JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Arlington’s Jericho School is a unique place where students with autism find their voice and even graduate from college.
News4JAX took a tour to see how this special school helps children across the autism spectrum thrive.
Roger Altice, a former student and graduate of Florida State College at Jacksonville, now helps run the program.
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“When I was very little I was diagnosed with autism, and I could not talk at all. I was making noises,” Altice said.
Today, he not only works at Jericho but also makes the school announcements.
The school focuses heavily on language acquisition through applied behavioral analysis, especially verbal behaviors.
“The individual areas, some group areas, and some natural environment training — it is almost like play training," explained Executive Director Angelo Martinez.
For 30 years, Jericho has met children where they are, tailoring classrooms to each student’s needs. The school keeps a low student-to-teacher ratio, sometimes one-on-one or three-to-one, to ensure personalized attention.
“Over the years, it has been cool to see the progress,” Martinez said.
Altice’s journey from a nonverbal child to a college graduate and valued staff member shows the school’s impact.
“There really is no limit. It is not just a disability. It is a different ability, almost like a superpower,” Altice said of being diagnosed with autism.
His success is a powerful example for other students and families.
Not every student may graduate college, but success at Jericho looks like a child who once couldn’t speak finding their words.
“That’s the neatest thing, when you start to see them emerge,” Martinez said.
Jericho is a private school, and tuition varies depending on the child and family. However, scholarships and funding options can cover the full cost of education for many students.
You can find out more about the school at www.thejerichoschool.org.