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.
TESTIMONIALS
“At school, the people are nice. School work is not too hard or too easy and I like the motor room. We get breaks and can talk to people whenever we need it. I can catch up on my school work and I don’t get as mad as I used to.” – SEASIDE Student
“I couldn’t be happier with the progress my daughter has made while enrolled in the Seaside program. Thanks to the caring, talented teachers and staff, she has improved on communication skills and her ability to access coping strategies. In addition, her behavior outbursts are less frequent. Thanks to her improved self-regulation she is also beginning to catch up academically.” – SEASIDE Parent
“When looking at the wide variety of Collaborative programs and Chapter 766 schools in our area, Pilgrim Area Collaborative Seaside Program is always at the top of our list. The administration and staff are well-trained, professional and always put the needs of our students first. Seaside works in tandem with districts to provide for the individual needs of students in the least restrictive environment possible and is able to provide comprehensive support to our highest need students, while also being able to offer opportunities for access to typically developing peers in an integrated setting. Our relationship with this program is a true collaboration to produce positive outcomes for all of our students that they service.” – Director of Student Services
