About ESCALATE

ESCALATE is an acronym for Engagement, Social, Communication And Learning Approaches to Toddler Education. It was created for children who have difficulties in three areas that impede learning: (1) engagement, or appropriate play and interactions; (2) social skills; and (3) language. Children with autism typically have deficits in these three areas. ESCALATE was developed when the State Department of Education determined that a special resource was needed for toddlers with autism in the Tennessee's Early Intervention System Southeast District.

Although the ESCALATE program is specifically designed to meet the needs of children with autism, it is beneficial for other children as well. Some children without an autism diagnosis have needs in the three areas that impede learning. The program also is beneficial for children who might have an autism spectrum disorder but who have not yet had the disorder ruled out or confirmed. Information and outcomes gathered through ongoing evaluation and quality assurance of the ESCALATE Model will have
far-reaching benefits internationally for children with autism, their families and the professional community.

ESCALATE provides services in three environments:

• The school through special ESCALATE classrooms at Siskin Early Learning Center-Downtown and Siskin Early Learning Center-East Brainerd.
• The home through support-based home visits by early interventionists.
• The community through support and training to TEIS early interventionists in the Southeast District who are working with children with similar needs.

Read a handout on ESCALATE.

ESCALATE is funded in part through the Tennessee Department of Education via an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act federal award.