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Crossroads Center for Children serves the community through multiple programs at the Center, for students with and without disabilities. There are different referral processes for different programs. Please Contact Us for more information.
We serve students from 2 to 12 years old through various program options.
Our ABA (applied behavior analysis) philosophy is the foundation for all of the services and programs at Crossroads Center for Children. Our goal is to provide the highest quality of service dictated by the individual needs of each child. This can range from intensive, daily instruction provided on an individual basis to group instruction with many children and/or families. We are committed to helping every child succeed in the least restrictive environment of life.
Crossroads has been providing theme-based, but individualized, programming to young children since 1998. We are conveniently located in Schenectady, New York. We have a secure building with a locked entry and provide a safe, supervised environment. We have an Open Door Policy, and parents are welcome at all times. If your child is enrolled, you will receive daily communication regarding his/her day, as well as a quarterly reports regarding progress. We like to attend field trips and community outings. In addition, we provide a year-round program, with the option to have your child attend during school vacations. All of our staff are licensed or certified by New York State. We also offer speech therapy and related services. Having these professionals on site is beneficial, as they are available to screen development, evaluate or support all of our students. We have a high teacher to student ratio and also maintain a Health Care Office. We have several options for enrollment. If you are interested or would like to tour the facility, please contact Melissa Cleinman at 518-280-0083 extension 103 or email melissac@crossroadcenter.org.
Crossroads Center for Children offers center-based or home-based options, including SEIT (special education itinerate teacher) or related services to students enrolled in our preschool program.
Crossroads Center for Children offers 7 integrated preschool classrooms that operate 5 1/2 hours each day, Monday through Friday. Children are placed in classrooms based on their individual strengths and needs. Each classroom provides unique learning opportunities that are matched to the skills of the students. Each classroom offers a continuum of services suited to meet the spectrum of needs that students with autism present with. For example, the kindergarten readiness room focuses on academics, social skills and self-management. Students in this room receive instruction mainly in small and large groups with zero to one hour of individualized instruction. This is in contrast to another preschool room that may focus on behavior management and functional communication. The latter example, students are less prepared to learn incidentally and instead, receive greater practice and repetition through two to three hours of individualized instruction and a lower frequency of small groups. Although the intensity varies from classroom to classroom, each works on the development of language skills, small group instruction, social skills, academic skills and self-management. The goal of Crossroads Center for Children is to transition preschoolers into their home school district. As such, our program aims to prepare students for typical school activities such as learning to buy lunch and attending field trips so that they may be prepared for a less restrictive placement.
Parents are encouraged to observe their child while working with teachers and therapists. Parent training is an important part of each child’s programming. Parents can watch their child participate in special education sessions, related services sessions as well as daily classroom activities. At the same time teachers and/or therapists will provide parents with the skills necessary to implement programs. This carryover promotes the generalization of skills.
In addition, for families who chose to supplement an approved program, or for families of children who do not qualify for services, Crossroads Center for Children is able to provide a private program through a consultation model. These services can be designed to meet the individual needs of the student and their family.
Crossroads Center for children serves school-age children ages 5-12 years old. Students are placed in 1 of 4 classrooms based on their age. At the school age level students work on academic, language/communication skills, leisure skills, social skills, life skills and increasing student independence. All programming is individualized to meet each student’s needs. Although the school age program is self contained, opportunities are available for integration. The goal of Crossroads Center for Children is to prepare students for typical school activities so that they may transition to a less restrictive placement. Students learn to buy lunch and attend various field trips throughout the year.
Crossroads Center for Children has an open door policy to encourage parents to observe their child while in program and attend parent trainings. Parents can watch their child participate in related services sessions as well as daily classroom activities. At the same time therapists will teach parents the skills necessary to implement programs. This carryover promotes the generalization of skills.
In addition, for families who chose to supplement an approved program, or for families of children who do not qualify for services, Crossroads Center for Children may be able to provide a private program through a consultation model. These services can be designed to meet the individual needs of the student and their family. In addition, Crossroads is available to provide these consultation services to help support school district personnel.
The CLINIC at Crossroads offers a variety of services including various insurance funded services, free caregiver and provider Information sessions, as well as School District Trainings and Consultation.
Wrap around daycare is available from 7:00-9:00 and 2:30-5:30 each day that program is in session. This service is available on an as needed basis. For more information regarding the parental fees for this, please contact the program. In addition, a similar daycare service is provided, as needed over school vacations. Daycare staff is trained in the techniques of Applied Behavior Analysis . Although this is an unstructured time, this training provides for consistency throughout the students’ day.
Crossroads Center for Children offers educational programs rich with opportunities for incidental learning. A highly supportive and structured teaching environment has been established in which children thrive off of predictability and consistency. High teacher to students ratios allow staff to provide individualized attention and arrange the environment in ways that promote spontaneous language. Least to most prompting techniques are utilized to encourage verbal behaviors. All instruction is customized to address the goals established on each student ‘s Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) or Individualized Education Program (IEP). These documents are then used to help develop an Individualized Goal Plan. This plan helps guide instruction that is created to meet their unique needs and monitor progress. Students are taught cognitive, adaptive, social-emotional, receptive and expressive language, as well as fine and gross motor skills. Techniques of applied behavior analysis (ABA) are utilized to accomplish this.
ABA services can be delivered in many different ways ranging from individually in a one-to -one teaching arrangement (discrete trial training) to within a large group setting (incidental teaching). Although the classrooms operate like typical school classrooms, techniques of ABA are utilized throughout the entire day with a focus on building skills through positive reinforcement, reducing problem behaviors by identifying their function and setting up the environment to prevent them.
Children with speech and language delays benefit from Speech Therapy services. Our team of Speech and Language Pathologists work with children individually and in groups to develop communication programs that help them to communicate their needs and wants to other people.
Children who demonstrate developmental delays in their fine motor skills, adaptive development, or sensory processing abilities may benefit from occupational therapy services.
Our Team of BCBAs (Board Certified Behavior Analysts) are integral members of the treatment teams, providing non-stop support to the classrooms in their caseloads. Student behavior plans, classroom management plans and crisis intervention training are some of the important roles that these clinicians provide.
We are dedicated to not only serving our students but also to offering support and assistance to our parents and families as well. Our students’ success is largely based upon consistency and communication between home and school. Therefore, we offer parent training sessions that allow parents, guardians, and families the opportunity to learn effective strategies for working with their child at home and in the community. These trainings take place within the student’s classroom and give parents the ability to practice techniques, observe, and discuss their student with classroom staff and related service providers.
Staff is also available to help address any issues that parents and families are experiencing in the home environment.
Additionally, we offer parent trainings that focus on topics such as challenging behaviors, play/social skills, current research, making future decisions, and other relevant issues. Crossroads also offers a support group for parents to provide them with a safe place to connect with one another and share stories and ideas. We hope to add a sibling support group soon for children who have a sister/brother with special needs to give them this same opportunity as well.
The team at Crossroads Center for Children is excited about ABA and eager to share what they know. There are many ways to accomplish this from providing general trainings to an entire organization, to individual assessment of a student’s behavior. Crossroads Center for Children collaborates with organizations to inform their staff about principles and processes of ABA, to teach them how to implement specific techniques, or to work together as a team to assess problem behaviors in students and generate behavior intervention plans. Crossroads Center for Children can be utilized as an outside resource to observe classrooms and make general recommendations that would benefit the entire class or individual students.
The same is true for the home environment. Crossroads is available to work with families who may be experiencing difficulty at home. Together, a plan of action will be created that is sensitive to the values and resources of the family.
Often, the needs of the organization or family seeking consultation are unique. As such, Crossroads is flexible and creative in meeting the needs of the client. Rates available upon request.
Crossroads Center for Children offers a variety of training opportunities for parents, and professionals. Trainings are affordable and free for parents receiving services through Crossroads. Topics may be covered through the public training series which is provided from October through January or via a private arrangement with interested parties. All topics adhere the philosophy of applied behavior analysis and include but are not limited to:
Crossroads Center for Children provides supervision that meets requirements for experience hours through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board for BCBA and BCaBA candidates as well as supervision to become a Licensed Behavior Analyst in New York State. In order to be considered for supervision, an individual must be employed at Crossroads and be accepted as a supervisee. If you are interested in learning more about employment and BCBA/BCaBA/LBA supervision, please send a resume to carolyns@crossroadcenter.org or info@crossroadcenter.org.
Crossroads Center for Children also welcomes interns and students who are in teacher education preparation programs. Students may be assigned a classroom placement for which they will acquire the necessary observation hours for their degree programs.