Programs | Morgan Autism Center

School Program Adult Program Outreach Program Family Support

School Program

Founded in 1969, Morgan Autism Center offers an educational program for preschool and school age children from 3 - 22 years. Certified by the California Department of Education, the program provides individualized special education with a high staff to student ratio for children who are unable to benefit from existing public school programs.

Individuals with autism think and learn differently. Inappropriate or off-task behavior is often a consequence of neurological disorganization and will typically decrease in response to the structured and supportive environment provided at Morgan Autism Center. Proactive strategies and behavioral supports are critical to developing positive behavior patterns. The staff is highly trained in the Morgan Autism Center Model, which recognizes that the symptoms of the child’s dysfunction are a manifestation of the underlying neurological deficit. Teaching and behavioral strategies must utilize positive behavior management toward accommodating the deficit. A one-to-one ratio is available as necessary, in a setting that is very carefully structured and supportive. There is a high degree of flexibility that allows tailoring of an individual program to meet the special needs and learning style of each student. Continuous diagnostic assessment of the students' strengths and weaknesses is also integral to the program.

For most students, the daily schedule includes speech/language therapy, academics ranging from basic cognitive skills to reading, writing, composition and math. Play and social skills, physical education, as well as enrichment activities are also provided and supervised by appropriately credentialed staff. Emphasis is placed on teaching vocational and independent living skills, both on-site, and, whenever possible, at a variety of community-based locations.

For the School Calendar, CLICK HERE.

For more information about the School Program, contact Executive Director, Jennifer Sullivan at jennifersullivan@morgancenter.org 408-241-8161 or email

Adult Program

The Adult Program, initially founded in 1985 with a grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, is designed to provide a positive experience for adults with autism and a variety of neurological disorders. The program is licensed by the California Department of Social Services. Based on therapeutic and behavioral principles similar to the Morgan Autism Center School Program, positive behavior management and a carefully structured and supportive setting are utilized to address the deficits of language, learning, and behavior.

The program emphasizes training in independent living skills, as well as vocational skills. Vocational training is provided in many areas of work, such as development of office/computer skills, bulk mail preparation, janitorial work, simple assembly, gardening, and farm work. Academic remediation, physical education, art and music programs are offered. Participants in the Adult Program are closely supervised, working in small groups, with trained staff.

For the Adult Program Calendar, CLICK HERE.

For more information about the adult program, contact the Director of the Adult Program, Sue Taylor. She can be reached at sue@morgancenter.org or (408) 241-8436.

Message From: Department of Developmental Services

AB 1402 requires that each regional center and each vendor that contract with a regional center to provide consumer services conspicuously post on its internet Web site (if any) a link to the Department of Developmental Services' (the Department) Web site page: www.dds.ca.gov/Complaints/Home/cfm provides a description of the appeals procedure in the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act. The Department is modifying the appeals information on its website to include the telephone number available for answering consumer and applicant appeals questions as required by AB 1402.

Student Outreach Programs

Reverse Mainstreaming: To increase our students' exposure and experience for peer socialization, we have weekly visits from students of St. Nicholas School of Los Altos, and the Sacred Heart of the Nativity School. The students participate in such activities as cooking, board games, art, PE, and holiday projects. Both sides benefit in the opportunity to learn more about the other’s interests and abilities.
• Mission Nursing Home in Santa Clara: Our students and adults pay weekly visits to nursing home patients to play games, do craft projects and chat. • The Red Ladder Theater: Morgan Center students participate with the Red Ladder Theater, a group of actors affiliated with the San Jose Repertory Theater, to foster creativity, imitation, and joy of presenting something to share with others.

Enrichment Activities

It is evident that many of our students and adults at Morgan Autism Center enjoy and excel in art and music. As a result, we have developed art programs for our students and adults. With professional instruction using various media, our students have surprised and delighted us with their creations. They have created holiday cards, a calendar, and have had an art show displayed at the Santa Clara Library and other venues.

Music

Music is also utilized within the classrooms, PE environment, and as a socialization activity. Singing, dancing, and drumming are all activities that appeal to our students and adults, and are consequently utilized within their programs as appropriate.

Movement

In addition to daily offerings of physical education activities, all students and many of our adults participate in weekly sessions of Yoga, to enhance body awareness and imitation skills, and the capacity to change physical positions easily.

Community Instruction

Within both our school and our adult programs, time is also taken to provide instruction within the community. This includes shopping for snack and weekly lunches prepared by the students, recycling, working at the local library or stores, bowling, skating, movies, eating at restaurants, visits to the park, utilizing local transportation systems, or simply walking in the community. In this way, we are able to apply the lessons learned in our programs to functional environments, as well as to assess student and client functional abilities across many settings.

Family Support

Morgan Autism Center offers several avenues for parents and families to access support.

• Siblings group: a disability effects every member of the family, and often overlooked are the siblings and their unusual experiences which they are able to share with others in similar situations. Our siblings meet to play games, discuss ideas, and plan events.

• Open House - All families, including their Morgan Autism Center child, as well as friends of the family, are invited to visit the school, meet the teachers, and other families.

• Our Annual Variety Show: held in the late spring, all families and friends of Morgan Autism Center are invited to enjoy the multitude of talent our students want to share. Our students are delighted to have the opportunity to be singers, dancers, comedians, etc., and our audiences are most receptive! This is always a much anticipated event, fun for everyone.

	Home Blog About Us Programs Services Workshops and Lecture Series Conference Video Highlights Events FAQs Donations School Accountability Report Card Contact Us	Programs School Program Adult Program Outreach Program Family Support School Calendar Adult Program Calendar School Program Founded in 1969, Morgan Autism Center offers an educational program for preschool and school age children from 3 - 22 years. Certified by the California Department of Education, the program provides individualized special education with a high staff to student ratio for children who are unable to benefit from existing public school programs. Individuals with autism think and learn differently. Inappropriate or off-task behavior is often a consequence of neurological disorganization and will typically decrease in response to the structured and supportive environment provided at Morgan Autism Center. Proactive strategies and behavioral supports are critical to developing positive behavior patterns. The staff is highly trained in the Morgan Autism Center Model, which recognizes that the symptoms of the child’s dysfunction are a manifestation of the underlying neurological deficit. Teaching and behavioral strategies must utilize positive behavior management toward accommodating the deficit. A one-to-one ratio is available as necessary, in a setting that is very carefully structured and supportive. There is a high degree of flexibility that allows tailoring of an individual program to meet the special needs and learning style of each student. Continuous diagnostic assessment of the students' strengths and weaknesses is also integral to the program. For most students, the daily schedule includes speech/language therapy, academics ranging from basic cognitive skills to reading, writing, composition and math. Play and social skills, physical education, as well as enrichment activities are also provided and supervised by appropriately credentialed staff. Emphasis is placed on teaching vocational and independent living skills, both on-site, and, whenever possible, at a variety of community-based locations. For the School Calendar, CLICK HERE. For more information about the School Program, contact Executive Director, Jennifer Sullivan at jennifersullivan@morgancenter.org 408-241-8161 or email Adult Program The Adult Program, initially founded in 1985 with a grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, is designed to provide a positive experience for adults with autism and a variety of neurological disorders. The program is licensed by the California Department of Social Services. Based on therapeutic and behavioral principles similar to the Morgan Autism Center School Program, positive behavior management and a carefully structured and supportive setting are utilized to address the deficits of language, learning, and behavior. The program emphasizes training in independent living skills, as well as vocational skills. Vocational training is provided in many areas of work, such as development of office/computer skills, bulk mail preparation, janitorial work, simple assembly, gardening, and farm work. Academic remediation, physical education, art and music programs are offered. Participants in the Adult Program are closely supervised, working in small groups, with trained staff. For the Adult Program Calendar, CLICK HERE. For more information about the adult program, contact the Director of the Adult Program, Sue Taylor. She can be reached at sue@morgancenter.org or (408) 241-8436. Message From: Department of Developmental Services AB 1402 requires that each regional center and each vendor that contract with a regional center to provide consumer services conspicuously post on its internet Web site (if any) a link to the Department of Developmental Services' (the Department) Web site page: www.dds.ca.gov/Complaints/Home/cfm provides a description of the appeals procedure in the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act. The Department is modifying the appeals information on its website to include the telephone number available for answering consumer and applicant appeals questions as required by AB 1402. Student Outreach Programs Reverse Mainstreaming: To increase our students' exposure and experience for peer socialization, we have weekly visits from students of St. Nicholas School of Los Altos, and the Sacred Heart of the Nativity School. The students participate in such activities as cooking, board games, art, PE, and holiday projects. Both sides benefit in the opportunity to learn more about the other’s interests and abilities. • Mission Nursing Home in Santa Clara: Our students and adults pay weekly visits to nursing home patients to play games, do craft projects and chat. • The Red Ladder Theater: Morgan Center students participate with the Red Ladder Theater, a group of actors affiliated with the San Jose Repertory Theater, to foster creativity, imitation, and joy of presenting something to share with others. Enrichment Activities It is evident that many of our students and adults at Morgan Autism Center enjoy and excel in art and music. As a result, we have developed art programs for our students and adults. With professional instruction using various media, our students have surprised and delighted us with their creations. They have created holiday cards, a calendar, and have had an art show displayed at the Santa Clara Library and other venues. Music Music is also utilized within the classrooms, PE environment, and as a socialization activity. Singing, dancing, and drumming are all activities that appeal to our students and adults, and are consequently utilized within their programs as appropriate. Movement In addition to daily offerings of physical education activities, all students and many of our adults participate in weekly sessions of Yoga, to enhance body awareness and imitation skills, and the capacity to change physical positions easily. Community Instruction Within both our school and our adult programs, time is also taken to provide instruction within the community. This includes shopping for snack and weekly lunches prepared by the students, recycling, working at the local library or stores, bowling, skating, movies, eating at restaurants, visits to the park, utilizing local transportation systems, or simply walking in the community. In this way, we are able to apply the lessons learned in our programs to functional environments, as well as to assess student and client functional abilities across many settings. Family Support Morgan Autism Center offers several avenues for parents and families to access support. • Siblings group: a disability effects every member of the family, and often overlooked are the siblings and their unusual experiences which they are able to share with others in similar situations. Our siblings meet to play games, discuss ideas, and plan events. • Open House - All families, including their Morgan Autism Center child, as well as friends of the family, are invited to visit the school, meet the teachers, and other families. • Our Annual Variety Show: held in the late spring, all families and friends of Morgan Autism Center are invited to enjoy the multitude of talent our students want to share. Our students are delighted to have the opportunity to be singers, dancers, comedians, etc., and our audiences are most receptive! This is always a much anticipated event, fun for everyone.