The Vista School® uses the principles and techniques of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Precision Teaching (PT), and Direct Instruction (DI) to design, implement, monitor, and evaluate education and therapy for our students. The goal of these techniques is to prepare children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to function in the community with increasing independence.
The Vista School® is a collaborative effort of dedicated parents, educators, and mental health professionals. The Vista School exists to bring world-class autism education to Central Pennsylvania. It is the first school in Central Pennsylvania that exclusively meets the educational and therapeutic needs of young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
The Vista School® is a place where children, young adults, and their families learn how to cope with the symptoms of autism. This is achieved through educational and therapeutic programs at the school, home, and in the community. In an effort to make extraordinary strides, Vista focuses on:
Communication: The Vista School’s program promotes a consistent line of communication between school and home.
Planning: Knowledge of what is occurring in all environments is essential to developing effective treatment plans.
Assisting: The home component enables the team to address behaviors that may be home-specific and assists parents in gaining the skills needed to address such behaviors effectively.
Training: Parents are trained in procedures that have shown success in the center-based program for independence in leisure activity, adaptive communication, and behavior management systems.
Improvement: Most importantly, the home component aims to reduce the severity of the student’s symptoms in the home and, in doing so, improve the home life of both the student and his or her family.
At The Vista School, the community is as important a learning environment for its students as the home or the classroom. Vista’s unique community-based instruction (CBI) program provides its students with opportunities to put their skills to use at local restaurants, grocery stores, libraries, parks, and other public places. The goals of Vista’s CBI program include promoting the student’s independence and ability to engage in his or her community. This program is designed to improve the quality of life of the student’s entire family by better enabling them to enjoy the community activities many of us take for granted.
Children with autism often need a creative approach to learning. In most cases, this means tactile experiences. Our school facilities are outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment to give your child the best learning environment possible.
See PhotosOrganizations such as CLM and BACB have provided autism accreditation to The Vista School, so you can trust that our team of experts is well qualified to treat your child’s symptoms.
See AccreditationsIf you’d like your child to have access to all the specialized support offered by Vista while maintaining a routine at a public school, the LEAP program may be perfect for you.
Learn MoreFind out if The Vista School is right for your child.