CLASSROOMS & PROGRAMS
"If a child can't learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn" - Ignacio Estrada
The mission of ABELS (Applied Behavior Education and Life Skills) Academy is to provide an educational environment that promotes a child-centered approach to learning, the development of functional life skills, and the advancement of family and community values.
We would love to meet you and your student! Fill out our "contact us" section on our website, email info@abelsacademy.com, or call us (352)-223-1999 for our upcoming tour dates and times.
Come tour with us!
ABOUT US
MISSION STATEMENT
ABELS Academy was created because the clinicians at Southlake Autism were compelled to do more for children who were not making progress in their private and mainstream school placement.
ABELS Academy serves all types of students with a variety of diagnoses. At ABELS Academy, clinicians and teachers work closely together, combining their respective areas of expertise to create a learning environment that focuses on individual needs. Our goal is to enable each student to achieve their highest level of success possible.
Pre-K Half-Day Program (8:30-11:30am)
The goal of this program is to work with students on effective communication, language, and social skills. Along with functional communication, the program focuses on playing and interacting with peers, classroom readiness, and life skills.
Lower School Half-Day Program (11:30am-2:30pm)
Our Lower School Half-Day program is just like our Lower School Full Day classroom (see below). We noticed a need for a half-day classroom for some students as it is ideal for those students who receive ABA therapy for half the day, are transitioning from the Pre-K classroom, and/or receive a limited scholarship amount.
Lower School Full Day (8:30am-2:30pm)
Our Lower School Full Day classroom focuses primarily on academics, but also incorporates social skills components. In addition to the Styer Fitzgerald Curriculum, this program engages students with hands-on educational Science and Social Studies activities.
Upper School A/Vocational (8:30am-2:30pm)
Our Upper School A class is a program that focuses on both academics and vocational. Within this class, students receive academic instruction in the morning and Vocational (Life Skills) in the afternoons. Academics are tailored to each student’s current academic ability based on how they perform during our intake assessments. Our Vocational program in the afternoons focuses on Activities for Daily Living, which includes cleaning, meal preparation, and cooking. In addition to how to be socially appropriate, and how to adapt to the community (i.e. how to shop, how to catch public transportation, etc.).
Upper School B (8:30am-2:30pm)
Our Upper School B class is a program that is academically rigorous and requires students to be independent and ready to transition into the community successfully. Unlike our other classes, this class is similar to a general education classroom. This class includes academics that require students to be able to complete tasks and assignments that can be done independently or with minimal help. This class also includes community-based vocational skills (i.e. banking, shopping, meal preparation and cooking, and how to adapt to the community.)