Willoughby-Eastlake SAIL Program
Social Acquisition of Interpersonal Language
Program Description: The SAIL Program is designed for students on the Autism Spectrum who strive best in a structured educational program that emphasizes the acquisition of social and interpersonal language skills. A multidisciplinary team of professionals provide one to one and small group instruction using language rich and evidence based strategies. Students benefit from structured academic teaching, social language groups, behavior management, functional living skills, sensory programming, social skills development, and vocational exploration.
The SAIL Program offers flexible services designed with each student’s success in mind. The SAIL team works with students, families, and IEP teams toward the student’s long term educational goals.
Program Mission: The mission of the SAIL Program is to provide a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to school-age students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder with the most challenging educational needs in an academic environment that fosters acceptance, independence, and success.
Program Guiding Beliefs: We believe:
All students should have access to the Ohio Academic Content Standards, including the Extended Standards. Curriculum materials should be modified to progress student learning
All students are entitled to pursue educational requirements in a safe and respectful educational setting
Skill development is imperative to student success: attention, imitation, communication and language, social relationships, symbolic play, imagination, self-regulation & fine/ gross motor.
All behavior has a communicative purpose and it is our responsibility to assess and strive to determine the communicative intent of each behavior.
All students should be respected as intelligent individuals and be challenged to meet their fullest potential.
Families need to be active partners in their child's education process.
Vocational education is an important part of educational programming.
Community participation, involvement, and awareness is essential for student success.
Program Staff: The SAIL Program staff is dedicated to providing a collaborative team approach to assist students and families in navigating the challenges and to celebrate all the successes in raising a child with Autism. The staff includes an Intervention Specialist, Educational Assistant, Speech-Language Pathologist, Occupational Therapist, and School Psychologist. Staff are involved in continuous professional development so students and families can receive the most current intervention strategies. They are also available to share their knowledge and resources to families and community members.