Imagine Academy’s mentorship program began with a visit from Barkai Yeshivah’s eighth grade boys. One of the cornerstones of Imagine Academy’s mission is to help each child reach his/her fullest potential socially. Through a mentorship program, specifically geared for children with autism, Imagine’s students are offered the opportunity to develop their social skills by interacting with children that are similar in age. The goal is to enhance our children’s communication and interpersonal skills.
Together, the children participated in Hanukah songs with Imagine’s music therapist, and created art projects as they celebrated the festival of lights. Esther Hecht, a well trained specialist and Imagine’s principal Elisa Chrem organized and supervised the program that ultimately raised the consciousness of our community’s youth on developmental needs.
Through the mentorship program, Imagine Academy is educating our community’s youth about autism while providing a forum of future career options including special education and social work.
Autism cripples a child’s social, emotional and academic development. As many children are unable to communicate and relate to others, through Imagine’s educational leadership, children with autism and their families are offered a chance to overcome these challenges.
Parents with children who have autism are drained emotionally and endure hardship. Imagine is committed to helping parents maintain the sanctity of their family, of their marriage and ultimately our community. It’s about supporting and helping each other—it takes a village—to foster resources that will help children with autism. We are fortunate to have our community’s youth helping our endeavors.
Every 20 minutes another child is diagnosed with autism in the United States. The cost of life long care can be reduced by two thirds with intensive therapy. Imagine is keenly aware of the importance of intensive therapy from an early age and that early intervention has proven to have both long-term financial savings per person as well as long lasting therapeutic results. Imagine fills that need by understanding proven treatment methods and recognizes that each child’s challenges are unique. Imagine has adopted and provides an array of proven methodological approaches, their highly trained staff produce results.
Imagine Academy has entered its fourth year of operation, initially founded by parents of children diagnosed with autism. Imagine’s Board of Trustees are incredibly dedicated and committed, because of their devotion, Imagine has grown from eight students and projects to over 30 students in September 2009, in their new state-of-the-art facility.
As the need grows strong for a 24 hour residency program as well as an Autism Resource Center, the center will provide mentorship programming, family support groups, sibling workshops, related services and a well-needed training center for educators. These programs are vital and essential to combat autism and through our community’s support, we are confident that together the challenges will be met.
If your school or students are interested in joining their mentorship program, please feel free to call Imagine Academy at (718) 376-8882.
