If you live in Houston and you are looking for the best autism schools in Houston to send your kid to, this article would prove to be a great read.
We have a compilation of the best autism schools in Houston and we also cover several areas such as how to spot autism in a child and how to manage autistic children.
How to Identify a Child with Autism
Autism-related features could include:
- Difficulty with language use and understanding, or with specific parts of language including sarcasm, expressions, and body language.
- The inability to process sensory information normally. For instance, a vacuum cleaner might sound excessively loud, something might smell excessively potent, or something might feel excessively irritating.
- A need for a specific pattern so they know what to anticipate since they can get upset when things don’t go as planned.
- Difficulty understanding another person’s feelings or recognizing their opinions.
- Difficulties engaging in or focusing on things with an unclear conclusion (e.g., an open-ended writing activity, a class lecture).
- Moving from one activity to another can be challenging for some, especially if they have to go from a fun to unpleasant activity.
- When not led or given explicit directions, they have trouble organizing themselves in constructive play.
These traits can occasionally result in problematic behaviors at home, in the classroom, or in the community, which can be upsetting for the child and the adults who are responsible for taking care of him.
The List of Autism Schools in Houston
Below are some of the best autism schools that you can find in Houston:
The Westview School
From the age of two to fifteen, children with autism spectrum conditions attend the private, nonprofit Westview School. The two primary pillars of its curriculum are academics and social communication/social skills.
The rigorous, well-rounded curriculum at Westview places equal emphasis on academic programs across the board and social and communication skills. They provide chances to engage in extracurricular activities, the arts, and practical experiences.
Find out more information here.
Avondale House
The only organization in the greater Houston area that provides services to people with moderate to severe autism from the age of 3 through their whole lives is Avondale House.
They accomplish this via a range of programs, such as a year-round school, an adult day program, a supported job program, and group homes that emphasize family.
Find out more information here.
The Monarch School and Institute
Those with neurological abnormalities can attend the Monarch School and Institute.
Autism Spectrum Disorder, AD/HD, learning disabilities, and other neurodevelopmental diseases that affect learning and development are frequently diagnosed in their students.
Their kids frequently struggle with planning, motivation, social/emotional growth, organization, and information processing.
Find out more information here.
The Arbor School
For children aged six weeks to eighteen with a variety of developmental challenges, The Arbor School in Houston offers the most comprehensive special needs education curriculum.
Children with severe special needs and their families are the focus of The Arbor’s education, empowerment, and hope-building initiatives.
Find out more information here.
The Harris School
A group of child psychiatrists identified a need in 1997. Because Houston lacks a good early intervention program for kids, they developed one.
Hunter Harris, MD, the founding physician, is remembered under the moniker The Harris School (THS). THS still provides academic, behavioral, and emotional support for children in PreK3 through grade 6 more than 20 years later.
Find out more information here.
The Briarwood School
Briarwood’s goal is to provide kids with learning disabilities or developmental disorders with the tools they need to attain their full potential through diagnostic-prescription training in a structured academic setting.
Find out more information here.
River Oaks Academy
Children at ROA receive specialized instruction in a private school setting for a variety of special needs.
Small class sizes, customized programming, and accommodations for students with learning difficulties learning impairments, unusual learning styles, social skills requirements, ADHD, autism, and behavioral and emotional problems are all available.
Find out more information here.
Grand Oak Academy
Grand Oak Academy in Houston offers special needs kids a complete academic program while also utilizing the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) concepts.
The extensive course of study provided incorporates the fundamental requirements for every kid in addition to providing specialized and personalized therapeutic care.
Find out more information here.
The Parish School and The Carruth Center
Since 1983, The Parish School has helped children with learning disabilities and communication impairments flourish through whole-child education, cutting-edge therapy, and access to nature.
The Carruth Center, a nearby pediatric therapy facility, is located on the 17-acre campus of this nationally renowned special needs school in Houston, which offers instruction for the whole family.
Find out more information here.
Tuttle School
The Tuttle School works to give each student an educational experience that takes into account their intellect, body, and spirit. Although Tuttle School has a strict structure, the atmosphere is also kind and caring.
Find out more information here.
Other autism schools in Houston can be found in the table below:
Table
| School | Website |
| The Caroline School | Website |
| Rise School of Houston | Website |
| HCDE Academic And Behaviot School East | Website |
| Journey School for the Uniquely Gifted and Talented | Website |
| Lane School | Website |
| Applied Behavior Learning Center | |
| The Momentum Academy | Website |
| Texas Autism Academy | Website |
| The Joy School | Website |
| The Next Step Academy | Website |
Best Way to Handle Autistic Children as a Parent
The tactics listed below show how to act as an adult to encourage children to behave well. When told that they need to modify their own actions or the surroundings in order to suit the requirements of the kid, adults who work with children who have behavioral issues are occasionally taken aback.
Inform the kid of what will occur next.
For instance, “After you finish the puzzle, it’s time to brush your teeth,” or “Turn off the computer, it’s time to start your writing project in five minutes.” Setting a timer can be useful for certain kids so they can keep track of how much time is remaining.
Therefore, you would set the timer for five minutes in the example above, “In five minutes it is time to turn off the computer and start your writing task.” When there are only 2 minutes, 1 minute, etc. left, some kids require reminders.
A visual timer might be useful for kids who have problems understanding the notion of time or numbers since the youngster can see how much time is left.
Establish goals, act consistently, and see things through.
Make sure you uphold your half of the bargain, for instance, if you promise to play a game with your child if he plays quietly for five minutes while you talk on the phone.
You might need to let him pick his own activity to do while you are on the phone. If your youngster lacks the ability to tell time, set a visible timer, get off the phone, and begin the game in exactly 5 minutes. If you do this repeatedly, your child will learn what is expected of them and will start to trust you.
Your youngster won’t know what to expect if you don’t consistently carry out your expectations and make good on your promises.
Anxiety and challenging conduct may result from this (e.g., talking to you while you are on the phone, repeatedly asking when you will be off the phone, etc.). Do your best to make their surroundings predictable since children with autism or other challenging behaviors thrive on predictability.
Thank your kid or students for following your instructions.
For instance, if you tell your child to “hush in the theater” because their voice is too loud, compliment the kid by saying something like, “Nice job whispering,” or “Thank you for being courteous in the theater.”
Situations like this are an excellent opportunity to teach kids who are proficient in language about other people’s opinions (for example, “Thank you for whispering. This makes the movie audible to others.
Offer options
All kids, especially those who have autism, like to feel in control of their surroundings. The number of choices should be between two and four (depending on the child), as many kids find it difficult to make decisions when they have too many options.
Do you want butter or jelly on your bagel? Do you want to wear the green or red shirt? These are a few examples of options.
Again, when you present options or pictures of possibilities to kids with language impairments, they frequently have a better time making decisions.
Related: 10 Top Music Production Schools in Houston & Their Details
A transitional item can be used to help the youngster move from one activity to the next.
Let the child bring a favorite classroom item, like a stress ball or toy car, if he needs to leave the room to go with a new staff member, like a speech therapist. He may feel more at ease in the strange surroundings as a result of this.
Instead of yelling “stop” or “no,” divert attention and refocus harmful behavior.
For instance, if the child is sprinting through the store, tell him or demonstrate for him the proper way to walk. Instead of concentrating on the troublesome behavior, find something interesting to show him if you have to and draw his attention to it.
Redirect him to the line if he is racing down the school hallway by telling him to “walk in the hallway” or to “come back to your station in line.” Instead of only offering vocal instructions to kids who have problems understanding language, try showing them what is intended or using a gesture.
Provide concise, specific, and unambiguous instructions.
Say “eat your food” instead of “Be good at the table,” “Don’t toss your food,” or “Would you stop with that! “, for instance, if your kid is throwing food at the table. Children who have trouble understanding language may benefit from seeing a picture or a visual example of the desired activity.
Make the most of teaching opportunities.
For instance, instead of reprimanding a youngster for stealing a toy from another child, show him how to ask for the toy using words if he has the linguistic skills to do so.
When interacting with the child, be composed.
You might find it helpful to talk to a friend, member of your family, or a therapist for support if you frequently struggle with maintaining your composure. Don’t vent your frustration on your kid. Threatening and yelling will not improve conduct.
In the short term, it might stop the habit, but it will happen again. Because the child might start to feel nervous, terrified, angry, ashamed, or unhappy, you might actually make the actions worse.
Children with autism do not consciously choose to behave in a way that annoys you or anybody else. They truly require your encouragement and assistance to meet their emotional and behavioral demands.
Where is Autism Most Common in the US?
In the US, the prevalence of autism went from 1 in 150 in 2000 to 1 in 100 in 2022. Florida has the greatest incidence of autism diagnoses. Texas has the lowest incidence of autism diagnoses.
What Improves Autism?
Speech and language therapy is the most popular developmental treatment for ASD patients. The effectiveness of a person’s knowledge and use of speech and language is improved by speech and language therapy. Some ASD sufferers use verbal communication.
Is Special School Good For Autistic Child?
Not all children with autism spectrum disorder will need to attend a special school; many go to regular schools with no problems. But some kids require more help, and they can benefit from attending a regular school with just a few simple modifications.
What Causes Autism?
The presence of an ASD sibling is a risk factor. Having specific chromosomal or genetic disorders, such as tuberous sclerosis or fragile X syndrome. Problems during delivery, having parents who are older, etc.
Can Autistic Children Do Well In Life?
People with ASD must develop their abilities, passions, and skillsets in order to succeed in the future, just like neurotypical people do. It is crucial to realize that having an ASD diagnosis does not preclude your child from being able to date, go to college, get married, have children, or have a rewarding, successful career.
At What Age Do Autistic Children Start School?
A lot of children with autism spectrum disorder are given an early intervention diagnosis by the age of 3. Kids become qualified for additional assistance at their neighborhood school district when they turn 3 with the aid of an individualized education program (IEP).
Should You Discipline An Autistic Child?
Children and teenagers with autism can learn the fundamentals of behavior through discipline techniques including praise, rules, and consequences. Children and teenagers with autism can avoid acting inappropriately in challenging or unfamiliar settings by using social and everyday skills.
Which Sport Is Good For Autistic Child?
Individual sports like track, skiing, hiking, golf, cycling, or cross-country skiing allow people with autism to engage in recreation without having to deal with stressful social interactions.
Why is Autism Increasing in US?
Some claim that environmental factors like immunizations are to blame for the increase in autism prevalence. However, there is no proof to support such theory. Some claim that the rate is rising as a result of parents, particularly fathers, getting older.
How Does An Autistic Brain Work?
Weakly connected regions can drift apart in the autistic brain due to diminished connection, or hypoconnectivity, with sulci forming between them. Language output is impacted more, according to research, the deeper these sulcal pits are.
Does Autism Run In Families?
You might be more likely to have an ASD child if someone in your family has the condition. A detailed family health history can be crucial for an early diagnosis of ASD because the disorder can present itself very differently in each individual.
What Should I Avoid With Autism?
Paying close attention to the foods consumed is extremely critical if you or a loved one has ASD. Doctors frequently advise an elimination diet for autistic patients, which involves avoiding gluten, dairy, sugar, maize, soy, and other potentially allergic food groups for a month.
What Are The Newest Treatments For Autism?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only approved the antipsychotic medications risperidone and aripiprazole to treat autism-related irritability.
