Melmark New England’s approved private special education schools are licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The Early Childhood (EC) Program serves students, ages three to 10, who require an intensive, individualized behavioral approach designed in an educationally appropriate learning environment due to a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders and other intellectual and developmental disabilities, which may be secondary to complex behavioral profiles.

Our teachers adhere to evidence-based intervention in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), special education and child development. Our personalized curriculum allows the student’s educational team to integrate the goals and objectives for each student into lesson plans and daily activities. The result is a rich, meaningful learning experience for each child based on his or her level of readiness. Curriculum focus in the EC Program include:  early learner skills, communication skills, toileting skills, feeding skills, and behavior development.

We offer:

• Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) with over 10 years of experience oversee classroom supervision, ensuring quality control while providing additional resources to classroom teachers
• Master’s-level special education teachers for each classroom
• Specially designed classrooms for early learners
• Instructional arrangements with a 1:2 ABA staff-student ratio (or 1:1 ABA staff-student ratio, if designated by the IEP)
• Nursing staff for health needs
• Gym, library and cafeteria
• Playground and attractive outdoor walking areas
• Bathrooms with child-size fixtures
• Evidence-based teaching strategies
• A 12-month (237-day) school year calendar with 10 holidays and three school vacation weeks
• Specially designed curriculum to meet Common Core standards in special education
• Specially designed individual and group instruction provided in anticipation of transitions to inclusive settings including back to public school
• On-going assessment of skills to aid in goal setting and weekly student progress monitoring
• Extensive utilization of technology to facilitate learning, including augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices, SMART Boards®, etc. 

Speech-language, occupational, and physical therapists work side by side with classroom teachers, facilitating the extension of these important services. To ensure the highest levels of quality and consistency, teachers and ancillary clinical staff receive close supervision and support from middle- and senior-level clinical staff.

Melmark New England’s approved private special education schools are licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Each day school is highly specialized and serves students ranging from age 11 to 22, who require an intensive, individualized behavioral approach designed in an educationally appropriate learning environment due to a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders and other intellectual and developmental disabilities, which may be secondary to complex behavioral profiles.

Our teachers adhere to evidence-based intervention in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), special education and child development. Our personalized curriculum allows the student’s educational team to integrate the goals and objectives for each student into lesson plans and daily activities. The result is a rich, meaningful learning experience for each child based on his or her level of readiness.

We offer:

• Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), with over 10 years of experience, overseeing classroom supervision, ensuring quality control while providing additional resources to classroom teachers
• Master’s-level special education teachers for each classroom
• Specially designed classrooms for students with intensive behavioral and learning needs
• On demand and alternative Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) testing
• Pre-vocational and vocational training; volunteer and community work opportunities
• Nursing staff for health needs
• Gym, library and cafeteria
• Playground and attractive outdoor walking areas
• A 12-month (237-day) school year calendar with 10 holidays and three school vacation weeks
• Specially designed individual and group instruction provided in anticipation of transitions to inclusive settings including back to public school
• On-going assessment of skills to aid in goal setting and weekly student progress monitoring
• Extensive utilization of technology to facilitate learning including Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices, SMART Boards®, etc.

Speech-language, occupational, and physical therapists work side-by-side with classroom teachers, facilitating the extension of these important services. To ensure the highest level of quality and consistency, teachers and ancillary clinical staff receive close supervision and support from middle- and senior-level clinical staff.

It is discouraging to note that 70 percent of individuals with autism are unemployed or underemployed. When a student is offered practical vocational skills training, his or her probability of meaningful employment in adulthood is greatly improved. With a job in his or her adult years, an individual’s quality of life is greatly enhanced. To this end, Melmark has an active and growing vocational training program for our adolescent students. It takes sophisticated programming, patience and determination on the part of our teachers for a student to progress from learning in a specialized classroom to working in the community. We strive to reach this level of achievement with every one of our students.  

Here is a sampling of the internal and external job placements secured for our students:

Melmark New England and the Melmark Café, Andover, MA. On a daily basis, students prep and clean the kitchen and cafeteria, perform a variety of duties in the dishwashing area and operate as cashier manning the Apple-based point of sale system for staff and visitors ordering lunch. Students also conduct recycling efforts throughout the school, including sorting, bagging and returning cans and bottles for deposit refunds. At the student-run MelMart, students, staff and visitors can purchase snacks and beverages that have been purchased, priced, stocked and sold by vocational students. 

99 Restaurant, Tewksbury MA. Students portion, weigh and package food (vegetable or pasta). 

Claddagh Pub, Lawrence MA. Students do basic cleaning and maintaining condiment supplies. 

Friend Lumber, Hudson, NH. Students work in the yard stacking lumber and assist in ensuring a clean, organized working environment.

Hampton Inn, Haverhill, MA. Students work in the breakfast area stocking plates, napkins and condiments for guests. Students also provide light housekeeping of the area and adjacent lobby.

Jackson Lumber & Millwork, Lawrence, MA. Students work in the yard stacking lumber and assist in ensuring a clean, organized working environment.

Konjoian’s Greenhouse, Andover MA. Students prepare soil for potting and participate in the cultivation and planting of seasonal plants, flowers and herbs. Students assist with general greenhouse duties that can include sweeping, preparing products for retail sale and other duties as assigned. 

Lowe’s Home Improvement, Lowell, MA. Students serve as facility service associate trainees.

Merrimack Valley Food Bank, Lowell, MA. Students stock inventory and select foods and household goods while filling orders for clients.

Peabody Historical Society, Peabody, MA. Students scan historical documents and pictures, enter data, and prepare mailings. 

Salvatore’s Italian Restaurant, Lawrence MA. Students do dish washing (lunch plates, pots and pans), portioning food, mopping and creating silverware set ups for catering events. 

Stoneham Dental, Stoneham MA. Students assist in preparation of mailings for the office (stuffing envelopes, adding address labels and stamps) and assembling dental health goodie bags for patients (toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, mouthwash).

For students, ages three to 22, whose Individualized Education Program (IEP) objectives require a 24-hour therapeutic and structured learning environment, Melmark New England offers residential/educational placements within one of six group homes. We adhere to evidence-based intervention in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), special education and child development. Our personalized curriculum allows the student’s educational team to integrate the goals and objectives for each student into lesson plans and daily activities.

Within each home, under the close supervision of well-trained staff with bachelor’s degrees or higher, children work on self-care, leisure time, vocational, daily living and community IEP goals in a homelike atmosphere. Children enjoy outdoor play activities and a recreation room. Outings are a regular occurrence and include activities such as trips to the park, movies, outdoor concerts, grocery shopping and other local attractions.

Similar to our day school program, each home is staffed with a 1:2 ABA staff to student ratio (or 1:1 ABA staff to student ratio if designated by the IEP), and a 1:4 ratio for asleep hours. The residential program is supervised by senior staff with advanced degrees and certifications. In addition, the homes are supported by 24-hour on-call nursing support, as well as administrative and senior clinical support.

Family reunification is an essential goal for all residential students. Families receive ongoing training in order to successfully be prepared for school closing periods with their child. Our goal for each child, when appropriate, is to return to the family’s home or a less restrictive environment as soon as possible. Families are required to have home visits one time per month and school closing periods.

Melmark Center for Social and Behavioral Development 

This program provides evaluations, assessments and support services to individuals with autism spectrum disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, severe challenging behavior and other complex profiles. Melmark New England provides a variety of behavioral and educational consultative services to students, parents, educators and professionals. Our consultation staff members are either master’s or doctoral-level board certified, and licensed (or board eligible), behavior analysts with a high level of experience and expertise. Consultation services can be provided specific to a particular child, topic, classroom, educational program or school district and are provided with an emphasis on collaboration and evidence-based practice. Consultation and direct services are offered through private pay and insurance-based funding resources, and are provided within home, center and community-based settings. Our consultation department also offers a variety of trainings, professional development opportunities and workshops. All of our services are tailored to meet the unique needs of the individuals we serve with a high degree of clinical expertise, professionalism, ethics and integrity.

At the request of either parents or school districts, Melmark New England’s consultation team is able to provide a variety of evaluations and clinical intervention services to assist with the development and delivery of effective educational services. These services can be provided at our Andover school, in the public school setting or onsite in the student’s home.  

These include: 

• Functional Behavioral Assessment/Functional Analysis 
• Independent Student Educational and Behavioral Program Design
• District-wide Educational and Behavioral Program Design
• Curriculum Development
• Professional Development Trainings Across A Variety of Topics
• “Incredible Years” Individualized and Group Parent Training
• Registered Behavior Technician Training Program
• Direct Service using Applied Behavior Analysis Funded Privately and by Insurance
• BCBA/BCaBA Supervision and Mentorship
• Neuropsychological Evaluation
• Guardianship Evaluation
• Transition Planning Assistance
• Social-Skills Assessment
• Technical Assistance Consultation
• Individualized and Group Parent Training
• Individual Therapy for Parents
• Individual Therapy for Children and Adolescents
• Individualized Instruction in Social/Behavior Skills
• Social-Skills Groups 
• Facilitation of Play Dates
• Supervision of ABA Services
• Behavioral Consultation to Families

Please contact us for more information about our consultation, training, evaluation, and clinical intervention services at consultation@melmarkne.org  or 978-654-4300.

To meet the individualized needs of our students, adult day and residential individuals, our allied health services professionals work alongside teachers and other professional staff.

Speech and Language Therapy:  Speech and language therapists are on staff to provide early language training for our students who are verbal and non-verbal. In addition, they provide continued training in the areas of reading, social-communication, play and, when appropriate, the use of alternative, augmentative communication systems. Services are provided through a consultative or direct model.

Occupational Therapy:  Our occupational therapists provide students with training for fine motor needs, writing needs, daily living skills, domestic routines and mealtime skills including meal preparation. Services are provided through a consultative or direct model.

Physical Therapy:  Our physical therapists aid students with gross motor needs, coordination, motor planning and balance. Services are provided through a consultative or direct model.

Health Care Services:  Our nursing staff is comprised of Registered Nurses who have experience working with a special needs population. These dedicated professionals oversee the general health of our student population including coordinating on-site flu, hearing, vision and dental clinics. They also coordinate routine medical care for residential students, provided onsite weekly by a trained internist.

Melmark New England Early Intervention Autism Service Specialty Provider (ASSP)

Melmark New England was awarded a contract for EI (Autism Specialty Services) under the Department of Public Health.

Melmark’s Early Intervention Program launched in October 2021, providing services in the home, daycare or community for children zero to three years of age. Using principles of Applied Behavior Analysis, our team utilizes evidence based, intensive and naturalistic teaching promoting developmentally appropriate skill development with a focus on play, communication and social interaction.

Parents can expect:

• ASSP/ABA services delivered by a 1:1 ABA counselor up to 30 hours a week.
• BCBA oversight 1-3 hours per week.
• Emphasis on parent training offered 1-2 hours per week.
• Monthly progress meetings with BCBA, ABA counselor, parent and early intervention coordinator.
• Focus on teaching skills for increase and decrease challenging or undesirable behaviors.
• Skills are taught through natural environment training and discrete trial training.
• Focus on teaching play, communication, social interaction and preparing the child for success at home, in the community and in a preschool setting.
• Assessment and treatment plan coordination.

For more information, please contact:

Pamela Peterson

Director of Early Intervention at Melmark New England

(978) 654-4309 or ppeterson@melmarkne.org