ESY Start Date - July 6, 2026
As a reminder, the first day for ESY is Tuesday, July 6th. We're looking forward to seeing all of our students back for Summer School!
PACES/Extended Services
About PACES
At PAC, we recognize additional supports, outside of the typical school day, are often needed to support educators, students and their families. Therefore, in addition to a comprehensive offering of daily academically-based programming, the Pilgrim Area Collaborative offers specially designed home & community-based programs, consultation, professional development, assessments and evaluations, as well as parent workshops and after school activities through our Extended Services program (PACES).
Our Philosophy
The philosophy of the PACES program derives from a combination of behavioral and developmental orientations. PACES programs are designed to maximize individual learning by developing strong parent and professional partnerships. Through the partnerships established within the home and school our experienced staff share their specialized knowledge and provide parents and educators with training and consultation to develop skills in Applied Behavior Analysis as well as other evidenced based, best practice interventions and strategies. The PACES program helps parents, educators, specialized service providers and support personnel to master specific strategies, which enables them to teach children new skills and effectively support challenging behaviors.
Our Staff
All services are coordinated by Masters Level and/or Licensed Staff (BCBA, LABA, DESE) with extensive training and expertise in the areas of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and Social Thinking™ as well as empirically validated, (evidenced based, research based) and developmentally appropriate treatment and intervention methodologies. Highly qualified direct service and instructional support staff provide services within the school, home and/or community settings.
PACES Director, Deb Booth, M.Ed.
Welcome to PACES! As part of the Pilgrim Area Collaborative, our mission is to provide high-quality, specialized services and comprehensive support tailored to meet the unique needs of our students, families, and community partners. Whether you are exploring our extended services, specialized programming, or community resources, we are dedicated to fostering growth, independence, and success for every individual we serve.
We take great pride in our collaborative approach, working closely with member districts and families to create inclusive, enriching, and supportive environments. I invite you to explore our website to learn more about the diverse programs PACES has to offer, and we look forward to partnering with you.
Warm regards,
Deb Booth, M.Ed.
Phone: 508-747-6686
dbooth@pilgrimac.org
Home & Community-Based Programs
-
Home-Based Programs are designed to supplement the student’s school program and facilitate learning across environments by helping families/caregivers acquire the skills needed to effectively support their child’s development. Through our unique parent training model, parents and caregivers are empowered with the tools necessary to facilitate the acquisition and generalization of skills across environments.
The process for making referrals for this service must come from the sending School District of the student involved.
Questions about and referrals for this service should be directed to:
Jamie Sousa, PACES Coordinator
508-747-6686 Ext. 2702
jsousa@pilgrimac.org -
This direct service model is designed for high school and post-high school-aged students requiring direct and explicit instruction in transitional goal areas identified within the student’s IEP and TPF including increasing independence in Activities of Daily Living Skills (e.g., self-care, leisure, personal and household responsibilities) as well as supported access to their community for travel, social/recreational, vocational, or personal (i.e., banking, shopping, attending appointments) needs. Parent consultation is provided to assist with acquisition and generalization of skills across environments, and to support families in establishing connections with adult service agencies.
The process for making referrals for Transition and Community Access services must come from the sending School District of the student involved.
Questions about and referrals for this service should be directed to:
Irene Volpe Barry, PACES Coordinator
508-747-6686 Ext. 2705
ivolpebarry@pilgrimac.org -
In this coaching model of services young adults participate in additional guided learning opportunities to complement and support their individual transitional goals with a life, academic, and/or job coach. Typically, individuals in this program have met and/or are in the process of completing graduation requirements for their High School Diploma. Once priority/focus areas have been established, individuals engage in practical and authentic experiences with guidance and “coaching” to support the acquisition of their social, vocational, post-secondary academic and/or independent living skills. With support of their Coach, individuals participate in self-assessments, skill-building, and practical experiences to identify future goals and enhance essential skills for independent living, employment, and/or higher education opportunities beyond the high school career. In addition, the Coach works with the individual and/or parent/guardians to connect with community agencies and adult service providers (i.e., DDS, DMH, MRC, etc.).
The process for making referrals for Transition Coaching services may come from the sending School District. Additionally, Independent (parent paid) applications are accepted.
Questions about and referrals for this service should be directed to:
Irene Volpe Barry, PACES Coordinator
508-747-6686 Ext. 2705
ivolpebarry@pilgrimac.org -
We believe that effective education requires the use of ongoing assessments to determine their students’ ability levels in various academic, social, communication, behavioral, and adaptive skills in order to guide teaching and learning. In the realm of special education, this assessment process is absolutely essential to drive instruction and provide information so that effective instructional supports across all domains of learning both in and outside the classroom can be implemented. The PACES staff offers the following comprehensive evaluations/assessments in the following areas:
- Home Assessment
- Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) – Home & School
- Social-Cognitive Assessment
- Sensory
- Educational
- Adaptive Behavior
- Transition Assessment
- College-Readiness Assessment
- Professional Evaluations for OT, SLP, Reading, Academic Achievement, etc.
Questions about assessments and for scheduling should be directed to:
Deb Booth, M.Ed., PACES Director
508-747-6686 Ext. 2701
dbooth@pilgrimac.org
Latest PACES News