At Vista, we want to provide you with as much information possible, so that you feel absolutely comfortable trusting our services to help your loved one cope with the symptoms of autism. By reading our FAQs, you can gain a better understanding of what each service covers and how it’s designed to improve the symptoms of autism—to bring help our students and clients reach their fullest potential.
Vista’s Early Intervention Program is state-of-the-art Applied Behavior Analytic therapy for young children with autism. Our team of skilled teachers and therapists work together to provide each child with individualized attention.
Vista’s Early Intervention Program is state-of-the-art Applied Behavior Analytic therapy for young children with autism. Our team of skilled teachers and therapists work together to provide each child with individualized attention.
Early Intervention engages a child in a playful context to improve a range of social behaviors, build meaningful connections between the child and caregivers, and decrease undesirable behaviors.
Parents contact the program and complete wait-list forms. When there is an opening in the program, a Vista representative contacts the parents to complete screening forms.
After a preliminary fit is determined, an in-person assessment is held in which final determination typically occurs. Parents schedule a psychological evaluation to obtain a prescription to Vista’s Early Intervention Program. Parents and service providers participate in an Interagency Support Planning Team (ISPT) meeting. The child starts in an appropriate room, based on availability, age, strengths, and needs.
Yes, the EI program does have a waiting list. Timelines vary and are based on how soon we can open a new room, where the child is on the waiting list, and how appropriate of a fit the child is for the program. We determine fit only when the child moves closer to the top of the list.
A child is dropped off at 8:30 a.m. The parent chats with a therapist, while the child joins the group to sing and say “hello” to friends and other therapists. The child plays with various therapists throughout the day, and sometimes another child or two will join in the activity. Children eat together three times a day and usually go outside each day to play. In inclement weather, children play indoors with large fun toys. Parents arrive to pick up their children at 3:30 p.m.
No, as long as you keep your insurance active and provide us with the necessary information to bill.
The Vista School® provides a comprehensive and integrated educational and behavioral program using Applied Behavior Analysis and Evidence-Based Practices that support the student in the classroom, community, and home settings.
The Vista School® provides autism support and interventions at the most specialized and innovative levels to improve the lives of students and families.
An intermediate unit, school district, or family begins the process by submitting a referral form and supporting documentation.
Students with autism may enroll at The Vista School® as long as they meet admissions criteria. Enrollment is preferred via submission of a referral packet from the child’s local Intermediate Unit or school district. A parent can request an independent referral but would then need to navigate funding via private pay or scholarship options.
Yes, The Vista School® does have a waiting list. Timelines vary and are based on the level of need and how soon we have an opening in an appropriate classroom.
At The Vista School®, ESY is a required component of the student’s program and, therefore, it is mandated for attendance.
The sending school district provides transportation for the student. Private transportation must be provided for students attending on scholarships.
No. A sending school district or Intermediate Unit is billed for educational services, and one or more state or private insurers reimburse Vista for the student’s behavioral program services. Pre-Kindergarten scholarships are awarded based upon availability of scholarship funds.
Outreach provides highly specialized individualized support to students in need and/or their Individualized Educational Program (IEP) team, focusing on Applied Behavior Analysis and Evidence-Based Practices.
A student with autism can enroll in Outreach via a request to the student’s educational provider (district, parochial school, etc.). Once this request is received, the student’s IEP determines the level and type of support that will be provided by Outreach. Talk with your IEP team and/or school district special education supervisor/director of special education services.
No. Services are provided through the student’s district, parochial school, etc.
When students of The Vista School® began to outgrow the services that the school could offer, it became clear that another solution was needed. The Residential Services Program was established to extend Vista’s offerings past school aged individuals—to continue supporting individuals requiring specialized support and services.
Vista’s leadership, parents, and professionals meet periodically to review the community need and opportunities for Vista to develop unique services that match the ongoing needs of The Vista School®’s aging student population. In 2013, the Vista Adult Services board of directors was formed to take on the responsibility of overseeing the VASO programs and services.
Our mission is to maximize the potential of adults living with autism so that he or she, to the greatest extent possible, can participate in living a fulfilling and productive life.
Themes addressed include exploring different classifications of work, learning the value of money and how it is acquired, enhancing interactive skills, building physical endurance, as well as appropriate work attire, hygienic behavior and social skills.
The staff consists of a team of employment specialists, life skills instructors, and a Community Integration Supervisor who coordinates operations and establishes new community partners. The staff ratio is dictated by the needs of the individual. All staff members are trained in the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis and customized Employment.
Participants are empowered to select productive activities that interest them. This includes volunteer opportunities, exercise, and more.
The Community Integration Center is open Mon, Wed, Fri from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and Tues and Thurs from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
You can find Vista’s Community Integration Center at The Vista School® campus in Hershey, PA.
We offer: needs assessment, unique talents, specialized skill sets, workplace diversity, and greater efficiency for companies and small businesses.
We help adults with autism bring structure to their daily lives and find fulfillment through earning wages by matching them with suitable employment opportunities. Our team of skilled employment specialists identifies the unique talents and interests of individuals and also identifies the work environments where they’d be most successful.
We believe that ALL people are employable. Our skilled employment team uses Applied Behavior Analysis (a data-driven approach to treatment of autism symptoms) and customized employment to support adults with autism and help them secure paid positions.
The process begins with a team of employment specialists who get to know the adults in Vista’s program. These employment specialists are trained to observe individuals in their preferred settings and interview the people closest to them. After that, community-based assessments are scheduled in a variety of settings that include prospective business partners.
By closely examining specific themes of interest to the individual and mapping out potential job opportunities, the employment specialist is prepared to search for a business partner that may be a good match. The Vista team negotiates employment between the individual and the business partner, and supports the individual in his or her position even after the job is secured.
Yes! An employment specialist will tour the worksite and conduct a needs assessment that identifies opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce waste, conserve resources, and improve workplace morale.
Vista Employment Services finds suitable job placements in the following industries: facilities, clerical, hospitality, production, distribution, retail, food service, and entertainment.
Some of the positions we’ve found for our clients include: cart attendant, funeral associate, janitor, file clerk, retail employee, warehouse worker, scanning clerk, and cutlery steward.
The Community Integration Center (CIC) serves as a springboard for individuals with autism to maximize their employment potential. Whether they have not yet secured a position, recently lost a position, or are employed part time, adults attend the employment hub to further build skills while they explore community interests. As a result of our programming, participants gain greater awareness of the opportunities that exist in the community.
Instruction is individually designed and targets skills most relevant to securing, enhancing, or maintaining job placement. Themes addressed include: exploring different classifications of work, learning the value of money and how it is acquired, enhancing supervisor and coworker interactive skills, building physical endurance, and learning appropriate work attire, hygienic behavior and safety skills.
The staff consists of a team of employment specialists, life skills instructors, and a Community Integration Supervisor who coordinates operations and establishes new community partners. The staff ratio is dictated by the needs of the individual. All staff members are trained in the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis and customized Employment.
The Community Integration Center is open Mon, Wed, Fri from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and Tues and Thurs from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
You can find Vista’s Community Integration Center at The Vista School® campus in Hershey, PA.
You can make a real difference in the lives of individuals with autism.