Transitions in education are always significant, but when your child is on the autism spectrum, even a change between familiar settings can require extra care, planning, and support. One such transition occurs when a student completes their time at one Gersh Autism Academy campus—like our Queens location, which serves students through 5th grade—and moves on to another campus, such as West Hempstead, which serves students through high school.
Even though your child is staying within the Gersh Autism Academy family, the move from one campus to another marks an important shift. It’s a step into a new stage of development, new expectations, and new opportunities for growth.
Why This Transition Matters
For many students, the transition from elementary to middle school is their first major academic milestone. For children with autism, this transition can feel particularly overwhelming: new peers, new routines, and often a larger, more complex school environment.
That’s why we treat every internal move with the same thoughtfulness and care we give to new student placements. Even within our network, no two campuses are exactly alike. Class sizes may vary, programs may expand to include vocational training or more advanced social-emotional work, and students may need time to adjust to new staff and surroundings.
How We Support the Transition
The process of moving from one Gersh Autism Academy campus to another is a collaborative one. Our team works closely with families to ensure that the transition is gradual, personalized, and guided by the student’s individual needs.
Support often includes:
- Visits to the new campus so your child can tour the building, meet staff, and become familiar with the layout.
- Visual supports, such as social stories, to help explain what to expect.
- Coordinated planning meetings between the sending and receiving teams to review education plans, share strategies, and ensure consistency in services.
Because our campuses share a unified philosophy and specialized expertise in autism education, your child will continue to receive consistent, high-quality support, just in a setting that’s aligned with their next stage of development.
A Continuum of Care
One of the most valuable aspects of staying within the Gersh Autism Academy system is the continuity of care. The team at your child’s current campus knows them well: their strengths, challenges, and learning preferences. This knowledge is passed on, not left behind.
At the same time, our receiving campuses bring new resources into your child’s world. Whether it’s expanded access to therapies, social skills groups, or pre-vocational programs, the next campus opens the door to new possibilities while maintaining the individualized care your child relies on.
As your child prepares to move from one Gersh Autism Academy campus to another, your role as a parent or caregiver remains essential. You bring insight, history, and advocacy to the table. Attending planning meetings, touring the new campus with your child, and asking questions along the way all contribute to a smoother adjustment.
We don’t view transitions as starting over. We see them as building on everything your child has already accomplished. Each new campus is ready to meet your child where they are and provide the tools, environment, and encouragement they need to take the next step forward.
Transitions can be challenging, but with the right team—and your continued involvement—they become powerful opportunities for growth.
If your child is preparing to transition within Gersh Autism Academy, we’re here to guide and support you every step of the way. Contact us today to learn more.