The Spinnaker program is an integrated school-based ABA program, offering Comprehensive and Focused treatment plans for school-age children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and other related developmental delays. Hope Academy's Spinnaker Program is implemented by experienced Behavior Analysts and Behavior Technicians, and specializes in providing therapeutic behavioral interventions in the clinic and natural settings (e.g., in school), to promote success in adaptive functioning in life.

There are many treatments available for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and other related developmental delays. Extensive research has shown empirically that children who receive early and intensive intervention using Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) can make significant gains in cognitive, communication, and social relatedness skills. ABA uses reinforcement to shape behavior and to help children learn new skills. The goal is to help each child achieve the greatest degree of independence possible and to provide the skills he or she will need to function successfully and reach their fullest potential. Our ABA program is designed to meet the needs of our students with behavioral and adaptive needs.

This program offers two methods of intervention. The first is our comprehensive treatment program, which provides intensive individualized ABA within the clinic and natural settings, to meet the needs of students with developmental delays across a variety of domains (social, adaptive, cognition, executive functioning, language, and play skills, for example). The second is our focused treatment program, in which our clinicians focus on addressing just a few behavioral targets, either for skill acquisition or problem behavior reduction.

Our intervention methodology includes natural environment teaching (NET), discrete trial instruction (DTT), verbal behavior strategies, and incidental teaching opportunities.

The development and generalization of social skills, speech and language, cognition, and daily living skills is the goal for every child. Our teaching occurs in the structured and naturalistic setting, to promote rapid learning and foster generalization of skills.