ELIJA School


The ELIJA School is a independent, private special education school in Levittown, New York, United States. Established in 2006, the school is a division of the ELIJA Foundation and provides applied behavior analysis services to students aged 3 to 21 with autism spectrum disorder.
It operates during the day for 12 months throughout the year.

History

The ELIJA Foundation is abbreviated for Enlightening Long Island's Journey Through Autism, which "hosts workshops that give the community access to local and nationally recognized autism professionals" and "provide training on the most advanced treatment and educational strategies that maximize the potential of those affected by ." It was founded by Debora Thivierge in 2002 subsequent to the enormous impact early ABA therapy had on her son's life.
Renowned behavior analyst and psychologist Bridget A. Taylor, Psy.D., B.C.B.A.-D. urged Thivierge to start a school similar to her own in New York. Eight months later in 2006, the ELIJA School opened, and Taylor remains on ELIJA's professional advisory board.

Program

The foundation provides many programs, all of which are based on ABA methodologies. Teachers and staff at the school are highly qualified and have substantial experience in instructing autistic children. They educate students in a 1 to 1 ratio "in... structured or small groups... in both classroom and natural settings". Students are placed in classrooms determined by "ability, age range, and physical size". Each class features independent work stations filled with curriculum and reinforcers, and also consist of group activity areas where the children learn and interact with each other.
ELIJA Little Learners deliver early, intensive ABA home programs for non-verbal children from birth to age 5, along with parent training. Their transitional programs and services "focuses on vocational, life, cognitive, and social skills," as well as "community integration" for adult-aged students. It also offers them internships at the ELIJA Farm or other job sites in Nassau and Suffolk counties.