Raise The Roof For Autism

How It Works For Parents and Students

 

14/16 Week Life Learning Adventure Curriculum

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At the heart of RTRFA is an indelible link between the student, appropriate training and life-learning adventure.

 

The combination artfully incorporates skills learned in the virtual setting to a real-world dynamic, changing classroom. All adventure itineraries are designed to foster and develop group dynamics while exploring new places and sensory environments. Individual learning styles, abilities, and interests are incorporated to encourage choice based decision-making. We believe that once these links are solidified within the student, that they will have a lasting affect throughout the students life.

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Comprehensive Curriculum - The Artful Application of Skill-Based Training

 

• Social Skills Development -  Evidence-based training that reflects a core set of social skills that carry one through life. Through the context of travel, our participants learn how to form and maintain quality friendships and become active participants in the direction of their lives.

 

• Executive Functioning Development - Key skills for travel and beyond that require planning, organization, and time management. Using visual and electronic approaches, our cutting-edge curriculum lays the groundwork for our participants to plan and achieve their goals.

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• Fitness Training & Preparation - Each destination is selected to provide a variety of physical challenges as well as for their ability to enhance the online training. Physical challenges are set up based on the team's collective ability to accomplish the overall goal. but are modified to accommodate each individual student. Activities are designed specifically to be non-competitive, reflective, and interpretive exercises where confidence building, teamwork, following the rules (structure), and social interaction are as rewarding as physical achievements.

 

• The Life Learning Adventure - Adventures are typically 3 - 12 days in duration. U.S. based adventures begin at the designated host hotel located in Phoenix, AZ. Upon arrival students begin their adventure with a social pizza party where they meet face-to-face for the first time and receive an introduction to our team and each other. Our team remains with them every step of the way until they are safely returned to the airport to return home. For international departures, students meet at a designated gateway city/airport and travel internationally together throughout. US based RTRFA staff and local guides remain with them the entire adventure. ​​

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RTRFA Qualified and Trained Coaching Staff

 

• RTRFA Life-Learning Adventure Curriculum classes are held virtually, through an RTRFA staff-led interactive presentation. Online student/participant class groups are limited to a maximum of 12 and are facilitated by Masters Level Clinicians and Certified Educators.

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• Each adventure is accompanied by RTRFA curriculum support staff. All RTRFA program staff are trained in ASD and have experience in the practice and application of applied behavior analysis interventions and strategies.

 

• Each adventure student is also assigned a peer mentor. Our peer mentors are all autistic adults, college graduates, successfully employed, and members of our Voices From the Spectrum team.

 

• Each of our student and team leaders are specifically trained to work in concert to provide an interactive adventure that bridges the gap between virtual sessions and experiential learning. Depending upon destination, adventures are typically 3 - 12 Days long.

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• Safety is our priority. All RTRFA adventure guides are trained in safety, first aid, and CPR certified. Local destination guides are certified Wilderness First Responders or equivalent.

   

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Join Us On Us On Next Adventure! - On-Boarding Process

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All applicants and parents/caregivers submit information through our intake process to determine is candidate meets entry-level participation criteria.

 

Once accepted into the program, participant baseline data is gathered using standardized assessments. Participants and parents also participate in a motivational interview. Based on the results obtained during our on-boarding process, we assist our participant in determining individual goals and outcomes they want to achieve from their travel adventure. 

 

The Take Away! Participants can look forward to learning the following skills.

 

• Social communication skills including conversational skills, using humor, rumors, and gossip, choosing appropriate friends

• Time Management including seeing time visually and how to plan for long term projects/activities

• Problem Solving including using a decision-making process to determine best solutions to common problems

• Organization including using common everyday tools to help stay organized

• Budgeting -including how to financially plan for your travel adventure

• Physical Training including how to follow an individualized physical training program to ensure success and build confidence.