The Joshua School Searches for a Permanent Home
Thank you CH2M HILL for a wonderful evening!
The Joshua School is a year-round, non-profit educational center for children with autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, and other developmental challenges, and the only school in Colorado designed specifically for children with autism, to be approved by the Colorado Department of Education. The school serves children, ages 5-21 in classrooms of four students with three to four teachers per classroom. Students learn through Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), the only research-based intervention known to consistently impact educational growth and development in children with autism.
Currently, The Joshua School serves 13 students in a rented building with small classrooms. The need for services is great in Colorado and the school currently has waiting lists in every classroom. Moving to the Brown Mansion will allow the school to expand services and enroll nearly double the students. In addition, moving to this new facility will allow The Joshua School to open an early intervention program serving 8-16 children, ages 18 months to 4 years of age. Early intervention is the single most important factor in impacting children with autism and Asperger’s Syndrome and can help a significant number of children get back into the public schools indistinguishable from their peers.
“Simply not enough is being done for people with autism and other developmental challenges and the demand for educational services is growing dramatically in the Denver metro area,” Jason Gruhl, Executive Director of The Joshua School said. “Autism is the most common of the Pervasive Developmental Disorders, affecting an estimated 1 in 169 Colorado births yet educational opportunities for these children are limited. By moving to this larger building, The Joshua School will be able to service nearly double the number of children we currently enroll.”
According to the Autism Society of America, as many as 1.5 million Americans today are believed to have some form of autism, and autism is growing at a startling rate of 10-17 percent per year. Autism knows no racial, ethnic, social boundaries, family income, lifestyle, or educational levels and can affect any family, and any child. Although the overall incidence of autism is consistent around the globe, it is four times more prevalent in boys than in girls. There is no known single cause for autism, but it is generally accepted that it is caused by abnormalities in brain structure or function. Brain scans show differences in the shape and structure of the brain in autistic versus non-autistic children. Researchers are investigating a number of theories, including the link between heredity, genetics and medical problems. It also appears that some children are born with a susceptibility to autism, but researchers have not yet identified a single "trigger" that causes autism to develop.
A fundraising event, that will help ensure The Joshua School can fill more of Denver’s current demand for educational services by moving to the new facility will be held at CH2M HILL 9191 South Jamaica Street, Englewood, Colorado, from 6-9 p.m. on Feb. 16, 2008.
About the Joshua School
The Joshua School is a private, non-profit school and resource center for individuals with autism, Asperger’s syndrome, or other special needs, and their families. We are committed to building a community that offers the highest level of care and individual instruction for students, the most comprehensive array of services, and the strongest level of outreach and education regarding autism spectrum disorders (ASD) for the greater Colorado community.
Located in Denver, Colorado, The Joshua School serves children 5 to 18 years of age. Our highly dedicated, passionate, and knowledgeable faculty have years of expertise in the fields of autism, education, special needs, OT, Speech, and others. We strive for balance in our approach, understanding that each student is unique and complex with varied interests, talents, and challenges. By taking the time to know our students, we build bonds with them and their families. In this structured, challenging, and encouraging environment, students discover themselves and the world around them.
Welcome to The Joshua School. We’re glad you’re here.
The Joshua School is a private, non-profit school and resource center for individuals with autism, Asperger’s syndrome, or other special needs, and their families. We are committed to building a community that offers the highest level of care and individual instruction for students, the most comprehensive array of services, and the strongest level of outreach and education regarding autism spectrum disorders (ASD) for the greater Colorado community.
Located in Denver, Colorado, The Joshua School serves children 5 to 18 years of age. Our highly dedicated, passionate, and knowledgeable faculty have years of expertise in the fields of autism, education, special needs, OT, Speech, and others. We strive for balance in our approach, understanding that each student is unique and complex with varied interests, talents, and challenges. By taking the time to know our students, we build bonds with them and their families. In this structured, challenging, and encouraging environment, students discover themselves and the world around them.
We invite you to explore our website and to discover all of the services and options available. Feel free to call or email us with questions. Come see for yourself what makes The Joshua School such an exceptional place to grow.
Listen to our "Colorado Matters" Interview
Jason Gruhl, Executive Director