COMMUNITY
Principal Jennifer Johnson
I
t was 2002 when concerns over
Mathematics and Language, as observations,
the growing population of children
historical information, parent and district
on the autism spectrum and the
input, and NWCA’s team input.
lack of programs to accommodate their
multiple needs prompted Camelot
The NWCA team includes administra-
of DeKalb to open its doors.
tors, autism coordinator, in-house behavior
specialist, vocational coordinator, speech
Among the first students was an adorable
therapist, occupational therapist, special
little boy who had just turned three.
education teacher and assistants, adaptive
One of his mother’s concerns was where
PE teacher, and a pediatric nurse.
he would go when he aged out of the
classroom that had been created for him.
Autism Coordinator Nicole Billips
She was assured the autism program would
said the family, the school district
grow with her son, and indeed it did.
and the child’s outside therapists are
important partners of NWCA.
Today, Camelot of DeKalb has evolved
from one classroom with one child into
North West Center for Autism (NWCA),
with 11 classrooms and a capacity for
98 students. NWCA not only occupies
the entire original school building, but
extends into an adjacent annex.
NORTH WEST
CENTER FOR AUTISM:
ACHIEVING
INDEPENDENCE
ON THE AUTISM
SPECTRUM
“At NWCA, we offer a comprehensive autism program with cutting edge
therapies,” said the school’s Principal
Jennifer Johnson. “NWCA is able to
“With this multimodality
approach, NWCA is able to create
an individualized program for
each child, allowing the child
to reach his or her optimum
level of functioning regardless
of the challenges that his or
her disorder presents,” said
Assistant Principal Niamh
Welp, an autism expert.
maximize independent functioning
“NWCA encourages regular communication with all partners, as sharing
information will enhance the progress
of the child. With signed releases,
therapists are welcome to observe the
child in the school setting,” Billips said.
To support the family, NWCA offers complimentary training, parent counseling,
access to the Family Resource Library,
and Home Based Services.
“By having consistency in the home and
of its students in the home, school,
Programming decisions are based on
school, the child is able to use and solidify his
vocational and community settings.”
various assessment tools and com-
newly-learned skills,” Johnson said. “NWCA
puter-based testing of Reading,
staff welcomes the opportunity to structure
Camelot recognizes the uniqueness of
each child on the autism spectrum and
the importance of shaping the program
to the child’s needs. The staff is trained
in understanding each child’s behavior
and how it is affected by his or her
environment. After assessments are
conducted, the school’s experts develop
the structured teaching that meets the
child’s needs in academics, social skills
training, and in communications systems.
Complementing these evidenced-based
practices, NWCA offers a variety of
therapies including occupational,
speech, music, art, play, pet,
biofeedback and sensory supports.
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DEKALB COUNT Y I NV I R O NM ENTS M AGA Z I NE • M A R C H- A P R IL 20 14
WHE RE L IFE H APPE NS.
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