Y.A.L.E. School’s Medford campus in central Burlington County off Route 70, serves students 5 to 14 years old with social learning disabilities such as ASD, high-functioning autism, and ADHD.
The program provides a full day of instruction, and student-teacher ratios are low, giving our teachers and staff the time and structure needed for individualized instruction. Our Medford campus operates classrooms in two public school buildings in Medford, allowing students the opportunity to interact with typical peers.
Because many students with Autism spectrum disorder struggle with writing, reading comprehension, and pragmatics of language, instruction focuses on developing critical thinking and reasoning skills. To help with reading and writing, each student uses a personal iPad/Keyboard. Most students at our Medford campus are on grade level – some are gifted – but many have learning disabilities associated with Autism spectrum disorder.
The Medford campus offers:
Small classes limited to 9 students
Highly qualified teachers including BCBA and LSW
Small group instruction
Data-based instruction and intervention
Positive behavior support system
Highly individualized, behaviorally-based motivational system
OT service/consultation and reading support
Instruction in pragmatic language
Direct instruction in social skills using evidence-based strategies
Speech therapy, as required by the student’s IEP
A curriculum that stresses academics, writing and reading comprehension, critical thinking and reasoning, self-management, social competence, and community skills
Frequent trips and activities in the community
Non-competitive physical education (e.g. swimming, karate, yoga) at the school and in the community
Community-based instruction
Frequent communication between school, home, and the student’s home district
An extended school year program
Y.A.L.E. School Medford Team Leader:
Fred Gruber, M.Ed. – Assistant Director
Fred joined the Y.A.L.E. School family of programs in 1985 as a teacher assistant and has been with the school ever since. He earned his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University and his master’s degree in special education from Antioch University. He served on the adjunct faculty at The College of New Jersey and served on the evaluation team for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. With more than three decades of experience working with students with disabilities in both self-contained and inclusive special education program, Fred is committed to data-driven instruction and intervention.