Student Profile
Thriving Students
Talisman Academy students are males and females between the ages of 12 and 24 housed based on ages and gender. (See Talisman Transitions for males 18 and over). Our students are intelligent and motivated to succeed, learn, and make friends, but nonetheless have struggled in traditional settings. After facing a number of setbacks in school or with peers, their motivation and self-esteem can begin may have begun to fade. Talisman Academy rebuilds their confidence by creating a positive peer culture and offering social skills training in a supportive, experiential learning environment. We specialize in helping students who are experiencing some of the following issues:
- Asperger's Syndrome (AS)
- Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NLD)
- Information processing and organizational skills
- Social skills and pragmatic language skills
- Visual-spatial processing
- Academic self-motivation
- Need for increased or appropriate independence from family
- Struggle to maintain positive peer relationships
- Exhibiting behaviors associated with frustration, anxiety, and depression
- Poor habits with exercise, grooming, and nutrition
Exclusionary Criteria:
- IQ 85 and below
- Physical aggression or self-injurious behavior
- Drug or alchohol use/abuse
- Conduct Disorder
- Sexually acting out/inappropriate sexual behaviors
- Active psychosis