ASD Nest Program (NYU)
ASD Nest Program Features
Class Structure
The program serves students with autism in a classroom with general education students. The class is a small Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT) class, with one special education teacher and one general education teacher. As students get older, the class size increases. There is no classroom paraprofessional.
Curriculum and Instruction
Classes follow the New York State Learning Standards and the same curriculum used in all DOE schools. ASD Nest teachers are trained in specialized teaching strategies for students with autism, including a special social curriculum called Social Development Intervention (SDI) developed by NYU. SDI is an evidence-based program that supports social-emotional development.
Social-Emotional Supports
Related service providers use SDI to help students improve social functioning. This social language curriculum is taught in small groups.
Nest Team Members and Contacts
Leonara Kransiqi (lkrasniqi@schools.nyc.gov) - Speech and Language Pathologist
Carmen Tieso (ctieso@schools.nyc.gov) - Nest Social Worker
(All Millennium Teachers participate in Nest Professional Development and are certified to work with students in the Nest program)