Grove Program

The Grove Program at ACES Bassett Road School serves students ages 3 through 22 with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities who require intensive academic, behavioral, communication, and functional life skills instruction. Grounded in the science of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), the program provides highly individualized, evidence-based instruction designed to help students develop the skills needed to live meaningful, fulfilling, and increasingly independent lives.

two students holding hands

The Grove Program features small class sizes that are co-led by a Special Education Teacher and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). This unique collaborative model, combined with the expertise of speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, social workers, nurses, and other related service providers, creates a truly transdisciplinary approach to educating the whole child.

Instruction emphasizes communication, social-emotional development, academics, adaptive behavior, and daily living skills through a combination of structured teaching, naturalistic instruction, and community-based learning. Students have opportunities to develop and practice functional skills in authentic environments, including living skills apartments, mock grocery and retail stores, vocational settings, and the community, promoting meaningful learning that extends beyond the classroom.

The Grove Program operates on a 190-day school year and offers a July summer session, with school breaks typically lasting no longer than two weeks. This extended calendar supports continuity of instruction, promotes skill maintenance and generalization, and helps students make meaningful progress toward their individualized goals throughout the year.

student picking apple from a tree