Our Educational Approach:
Tishma has a unique methodology which focuses on developing communication skills. Each child has an individual communication program which integrates both ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) therapy with Play Therapy. ABA therapy emphasizes a positive and systematic methodology for teaching communication, functional skills and reducing behavioral problems, whilst play therapy allows the child to initiate activities, be creative and expressive. As ABA is data driven, our staff can constantly track and assess each child’s progress, making adjustments when needed. Coordination between all of the therapists dealing with each child is crucial, and the success of our behavioral intervention depends on consistent sharing, documenting and monitoring of benchmarks, progress and challenges.
In addition to ABA and Play Therapy, Tishma’s specialized therapists offer a broad range of supplementary paramedical therapies including speech therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, art and music therapy.
Tishma’s program has had a continuously growing number of applicants, impressively high retention rates of students, as well as high satisfaction rates among parents. Most importantly, our students show drastic improvement in their ability to communicate, thus reducing their extreme frustration and behavioral issues. Another significant and measurable form of success is the number of our students who are able to mainstream, at least partially, into schools with broader special needs classes, thus enabling their further integration into society. It must be noted however, that success is relative to each child’s individual progress and goals. Success for one child might refer to their full integration into the regular school system, whereas for another child it could mean mastering toilet training, making regular eye contact with others, sitting in a chair for an entire meal, or learning how to speak clearly. Mastering each of these skills has an enormous impact on the life of an individual child and their family, as together they struggle to cope with the intense challenges of autism.