About Garden Academy

Our Mission

Garden Academy uses scientific, data-based and accountable interventions to provide an individualized education to students with autism so that they may lead lives of the greatest possible independence.

We are committed to helping students develop skills necessary to realize their full educational potential and to become integral and functional members of the family and the community. Garden Academy provides: (a) a highly structured, intensive, outcome-oriented educational program for students on the autistic spectrum; (b) professional training for all staff on an on-going basis; (c) parent training; and (d) transitional services for students moving into less restrictive environments, when appropriate. Garden Academy also promotes increased community awareness and understanding of autism, pervasive developmental disorders and appropriate interventions.

We are committed to:

  • Providing a private special education school to educate individuals with autism ages 3-21.
  • Using the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).
  • Increasing awareness and educating the general public on autism.
  • Supporting individuals who are training to enter the field of autism education.

    Educational Program

    Garden Academy is accredited to serve individuals with autism ages 3-21. Ours is a full-day (6 hours), extended year (209 days) program. The model requires a 1:1 staff to student ratio in order to achieve an effective educational program for each student. Educational programs are individualized to address specific deficits in the areas of communication, socialization and adaptive behaviors. Emphasis is placed on language acquisition, social interaction, self-help skills, pre-academic and academic skills, play skills and on the decrease of maladaptive behaviors.

    All aspects of the program at Garden Academy derive from the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Pedagogical technologies employed include, but are not limited to, discrete trials, incidental teaching, video and audio modeling, shaping, scripting and script fading procedures and peer modeling. Generalization procedures are implemented as part of the program to ensure maintenance of skills across people and environments. We also provide hands-on, clinical training to staff professionals on an ongoing basis to ensure the best possible outcomes for each student.

    In addition, Garden Academy provides training support to parents and other family members so that skills learned in school can be generalized to the home and community.

    Garden Academy also recognizes the need for students to be in the least restrictive environment in which they can learn. When appropriate, we provide transitional support to our students throughout their educational careers.

    Garden Academy Director, David W Sidener, Ph.D., BCBA-D

    As the Director of Garden Academy, Dr. Sidener is responsible for educational program development, implementation, assessment and evaluation, school staffing and training and operational management.

    Dr. Sidener received his Ph.D. in Psychology from Western Michigan University in 2004. Prior to joining Garden Academy, he served as a visiting assistant professor at Lafayette University. Dr. Sidener has held positions in clinical settings as a behavioral analyst for Bancroft NeuroHealth, and a clinical Specialist at Kennedy Krieger Institute. He also served as a behavioral consultant for both private and public institutions. Dr. Sidener has been a presenter at a number of professional conferences including the national conference for the Association for Behavior Analysis, Maryland Association for Behavior Analysis, and the Mid-American Association for Behavior Analysis.

    Our History

    Garden Academy was founded in 2004 by parents of children diagnosed on the autism spectrum who were dissatisfied with the educational opportunities available for their children. In 2006, this plan became a reality as Garden Academy opened its doors to three students in a church basement in West Orange, New Jersey. In 2009, the school moved to its new facility in Maplewood, New Jersey, and gained final approval from the State of New Jersey as a Private School for Students with Disabilities. School districts are free to refer students to our program. As of January 2010, the school is serving a total 25 students, ranging in age from three to 11.

    Garden Academy is a replication site of the Princeton Child Development Institute (PCDI), a world leader in autism education and research based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).

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    Board of Directors

    Thomas D'Ovidio, President
    Partner, ShoreView Industries
    Parent

    Craig Montanaro, Vice President
    Senior Vice President and Director of Strategic Planning, Kearny Federal Savings

    Michael Lucciola, Treasurer
    President, The Firefly Group

    Stephen D'Angelo,
    Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Spring Lake Technologies

    George Mammola
    President, MT Consulting

    Anthony Masherelli
    Partner, Ernst & Young

    Darren Dangler
    Owner, Dangler Funeral Home, West Orange, NJ

    Robert D. Parisi
    Councilman, Township of West Orange

    Jane Calandra
    Parent

    Anthony Marmo
    President and Chief Executive Officer, Martab Medical
    Parent

    P.O. Box 188 Maplewood, NJ 07040-0188 | 973-761-6140| fax 973-761-6150 | info@gardenacademy.org

    Garden Academy is an incorporated, non-profit organization in the state of New Jersey with 501(c)(3) federal exempt status. Garden Academy admits students without regard to race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin to all rights privileges, programs and activities made available to students at the school. Garden Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies or any school-administered program.

    Copyright © 2005-2009 Garden Academy, Inc. All rights reserved.

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