The ASF special education program, Services for Academic Success (SAS), provides special education services to students with Specific Learning Disorders, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Communication Disorders (Speech and/or Language Disorders). We are not equipped to provide services for other types of special education needs. The main purpose of this program is to provide intervention and academic support to students with diverse learning styles and needs to enable them to access the regular education curriculum at ASF.

The SAS Program was original called “Center for Educational Development”. It was created in 1983. The main purpose of the Center was to address the needs of English-speaking students who had difficulties coping with the regular classroom demands because of a learning disability. It offered individualized programs in all academic areas to accommodate the specific learning styles of each student allowing them to advance according to individual accomplishments. These students attended self-contained classes and were mainstreamed only in Physical Education, Art and Music. In 1985, ASF’s support services adopted the mainstreamed modality in an attempt to be coherent with current special education policies, seeking to offer educational services in the “least restrictive environment”.

To be eligible for services, a student should have a formal diagnosis identifying him/her within one or more of the following categories as defined by the DSM V (2013):

• Specific Learning Disorder (mild to moderate)
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Communication Disorders: Speech sound disorder, language disorder

Eligibility

Because of the nature and difficulty of the ASF curriculum and programs, only students with mild to moderate disabilities in any of these areas is able to benefit from the Services for Academic Success program.

To be eligible the following aspects constitute the main criteria:

• The student’s dominant language is English.
• If English is not the dominant language, the student demonstrates proficiency in the English language as measured by standardized tests.
• Average to above average cognitive abilities, as measured by individually administered standard intelligence instruments
• Individualized strategies and remediation techniques are needed for the student to access the regular curriculum.
• Individualized strategies and remediation techniques that can be provided through the Services for Academic Success Program enable the student to access the regular curriculum.
• SEP or UNAM accreditation for students in Services for Academic Success will vary depending on the student’s extent of difficulties and his possibility to cope with the demands of the U. S. and the Mexican programs.

Fees

SAS services constitute and additional fee. That is, the family pays the regular charges for standard admission, registration, and tuition plus an additional SAS fee for all added services. This fee varies depending on the number of periods per day each student is in the program and type of service received.

Contact

For more information regarding the Services for Academic Success program, please email SAS Coordinator Virginia Solórzano or call 5227-4900 ext. 4123.