NSU to Offer Two New Programs for Children and College Students with Autism

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla – Nova Southeastern University (NSU) has announced that beginning with the fall 2013 term, it will begin offering two new programs to address the needs of a growing population of students with autism. Services to be provided by the Autism Institute at NSU’s Mailman Segal Center for Human Development, will provide specialized options for young children who require an individualized educational program to meet their needs and a college support program for college students enrolled at NSU.

Students enrolled in each of the programs will have the benefit of receiving extensive clinical and educational services offered through NSU’s Autism Institute, which serves as the vehicle for collaborative activities in the field of autism spectrum disorders at the university.

In addition to the increase in the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) rate among young children, the advocacy group Autism Speaks has projected that one half million children with autism will become adults over the next ten year period. “Children with autism are growing up,” says Susan Kabot, Ed.D, director of NSU’s Autism Institute. “Their problems won’t end at high school graduation.”

The CDC now estimates that 1 in 50 children in the United States has been identified as having an ASD.  According to Kabot, “Early intervention and education are effective therapies for building skills and reducing some challenging behaviors.”

About The Academy at Nova Southeastern University’s Mailman Segal Center for Human Development – The Academy will provide a private school option for students who require an individualized education program focusing on social-communication, behavioral self-regulation, and independent functioning. There is a yearly tuition for the Academy program that covers the school year. Kindergarten students may be eligible to use the Florida McKay Scholarship towards the school-year tuition. For more information visit www.nova.edu/mscacademy or call 954-262-7129.

About Access Plus at Nova Southeastern University’s Mailman Segal Center for Human Development – NSU will provide a college support program for students with autism spectrum disorder who are academically capable to support their academic achievements, to live independently, and to participate fully in campus life.  The program uses a positive behavior support approach and provides academic supports, residential supports, campus-life/social supports, psycho-educational support groups, volunteer and other career training experiences. For more information please visit www.nova.edu/accessplus or call 954-262-7168.

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About Nova Southeastern University: Situated on 300 beautiful acres in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is a dynamic fully accredited research institution dedicated to providing high-quality educational programs at all levels.  NSU is a not-for-profit independent institution with more than 28,000 students. NSU awards associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, doctoral and first-professional degrees in a wide range of fields. NSU is classified as a research university with “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and it is one of only 37 universities nationwide to also be awarded Carnegie’s Community Engagement Classification.  For more information visit www.nova.edu .

Contact:

Julie Spechler
julies@nova.edu
Office – 954.262.5348
Cell – 954.591.3361

Felecia Henderson
fhenders@nova.edu
Office-954.262.5315
Cell- 954.383.4695