UCP’s Autism Center for Excellence
at Sacramento State (A.C.E.)

  A.C.E. is the only after-school program in the Sacramento region designed specifically for kids ages 8-12 with autism, helping them learn how to interact with the outside world and integrate into community activities. View our video here!

 

Autism is on the rise

The number of children diagnosed with autism has risen dramatically over the past 10 years. Today, one in 70 boys is diagnosed with autism, and one in 100 children is diagnosed with autism, a 150 percent increase in diagnosis over the past five years.

How A.C.E. works
Through this structured after-school recreational program, kids with autism participate in large and small group activities where they:

Lessons are modified for different levels of understanding, and parents are instructed on techniques they can use at home. The program is highly successful due to its interdisciplinary approach. Program staff are supported by:

Success at A.C.E.
"My son told me today that he LOVES it. I think he really appreciates feeling part of the group. He senses that…he fits in and is accepted as he is. I am thrilled for him to be getting the social and therapeutic benefits. It is a relief to know that I can drop him off... and not be on edge, thinking any minute they’re going to call me to pick him up due to unusual behavior." –A.C.E. Parent

Meet our Team
Dr. Scott J. Modell, BS, MS, PhD
Director
A professor at Sacramento State University, Dr. Modell is an
expert in disability etiology, characteristics and interview techniques. Having worked with thousands of children and adults with disabilities, he is widely recognized at the local, state and national level for his work to provide community-based services for individuals with disabilities.
David Rossi
Assistant Director
David Rossi and his wife Christy relocated to Sacramento from Denver in 2008 for her position with the UC Davis MIND Institute. David is originally from Philadelphia and made his way out west to attend the University of Colorado at Boulder. Over the past 10 years, he has worked clinically and administratively with nonprofits serving individuals with special needs.

Download the A.C.E. Referral Form

To learn more, contact David Rossi at (916) 548-2562.