Presuming Competence

Presuming competence is about recognizing that an individual has capacity to understand, think, learn and do, instead of walking into a room and defining an individual by their challenges and our own assumptions or biases. At Spectrum Tech Trade School, Village, and Training Center we walk into a room and see the student as the incredible individual that they are, without assumptions. We use our proprietary motor-sensory-language intensive therapeutic approach to enhance an individual’s strengths and mitigate their weaknesses. Our job as educators, therapists, doctors, family members, and advocates is to figure out how we can best support each individual through accepting total communication and utilizing a dynamic eclectic education model that adjusts to how the individual learns best. Studies have shown that feeling safe and valued is vital to a child’s development. At Spectrum Tech Trade School, Village, and Training Center we are building a community support network that is characterized by positive relationships between teachers, therapists, coaches, and students, where genuine respect is the norm, and everyone feels they belong. Our programs are based on a growth mindset, where we believe that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, dedication, learning, and experience. Researchers have found that individuals build their entire psychology of motivation around the mindset they hold. Encouraging a growth mindset can lead to better outcomes for individuals, as they approach challenges as opportunities for growth.Teachers’ attitudes toward their students are critical in encouraging student effort and outcomes. When educators reach out to students, especially those who may doubt their abilities, performance improves significantly. Nurturing a safe and supportive school culture, setting high expectations, and providing mental health support are essential strategies to help autistic individuals believe in themselves and achieve their potential. Believing in someone’s abilities can empower them to take positive actions and master life’s challenges