Central Pennsylvania Autism Spectrum Disorder Academy (CPASDA)

Nicole Dearmitt, Program Director

Central Pennsylvania Autism Spectrum Disorder Academy (CPASDA) is a school based program in Clearfield that offers an alternative educational option for children with autism.

Pyramid Healthcare in collaboration with Central Intermediate Unit #10 and local school districts provide a service for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders that have not achieved academic success in the public school setting.

CPASDA offers specialized programming for the academic, communication, social, and behavioral needs of children with autism as well as an in-house psychiatrist and a psychological component.  The adolescent psychiatrist, Dr. Craig Feaster, is available to parents for medication management and therapy. Dickenson Mental Health psychologist, Dr. Melissa Hunter, is available for consultations with the CPASDA staff and parents.

By partnering with Central Intermediate Unit #10, CPASDA can provide all related services including

• Speech Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Physical Therapy

Other services provided by CIU #10 are physical education, adaptive physical education and a special education supervisor to assure that all programming is consistent with state guidelines.

The basis of the program is to meet the individual needs of each and every child with autism enrolled at CPASDA by using two main methodologies;
TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children) and
ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis).