About SEASIDE
SEASIDE (Social Emotional ASD) supports students grades 2-5 with Emotional, Neurological, Behavioral and Cognitive Challenges that interfere with their learning and prevents them from attending in-district school programs. These children may have diagnosis including ADHD, Mood Dysregulation, ASD, Motor and Sensory Integration Disorders, Behavioral Disorders, and difficulty developing appropriate social relationships.
Staff members work to develop an in-depth clinical and educational understanding of each student. This is done through the development of therapeutic rapport, the creation of a safe learning environment, and engaging the student in their own social emotional development and learning. Our educational philosophy acknowledges that learning takes place within the context of the relationship between staff and student. Counseling within the therapeutic milieu takes a strengths based approach. CBT and DBT approaches are taught and modeled in morning meetings, individual sessions, and throughout the day.
Therapeutic language is removed from the techniques and students are taught concrete skills that they can use to manage their emotions in the moment. Students are regularly taught that they are in charge of their thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Utilization of a classroom schedule, predictable environment, consistent classroom rules and expectations, and an atmosphere of safety facilitates optimal learning.
In order to support whole child development, students are provided with counseling, speech and language therapy, and occupational therapy services. SEASIDE’s educational curriculum follows the guidelines of the Massachusetts Curriculum Standards. Each student’s Individual Education Program (IEP) is designed with respect to individual strengths and challenges. The academic program is individualized and modified to meet the needs of each student.