New Roads School The Spectrum Program

The Spectrum Program is a unique program designed to create educational options and interventions, within a regular school environment, for students in grades 6-12 who meet the diagnostic criteria specified in the revised DSM-5 for Autism Spectrum Disorder (formally categorized as Asperger’s Syndrome or High Functioning Autism). The program targets academically capable students diagnosed with ASD and takes a fresh approach to addressing their needs by both: a) including them in neurotypical academic classes and campus activities, and b) providing concentrated, daily focus on improving our students’ social and real-world functioning skills within the specialized Spectrum Life Skills Program. The Spectrum Program offers the following accommodations: extended time on tests, extended time on large projects and preferential seating at the front of the room. Our main goal is to provide support to our students in developing executive functioning skills, organization, time management, calendaring and self advocacy; these life skills can be translated into students’ everyday lives and beyond graduation.

Why is New Roads School and the Spectrum Program a perfect blend?
New Roads School teaches students to be individuals while simultaneously teaching them to be accepting of others and their differences. Our school thrives on diversity, tolerance and empathy, thus having a Spectrum Program at New Roads School provides a pathway for Spectrum students to be accepted, safe, celebrated and able to achieve both academically and socially.

Who is an ideal candidate for the Spectrum Program?

Students must be able to handle the neurotypical college preparatory academic rigor that New Roads School offers at both the middle and upper levels
Prospective students should be within the High Functioning/Asperger’s realm of the Spectrum
Students do not need to have an IEP or a formal diagnosis to be accepted into the program
Families must be prepared to attend monthly parent meetings in addition to participating in various Spectrum Program events

History of the Spectrum Program

The Spectrum Program was founded by Nancy London in 2004 with the Middle School and Spectrum Drama Program debuting in 2007. The Program is currently administered by Elisa Schultz and Ryan Hawley, who serve as its co-directors. Nancy, Ryan and Elisa have been part of the Program since its inception.

The Spectrum Program is proud to have served over 80 students thus far. The majority of our High School graduates advance to four-year universities. Over the years, our Spectrum students have been accepted to over 60 colleges and universities.

Spectrum Drama Program

The Spectrum Drama Program is an all-encompassing theatrical experience for middle and upper school students as well as Spectrum alumni. Together with their neurotypical peers, students learn acting, improvisation, voice, speech, movement and dance. This ensemble-based program promotes cooperative and creative collaboration. Students are encouraged to step out of their comfort zones, develop their own voices and take artistic risks in a safe and supportive environment. Students do not need to be in the Spectrum Program at New Roads School to participate. All students are required to apply and go through an interview process. Since 2007 the Spectrum Drama Program has produced one show per year with the most recent productions being: The Three Musketeers, Treasure Island, Bugsy Malone and Spamalot.

College

Students in the Spectrum Program have been accepted for enrollment in the following colleges and universities:

Academy of Art University, San Francisco
American University
Becker College
Bennington College
Boston University
Bradley University
California Lutheran University
California State University, Channel Islands
California State University, East Bay
California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Monterey Bay
California State University, Northridge
Chapman University
Coe College
College of Wooster
Colorado State University
Columbia College
Cornell College
DigiPen Institute of Technology
Drew University
Drexel University
Eugene Lang College, The New School for Liberal Arts
Furman University
Hampshire College
Hendrix College
Hofstra University
Hope College
Humboldt State University
Ithaca College
Knox College
Lewis and Clark College
Linfield College
Loyola Marymount University
McDaniel College
Millsaps College
Occidental College
Ohio Wesleyan University
Oregon State University
Pace University
Pierce College
Pitzer College
Rochester Institute of Technology
St. John’s University
San Francisco State University
Santa Monica College
Sonoma State University
State University of New York, Binghamton
Suffolk University
University of Alabama
University of Arizona
University of California, San Francisco
University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Cruz
University of Connecticut
University of Indianapolis
University of Oregon
University of Puget Sound
University of Redlands
University of San Francisco
Whittier College
Willamette University
Woodbury University
Worcester Polytechnic Institute