Special Education Programs
One Interactions classroom serving children in grades 1, 2, and 3 is part of the Aleda Patterson family.
Interactions programming supports students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD impacts how people understand what they see, hear and sense. Some students with ASD achieve at grade level and others have uneven or delayed achievement.
The goal of Interactions programming is to improve communication, social interaction and behaviour while developing academic skills.
Some of the benefits of Interactions programming include:
- growth in communication skills
- growth in building and maintaining relationships, and understanding social situations
- growth in managing frustration and problem-solving
- improved ability to handle change or challenging emotions
- development of life skills to support independent living and employment
Programming is delivered with the following in mind: :
- structured environment with regular routines
- smaller classes for more targeted instruction
- visual aids, concrete examples and hands-on activities
- Frequent praise and other meaningful rewards to help students adopt positive behaviours and attitudes
- opportunities to join other classes for instruction in a student’s areas of strength
To be eligible for programming, students must be:
- 5 ½ to 19 years old on September 1
- Clinically diagnosed with ASD
- Demonstrating stereotyped behaviours, and have severe impairment in social interactions and communication
Contact your child’s school for information about eligibility and special education programming options.
All Edmonton Public Schools programming is based on curriculum determined by Alberta Education. Students enrolled in Interactions will receive the same high-quality education offered in all of our programs.
Most schools offering special education programming have some yellow busing options available. For more information about busing, contact your child’s school or call Student Transportation at 780-429-8585.