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Preschool autism program makes CONNECTIONS!

San Joaquin County Office of Education announces a new name for its preschool autism program: CONNECTIONS!

CONNECTIONS! refers to its 12 San Joaquin County preschool autism classes that serve students, three to five year olds, on the autism spectrum. The autism preschool program teachers and staff chose the name after careful observation and reflection on what our children are busy doing on a daily basis—making connections! 

Throughout the day, staff are facilitating communication, social, and cognitive connections among students. This system allows them to learn and grow at a rapid pace. 

On September 17, CONNECTIONS! staff attended a professional development day to learn how to link playing with learning. The training focused on how to apply the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis to playing and learning. SJCOE Designated Instruction Services staff, Nina Alderete, Language, Speech, and Hearing Specialist; Lisa Balogh, Occupational Therapist; and Kristi Baysinger, Educational Behavior Analyst; presented the training program. Staff will continue to participate in on-going training to ensure students are making connections through all daily classroom activities.

“The training was a great success,” said Brandie Brunni, SJCOE Special Education Division Director. “Staff are applying the strategies learned into their daily classroom routines.”

The following are locations of CONNECTIONS! classes: 

  • CONNECTIONS! McFall in Manteca – seven classes;
  • CONNECTIONS! McKinley in Tracy – two classes;
  • CONNECTIONS! Great Valley in Stockton – two classes and one more opening in January; and
  • CONNECTIONS! Colonial Heights in Stockton – one class. 
Posted: 11/12/2014