We are a private school accredited by the Missouri Department of Education. We provide families an alternative to public education and allow traditional students and students with Learning Disabilities, including Autism, to achieve their full capabilities. 

Recognizing and emphasizing individual differences, our teachers help students learn in an environment which  emphasizes social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development.

Rivendale’s Keys to Success
 
*Year Round Schooling    
 
*Individualized Programming
 
*Student-Teacher Ratios are never more than 8 to 2 in the General Classrooms
 
*Paraprofessionals are available to assist students individually or in small groups
 
*Remediation teaching is offered to those of need on a one-on-one basis
 
*ABA is implemented into the curriculum for the children with Autism
 
*The facility has a home-like atmosphere
 
*Tuition is considered a medical tax deduction with a medical diagnosis of autism and learning disabilities
 
*Staff at Rivendale are continually attending professional development activities or graduate courses to further their knowledge in the area of education

* Students range in age from 3-18 years.

*Our goal is to get students back into a public school setting as soon as possible. The average length of stay for our students at the autism center is approximately 3 years while students at the Institute stay approximately 2 years.
 

Lindt to Honor Kerri Duncan, Unsung Hero of Autism, April 27

Please join Lindt USA for a special celebration honoring

Kerri Duncan a 2011 a Lindt Unsung Hero of Autism

For the past three years Lindt USA has partnered with Autism Speaks during the Easter season to help raise funds and awareness for the autism cause.            

As part of the company’s partnership, Lindt USA is honoring three individuals for their extraordinary efforts to support the autism cause, through the Lindt Unsung Heroes of Autism program.

Wednesday April 27, 2011

11 a.m.

Rivendale Center for Autism & Institute of Learning

1720 W. Elfindale Drive

Springfield, MO 65807

 

RSVP by April 25, 2011

Jessica Lappen

617-939-8313 or jlappen@coneinc.com

3rd Annual Special Needs Fundraiser: Leather & Lace

Please click here for more information

3RD Annual Leather and Lace Harley Davidson

On April 1, 2011 Rivendale will hold it’s annual Leather and Lace event where some lucky person will ride home on a Harley Davidson motorcycle!!!  All proceeds will be given back to the families at Rivendale in the form of scholarships.  For more information call 417-864-7921.

Missouri Autism Report

Please click here for the website link

Rivendale Students Published Through Family Stories Contest

St. Louis, Mo., April 27, 2011—Two students from Rivendale Institute of Learning will be honored by The Grannie Annie Family Story Celebration with publication of their stories in the sixth annual Grannie Annie anthologies, to be released in May. Participating students interview an older relative and write a story about an event from their family’s history. After stories have been selected for publication, some are sent to art teachers for their students to illustrate.

Published authors from Rivendale are fourth grader Noah L. Brickey, "Innocent Punishment"; and eighth grader Deborah Renée Kroenke, "Hard Times."

The Grannie Annie Family Story Celebration, founded by authors and publishers Connie McIntyre and Fran Hamilton, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation based in St. Louis, Missouri. In addition to its traditional paperback anthology, this year The Grannie Annie will publish a PDF book, altogether publishing work by 74 students from fifteen U.S. states and Moldova. 

"What a joy it is to think of hundreds of families sharing stories through The Grannie Annie again this year!" said Grannie Annie Co-Director Connie McIntyre. "Their stories spring from family histories rooted in every corner of the globe. Sharing the stories creates a rich labyrinth of connections, between family members and between families—who may have thought they had little in common.”

The young published authors and artists will be further honored at an author reading, art show, and book signing at Left Bank Books in St. Louis on Saturday, June 4, at 1:00 p.m. The public is invited.

Complete details about The Grannie Annie, including stories from previously published volumes, can be found at www.TheGrannieAnnie.org. Orders for the books can be placed online or by calling Portico Books toll free at 1-888-641-5353. Stories for Grannie Annie, Vol. 7, must be submitted by February 1, 2012.

Rivendale Director, Kerri Duncan Wins Unsung Hero Award

Please click here for more information

Please click here for Digital Jorunal Article

Bank Of Missouri Donation

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Parent Testimonials

Thank you,
Everything you have done for Samuel has meant so much.  We will never forget it.  I know this was the best experience Samuel ever had.  He has grown so much.  He could have never done it without you all.  Thank you is not enough.
-Lynn

 
I can say my child, who had lost his very limited language, tried to talk his 1st day at Rivendale and by day 5 he was repeating words.  I can say by 6 weeks he was potty trained, and by 8 weeks he was saying his alphebet.  Enrolling my child at Rivendale was the best decision I have ever made.  Without the intensity of the program and the quality of the dedicated staff I would have lost my son.  Now, my son is 5 years old and says I love you. 
-Elizabeth

My daughter Evelyn began attending Rivendale Institute of Learning just one week ago and already the transformation is amazing.  Evelyn has severe learning and developmental disabilities as well as epilepsy and a brain malformation and she has always struggled to fit in.  She was so nervous to begin classes at Rivendale, after all, she had been attending the same public school since kindergarten and had virtually no friends her age.  Occasionally, Evelyn would have a seizure in class and lose control of her bladder or bowels in front of the other students.  She would always be embarrassed because she wouldn't recall what had happened or why, and sadly, that didn't keep the kids from teasing her non stop.  As adults we understand that she can't help it, but children do not understand so they would just tell her that she could not be their friend.
 
What a difference a day makes!!!  Following Evelyn's first day at Rivendale, she came home a different child.  No longer was she quiet, tearful, and withdrawn, but she is laughing, playing with her siblings, singing, dancing, and she even joined us for dinner at the table as a family, which she hasn't done for months.  She could not wait for day two, which was just as wonderful.  She began telling me about her new best friend.  ...She said that "I like everyone in my class, we are all friends.  You know what, mom? We are all very unique individuals."  I was so moved by that, Thank you Rivendale for transforming my public school "ugly duckling" into a beautiful swan.  I just keep saying over and over to myself, "And just think...this is only week one!"
-Brandy

Last year we found out our son has Autism.  At first, we placed him in a public educational setting, but we saw little progress.  Our hearts-in- hand, we found Rivendale and the happy ending we were looking for.  My son has been at Rivendale for 6 months now, and in that time we have seen amazing progress.
-Melissa, mother of Ben

Program Highlights

Education isn't about memorizing facts; it's about teaching children how to learn.  Teaching the whole student is just the beginning.  We believe in tuning the curriculum to the individual.  Numerous learning factors are considered: sensory modes, (tactile/kinesthetic, visual, auditory), physical needs and emotional needs to name a few.
 
Curriculum is interdisciplinary, linking traditional subjects to current events in the student's life.  Generalization learned skills into the community is practiced frequently.  Real life question forming and problem solving are encouraged in an atmosphere of cooperation.  Students are expected to respect and help one another.  Our students make choices and decisions, take responsibility, and then evaluate themselves.  Student success, both personally and academically, is expected and affirmed.

We provide two different kind of multisensory reading programs for children diagnosed with Dyslexia or who just struggle with traditional reading programs. Both are supported by empirical data.  One is called S.P.I.R.E. and the other is Alphabetic  Phonics.  Both reading programs provide our students with the guidance and instruction needed to be successful readers and learners.

Our written language program is called Step Up To Writing.  Again, this a multisensory program used with students of all ages that provides guidance in a color-coded, direct instruction format with proven data to support the efficacy of this written language program.

Many of our students struggle with the sometimes laborious chore of handwriting. We use two methods of handwriting instruction based on the age and needs of the student.  Our younger learners enjoy Handwriting Without Tears and our more mature students use the written language component of the Alphabetic Phonics program.

Our math programs consist of hands on, multisensory learning as well.  Our advance students are learning algebra while our early learners use Touch Math and various learning stations set up by each classroom teacher.  It is common to see individual students or small groups of students stationed around the building during math completing various tasks using manipulatives such as measuring cups, base ten blocks, marbles, dice, colored beads …

What is ABA?
In addition to the multisensory, direct instruction approach to learning, Rivendale is known for the structured, intense Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program for our early learners diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders.  This program offers families intense instruction in self-help skills, daily living, social, emotional, academic and behavioral skills.  Students are worked with one on one in a discrete trial training environment several times throughout the day, then spend time in a Natural Education Teaching (NET) environment where the skills are’generalized’ in a more natural environment.  Students in this program range in age from 3 to 10 years.  Additionally, a typical Pre-K classroom is held in this building allowing our students with autism the opportunity to generalize their skills with age appropriate peers.



GED Track
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Rivendale is proud to offer a GED track to traditional students who are functioning at an average cognitive level, but are not succeeding in public school (this includes students with specific learning disabilities).
 
The GED track is a two-year program that prepares students for a comprehensive GED exam. The first year of study fills in any gaps in learning that the student may be missing. The second year of study consists of GED test preparation. There is a minimum age requirement of 15 years or older. Rivendale has worked closely with Ozarks Technical Community College in order to establish this unified program.

Rivendale has been pleased to offer this program since 2005. Currently, 100% of our GED students have passed on their first attempt.

Applied Behavior Analysis  (ABA)

Applied behavior analysis or ABA is a way of teaching and reinforcing appropriate behaviors.  The therapist working with the child sets things up in the environment to increase the behaviors we want (i.e., eye contact, responding when being spoken to, in seat behavior) and decrease the behaviors we want to get rid of (i.e. hitting, ignoring, self-stimming, out of seat behavior).  ABA is looking at the function of behaviors and then responding to them in an appropriate manner or replacing the behavior with a behavior that is more socially acceptable. 

In getting to the ‘root’ of a behavior, the therapist will analyze the Antecedence, Behavior, and  Consequence of the behavior.  This provides the therapist with valuable information as to ‘why’ a behavior occurs or doesn’t occur thus providing direction on which method or approach to use in addressing the behavior and teaching the child new ways to communicate.

Once the therapist knows what skills to teach the child, each task will be broken down into small steps and taught using a method called discrete trial training (DTT).  At this stage, each task is broken down into small sequential steps and taught separately, chaining each step together as an entire procedure.  DTT is generally taught individually and emphasizes rote skill building through very systematic and consistent approach by the therapist.

At the same time a therapist is engaging a child in DTT, those skills are simultaneously ‘generalized’ into a more natural environment.  We refer to this as the Natural Environment Teaching Classroom or NET.

Throughout the child’s working times, he or she is reinforced using a variety of reinforcement schedules appropriate to the child’s age level, maturity and need.  With each trial, documentation is taken by the therapist.  Later, this information is graphed to show growth, and areas of need. 
It is vital to a successful ABA program that a board certified behavior analyst is involved in setting up the child’s program beginning with a functional behavioral assessment (FBA) followed by a program designed to meet the individual child’s needs.  The ABA therapist also oversees the child’s data books and graphs the changes made by the child to each therapist involved as well as the parent. 

While there are many programs available to meet the needs of children with ASD, ABA proves to be one of the highest regarded programs suitable to teach children with autism as well as other types of disabilities.  Research continues to support this statement.

Insurance

Rivendale Center for Autism can now bill insurance for ABA services for children diagnosed with autism.  Missouri has recently mandated insurance companies to provide insurance coverage for children with autism. Check with your local carrier to see if you qualify for this coverage or call our office.