The Keystone Academy

The founders of Keystone Behavioral Pediatrics are excited to announce the opening of The Keystone Academy for the 2010-2011 school year. Unique to other school programs, The Keystone Academy will offer a curriculum that is psychoeducational and developmentally driven. Learning will consist of child-initiated activities, cooperative paired learning, teacher scaffolding and explicit instruction with ongoing assessment. Instructional strategies will be based on the tenets of behavioral education. We use the term “behavioral education” to indicate the use of behavioral technologies (e.g. direct instruction, schedules of reinforcement, incidental teaching, etc) as the vehicle to teach each child’s educational curriculum. Every behavioral education program is designed to give each child the skills they need in order to benefit from their educational placement in the least restrictiveenvironment.The following areas will be targeted:

• Academics aligned with Sunshine State Standards
• Language and Communication
• Daily Living/Self-help Skills
• Reduction of challenging behaviors, and increase in alternate/replacement behaviors
• Play and Leisure
• Socialization and Community Integration
• Coping Skills and Self-regulation

The Keystone Academy will provide education and related services to students in grades Pre-K through 12. Evidence-based instructional practices are implemented in an intensive, highly supportive, environment that maintains a low student/teacher ratio which addresses theunique, educational and therapeutic needs of each child. Classroom teachers andrelated service providers work closely together to maximize the educational benefits for students.

Interventions

In addition to grade level coursework students will also receive additional instructional support. These interventions (or enrichment) classes are targeted to the specific needs and learning styles of each student. Unlike the majority of the instructional day, which focuses on material from the student’s assigned grade level, these groups are designed to meet the specific needs of students with similar instructional goals and learning styles. Intervention classes utilize research- based methodologies.

Assessment of Progress

Effective, timely and targeted assessment of student progress is critical to our instructional program. Teachers and related service staff will maintain on-going systems for evaluating the progress of each child. It is through this dynamic process of continuous assessment that we are able to make instructional and clinical decisions about the direction and pace of instruction and service delivery.

Related Services

Related services identified on each student's educational plan are offered. Related services are delivered in pull out, embedded, and consultative formats. These include but are not limited to the following:

• Speech/Language Pathology
• Mental Health Services
• Occupational Therapy
• Physical Therapy

Related services are interwoven with the instructional program and delivered within the classroom setting whenever possible. Psychiatric consults are available. An interdisciplinary team approach ensures regular and cohesive communication and co-planning amongst teachers, related services and therapeutic staff. For more information, please contact Dr. Katie Falwell, Executive Director at falwell@keystonebehavioral.com.

Camp News

Coming Soon: Keystone Camp details and registration information will be highlighted in the February newsletter.

Feeding Consultation

Dr. Rinita Laud completed comprehensive feeding consultations on January 23, 2010. Many of our clients appreciated amazing treatment gains in just one session! Referrals included the following:

• Transitioning from G-tube to oral feeding
• Severely restricted food repertoires
• Transitioning from non-self feed to self-feeders
• Rumination
• Food refusal and Failure to Thrive

Call KBP to schedule an appointment for Dr. Laud’s next consultation session.

Keystone Continuing Education

Keystone staff completed two days of continuing education on January 22 & 25, presented by Dr. Dosia Paclawskyj. Dr. Paclawskyj is a Case Manager in the Neurobehavioral Unit Outpatient Clinic at Kennedy Krieger Institute, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, as well as a Faculty Associate in the Department of Special Education at the Johns Hopkins University School of Professional and Business Education. Dr. Paclawskyj is also adjunct faculty at Towson University and the University of Massachusetts, and is an Associate Editor of Research in Developmental Disabilities and a member of the Maryland Dual Diagnosis Best Practices Workgroup. Dr. Paclawskyj provided the following trainings:

• Competing Items Assessments
• Intermediate Functional Analysis
• Fixing the Broken Behavior Plan
• Dual Diagnosis

Keystone Kids

This month we introduce Nicole C. and her adorable son. She shares her personal experiences, favorite recipes and even reveals her son’s best friend. Lori K. was the lucky one to talk to her during the busy first month of 2010!

Lori: How did you manage having one child on the GF/CF/SF diet and have your other children/family on another diet?
Nicole: We didn't. We decided to do it as a family. I could never eat a piece of pizza in front of my son and say sorry you can't have one. The night we decided on GF/CF/SF I gutted my kitchen. I put everything in my trunk and drove it to church the next day.

Lori: How has your child changed since coming to Keystone? How has Keystone been able to help you and your family?
Nicole: He has come a long way. He continues to meet his goals and grow. Keystone has taught him to use the potty, taught him to hold hands, say mommy, be attentive, count, tantrum less, and much more. His best friend is his therapist and he loves to go to ABA!

Lori: Describe your perfect day (without the children!).
Nicole: Waking up when I feel like it, let’s say 11ish, then spending most of the day laying on a beach in Tahiti soaking up the sun with a beverage, my iPod, and a book. I would spend the evening eating at a fine dining restaurant, and then dance the whole night into the wee hours.

Lori: What is the one thing you would want others to know about you son?
Nicole: He loves to dance!

Lori: Where is your favorite place to go with your son?
Nicole: The pool, I taught him to swim last summer.

Lori: What is your favorite color?
Nicole: Turquoise

Thank you for your time Nicole!

Keystone Staff