The Autistic Children's Activity Program (ACAP) is a parent-run, not-for-profit, community-based, educational and recreational program designed specifically for children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). ACAP was founded in 1987 by a group of parents of children with ASD looking for services for their children. Today ACAP continues its mission to serve these children.
ACAP has 10 classrooms throughout the Portland Metropolitan area. ACAP serves children ages 5-21 and runs for eight weeks. Some of the classrooms are specifically designed for children with Asperger’s Syndrome and high functioning autism. We accept children ages 5-21.
ACAP focuses on providing a program involving life skills training, community integration (including public transportation training), academic and educational skills, and recreational experiences. The program is designed to integrate children with ASD into the community by providing the support and structures as well as teaching necessary community behaviors (waiting in line, community signs, ordering food, etc.) to help the students make positive strides in learning.
Each day the classrooms go on a field trip. Community activities include swimming, trips to the Zoo, OMSI, the Children’s Museum, tours of businesses throughout the city, attending community events, and playing at local parks. Classrooms make weekly trips to various fast food restaurants to practice ordering and restaurant skills. All activities are planned based on the level and needs of the students in the class and are designed to support IEP goals and facilitate learning. For some, this is the only time they are able to experience these activities because of their disability.
Classrooms are staffed with certified teachers with special education experience who teach in the local schools during the school year. The classroom assistants are college students, educational assistants in the schools, and others interested in learning more about ASD. Each classroom has one teacher, around 10 students, and assistants, based on the needs of the students. Our ratio varies from one-on-one assistant for every student. The average staffing is two staff to three children.
Each classroom has a morning calendar time, academic/IEP time, and leisure/choice time where children practice social skills. The IEP and parental input guide each child’s day, and the class activities are designed based on the group’s needs.
Visuals, schedules, trip books, “T” charts, Social Stories, and other supports are used to help each child to function as independently as possible in the community.
ACAP’s administrative office is located at the Washington County ARC in Aloha. You can call 503-649-2066 for more information.
The bulk of our expenses are summer payroll. ACAP staff is very important to the success of ACAP. The program provides a week-long training program for the staff at ACAP along with ongoing, individualized training. Many of the staff return each year.
Administrative staff include a Program Supervisor who oversees all the classrooms, provides behavioral and other types of support to the teachers, trains staff and supervises the program. An Assistant Program Supervisor assists in staff training, works closely with the assistants and provides all the visuals needed for each classroom. Other administrative staff include Payroll, Human Resources, and an Executive Director. The administrative staff of ACAP are dedicated to our children and accept salaries based on ACAP’s ability to pay, not what their skills demand. We are extremely lucky to have these talented people working at ACAP.
Although at first sight our tuition looks high, please note that all our costs are not covered by the tuition brought in. Tuition money covers approximately 80% of the cost for a child to attend ACAP. To keep tuition at the same level, we depend on grant writing, fund raising, and donations to cover the 20% of the expenses not covered by tuition.
Each year we offer a limited number of scholarships from our Kathy Henley scholarship fund. Kathy was one of the founders of ACAP. These are given on a need basis to those who have no way of providing funding for their child to attend ACAP.
If you have fund raising ability or time to help with fundraising, grant writing, telephoning, parent fund raisers, etc., we would be very happy to have you help raise additional funds. All funds are used to hire staff and pay costs incurred by the Summer Program. Donations from corporations, private individuals, family members and friends are all gratefully accepted.
Completion of the application form does not guarantee admission into the Summer Program. Applications accepted from the Portland Oregon metro area only.
| A.C.A.P., Inc.
P.O. Box 4606 Portland, OR 97208 |
A.C.A.P., Inc.
voice 1-503-649-2066 FAX 1-503-649-9228 |
