​Soaring Heights School in State College has announced a fall series of educational presentations for parents and community members interested in learning more about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD.) 
 
Soaring Heights School will host a monthly presentation in September and October 2019. Each training will take place at Soaring Heights School - State College from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. Soaring Heights School is located at 180 Regent Court, Suite 50 in State College. 
 
Dr. Melissa Hunter will host the first training on Monday, September 23. She will present an overview of autism and its impact on the person and the family. 
 
On Monday, October 28, Jordan Stephenson will conduct a presentation on living as an adult with autism. Jordan is a young woman with autism that has recently graduated from Penn College with a Bachelor's in Applied Technology with a concentration in Occupational Therapy. She currently puts her talents to use working in an autistic support classroom in the State College Area School District. Jordan has spoken on a variety of panels including presentations during Penn State Diversability Month and at the National Autism Conference at Penn State. She also speaks annually at the State College Area High School post-secondary parent luncheon. 
 
An RSVP for each individual planning to attend a presentation is preferred, but not required. Individuals can RSVP by calling 814-325-2131. For additional information about the ASD presentations, call Soaring Heights School Program Director John Dibert at 814-325-2131.

​Students from Soaring Heights School conducted a field trip to the Penn State Arboretum to observe the first day of spring on the giant sundial.
 
Students have been learning about the science relating to the tilt of the Earth’s axis and the transit of the orbit around the sun. They were able to observe the sun’s angles via the sundial at the arboretum and document the transition from northern winter to spring.
 
The school makes a specific effort to have students observe the sun angles at the giant sundial during the solstices and equinoxes that occur over the course of the year.
 
Soaring Heights School provides educational and behavioral programming for students in grades K through 12 with ASD, and is licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Soaring Heights School in State College conducted the second in a series of three free parent trainings on Thursday, March 7.
 
Soaring Heights School Transition Coordinator Rebekah Laird discussed the transition services available to students on the spectrum. She reviewed the IEP process that enables and drives job skill development and, ultimately, independent living.
 
All students with individual education plans (IEPs) turning 14 years of age are required to work on career preparation, job skills training, and job shadowing, with the eventual goal of job placement. Students at SHS State College can also obtain more job training through the Hiram G. Andrews Center, a vocational rehabilitation facility for individuals with autism.  
 
The training connected parents and students to the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and other programming that follows the student through job training and placement. Students on the spectrum often struggle once high school is over because the school’s supports are removed. Students and parents need to be set up for supports that carry into adulthood.
 
The final spring parent training offering will a discussion of autism “hot topics.” Parents and the community at large will be able to explore current research and trends about autism. Dr. Melissa Hunter will be presenting.

Please call 814-325-2131 to reserve your spot, but walk-ins are also welcome.
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Soaring Heights School provides educational and behavioral programming for students in grades K through 12 with ASD, and is licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Soaring Heights School in State College conducted the first in a series of three free parent trainings on Thursday, February 7. Dr. Melissa Hunter presented “Autism and Sleep Issues”.

Forty-four to eighty-nine percent of autistic children have sleep issues. Dr. Hunter reviewed problems that can develop in the classroom and at home due to sleep issues, and shared schedules and routines that help facilitate better sleep.

Dr. Hunter also discussed various sleep studies that assist with identifying potential relief for students who struggle with sleep and their families. She reviewed how to complete sleep graphs, a data sheet that helps identify solutions that can lead to better sleep.
 
On March 7, Transition Coordinator Rebekah Laird will conduct the second presentation, focusing on IEP and transition Issues. The presentation will address the various parts of preparing students on the spectrum for independent living and job skill training.
 
Dr. Hunter will conduct the final training on April 4. She’ll host a “Hot Topics in Autism” presentation and cover current trends in research in parent-friendly language.
 
Please call 814-325-2131 to RSVP, but walk-ins are welcome.
 
Soaring Heights School provides educational and behavioral programming for students in grades K through 12 with ASD, and is licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Students from the Altoona and State College Soaring Heights Schools campuses visited the residents at Maybrook Hills Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center and conducted caroling. Students sang various seasonal carols and also presented small gifts to the residents. Students then went to the Altoona school site for lunch and seasonal activities.