into the school setting so crucial for children with autism? Let’s look at some key reasons.

The Importance of Building Prerequisite Skills

Teachers are required to meet a variety of expectations in the classroom, some easier than others. When children enter a learning environment without the skills they need (i.e., remaining seated, following group instruction, communication, etc.), some may show challenging behaviors as they are suddenly expected to learn these classroom skills. Behaviors could include tantrums, hyperactivity, inattention, or other behaviors.

How Maladaptive Behaviors Can Impact Classroom Success

This can be a challenging and frustrating situation for the student and the teacher, creating obstacles to the student’s success. Understandably, it can also be difficult for teachers to teach productively while navigating challenging behaviors.

What Is the InBloom Learning Readiness Program?

One key answer is a program that can help prepare children with autism for a classroom setting. Our Learning Readiness Program, as it came to be called, is a curriculum designed to prepare children to succeed in a learning environment. It was developed to teach children the prerequisite skills needed to independently and successfully meet teacher and school expectations.

Program Goals and Curriculum Design

As part of fostering school readiness for children with autism, the program focuses on several key skill areas, including:

  • Socializing with peers.
  • Attending in a classroom-like setting.
  • Communications.
  • Following group directions.
  • Transitioning between activities.
  • Following visual schedules.
  • Being independent in work
  • And many more.

Children enrolled will work through programs that were developed based on the STAR curriculum (Strategies for Teaching Based on Autism Research). This curriculum, founded on ABA therapy principles, includes programs that are designed to support the success of children with autism in the classroom setting.

Small Class Sizes and Individualized Instruction

To best acclimate kiddos to a school environment, the space where most of the teaching takes place mirrors a classroom, with class sizes no larger than 6 to 8 students. Each child will continue to receive 1:1 support throughout the planned group activities, allowing them to become familiar with the new skills at their own pace. Opportunities for more intensive 1:1 instruction are also built into the schedule. Each child’s Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) monitors the program weekly, and data on each child’s progress is collected daily, ensuring that each child gets the most out of the program and learns what they need for school readiness.

Why Consider the Learning Readiness Program?

A study conducted by Carr, E. G., Taylor, J. C., and Robinson, S. (1991) found that teachers provided less instruction to children who presented challenging behaviors than those who had more positive behaviors in response to instruction.

It’s easy to see how enrolling an autistic child in a specialized program, such as the Learning Readiness Program at InBloom, can facilitate improvement in behavior patterns, leading to a more seamless transition to a classroom setting and preventing maladaptive behaviors.

Personalized Support

Unlike a traditional classroom, the Learning Readiness Program is held in a 1:1 setting. Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) who work with each child are trained to address behavior but do not have the added pressure of managing a classroom and various other teacher duties. As a result, your child can receive focused, personalized attention.

As the time a child spends in the program continues, we strategically incorporate opportunities to fade out 1:1 support and increase independence to prepare them for a more traditional classroom setting.

Preparing for Generalization Into Classroom Settings

Our personalized approach and gradual fading of 1-on-1 support help ensure the skills taught in the Learning Readiness Program can carry over or generalize into a real-world classroom setting. Our approach also helps promote your child’s confidence and independence when they transition into a classroom.

Pilot Program Outcomes

During the summer of 2019, a pilot for the Learning Readiness Program began at the InBloom Learning Center in South Florida. The program included four males and one female for a full day. After the program, 40% of the participants enrolled in the upcoming school year and adjusted well to school expectations. All participants in the pilot program showed an increase in skill learning and a decrease in challenging behaviors.

How to Contact InBloom for Enrollment

If you feel your child could benefit from our Learning Readiness Program, ask your InBloom BCBA for more information or contact our helpful team with any questions about your child’s ABA therapy at InBloom at 888-754-0398.

Find a Learning Center near you and discover how InBloom Autism Services can help prepare your child for school success.