Rivers Bend Academy was founded by Wendy Fitch in 2007 as an extension of the programming of Step By Step Consulting, specializing in teaching students who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Rivers Bend Academy believes in a child-centered approach which fosters positive emotional growth, addresses specific academic, language and behavioral needs, and builds on each child’s unique strengths. Rivers Bend Academy operates at 156 Burnetts Way in the City of Suffolk, Virginia. Rivers Bend Academy operates from 8:30 am until 2:45 pm Monday thru Friday year round (September – August).
Rivers Bend Academy utilizes the principles of applied behavior analysis with an emphasis on verbal behavior. This teaching methodology focuses on systematic instruction of skill and emphasizes functions of behavior and functions of language. It encompasses use of reinforcement, motivation, and extinction, and task analyzing skills. Data is collected and analyzed to make programmatic/ instructional decisions.
The goal at Rivers Bend Academy is for the students to become independent people with the ability to interact in a variety of settings and situations. This will be accomplished by creating a structured teaching environment. The structured environment will incorporate the following:
◊ Organized physical environment
◊ Well defined schedules and work stations (to be changed frequently for generalization)
◊ Clear goals, objectives and expectations
◊ Use of multimodal instruction and materials
◊ Systematic instruction
