The Montessori method is easily adaptable for the education of children with special needs.  Our classrooms are motivated by cooperation, support and delight in one another’s accomplishments.  Children discover themselves and their environments as they channel through many avenues of learning and feel the importance of belonging to a community.

At Elizabeth Academy we believe that language and communication are the seed and sustenance of all knowledge and at the core of human intelligence.  Therefore, we are committed to offering whatever linguistic mode is most natural to the child in these formative years.  For this reason, prior to formal admission to the Elizabeth Academy, speech and language development will be assessed.  We recognize that all children progress at varying levels of speech development.  Whether sign language, gesture, picture exchanges or vocalizations are used, the level of communication skills will be respected and enhanced through peer interactions under the guidance of the teachers and speech therapy assistants.  If needed, private speech therapy is also offered at the Elizabeth Academy, but to maintain a high level of respect for our students, these personal sessions will be conducted outside the classroom.

The Elizabeth Academy provides on-site speech and language therapy through Wasatch Speech and Language Center.  The Wasatch Speech and Language Center uses a treatment method that recognizes the cognitive and linguistic aspects of the child’s development.  In keeping with Montessori philosophy, it incorporates total communication, modeling language expansions and “taking what the child gives,” following and guiding the child in learning to move toward more functional communication.  This method is integrated into the child’s home and school environments, which gives the child and caregivers the tools necessary to enhance the child’s speech and language development.

In addition, to more fully enhance linguistic development and appeal to what may be the child’s most natural method during these formative years of language acquisition, we also offer exposure to American Sign Language.  We have specialists who will give direct ASL instruction to all students periodically.  We value diversity and have Spanish speaking instructors on staff as well.

We are committed to children with special needs at Elizabeth Academy, it was our reason to be, and we will make every attempt to accommodate as many children with special needs as possible.  However, in order to best serve all children at the Elizabeth Academy, including those with special needs, we have made it our policy to limit those with documented special needs to a ratio in the classroom that does not exceed 20%.  And we must recognize the limitations of our own expertise.  Children with severe special needs beyond our scope of positive influence will be honestly and with kindness directed to other venues which might better suit their needs.

Carson Smith Scholarships may be available to students with special needs who apply.  See our Admissions section for information about how to apply.