Gateway I & II
At Gateway Academy, intense direct instruction is based on the individual needs of each student.

About Gateway Academy:
Gateway Academy is a public separate setting and is part of the Spotsylvania County School system. Gateway Academy serves students with autism and related developmental disabilities from K - 12+.  This unique program is a step between public school and private day placement that provides families with an additional placement option when considering a child’s least restrictive environment. The environment at Gateway differs from a traditional school setting. There are fewer interruptions and fewer changes to our daily schedules. Much of the student’s day is spent in 1:1 or small group instruction, addressing academic, social, functional, and behavioral objectives. 

Our primary goal at Gateway is to provide students with the tools to be successful in any learning environment!

Mission:
Gateway Academy's goal is to support students and families by creating a safe, structured, and predictable learning environment that utilizes a series of evidence-based practices to promote academic, functional, communication, and social skill development. These strategies include, but are not limited to:

• Antecedent based instruction 

• Discrete trial training (DTT)

• Pivotal response training

• Behavior momentum

• Incidental teaching

• Differential reinforcement

• Extinction

• Task Analysis (Backward/Forward chaining)

• Token Economies

• Verbal Behavior

• Self-monitoring 

Ultimately, our mission is to provide students with the tools necessary to be successful in learning and, hopefully, transition to a less restrictive environment.  

Program Director:
Jennifer Mcmichael

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