The Children's Institute (TCI) places a high value on excellence, communication, empowerment, mutual respect, trust, personal growth, and development. Originating in Newark, NJ as an orphanage and sheltering home in 1883, TCI has evolved into a school that has been a pioneer in special education since 1963. TCI is a private, non-profit New Jersey State Board of Education approved elementary, middle and secondary school for students ages 3 to 21. Our student population represents a diverse ethnic, racial and socio-economic background. Many of our students present have a combination of communication, neurological and perceptual impairments.

TCI's Individualized Educational Plans address each child's social learning and cognitive learning needs. Comprehensive academic courses include computer technology, media/library, science, art, music, physical education, and theater arts and are provided with the accommodations needed to succeed. Students are also provided an array of therapeutic services to meet their special needs, including speech, occupational/language therapy, leaning disability remediation, as well as counseling and behavioral interventions and social skills training. TCI's program is a national model for promoting social and emotional development in children.

MISSION

TCI's mission is to provide the highest quality educational and therapeutic programs for children with learning, language and social/emotional challenges to achieve their maximum potential as responsible adults in society. To recognize and value students' unique abilities, learning styles and differences. To serve as a leader in promoting innovative educational programs.

HOW VARIETY HELPS

Variety the Children's Charity of New York's grant to The Children's Institute will be used to fund their After School and Respite programs. These programs provide students with autism and with related disabilities opportunities to build the skills they will need to be successfully integrated into society. These skills include social, independent living, and athletic skills, which are developed through participation in recreational and cultural activities.

Many students on the autistic spectrum tend to be excluded from after school and recreational programs in their community because they demonstrate social and communication deficits and exhibit inappropriate behaviors. These community programs lack staff trained to meet their special needs. As a result, many of our students remain isolated at home after school and on weekends.

The primary objective of the After School program is to build students' social, communication, and behavioral skills. A secondary objective is to help students acquire the athletic and recreational skills required to appropriately interact in activities with typically developing peers. The After School program is provided during two semesters each school year and is in session three days per week. Students learn important social and communication skills while engaging in activities based on their interests and abilities. Scheduled weekly activities occur within the community, giving students opportunities to interact with their typically developing peers, and include: golf lessons, creative activities such as tile making and glass blowing, a softball clinic, and yoga.