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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

We understand that you want to make sure our program is a good fit for your child. Here are some frequently asked questions other parents have had. You are your child's best advocate 

How are staff trained? All staff are trained in principles of the TEACCH method, CPR/First aid, and non-violent crisis intervention. The program coordinator has extensive training pertaining to working with autistic individuals and will be on sight every day of the program.

My child has a food allergy, what are your policies around food? We take food allergies very seriously at We Belong. As part of your enrollment paperwork, we will ask for detailed information about your child's allergies so that we can address them on a daily basis.

My child needs moments alone in a quiet space, can this be accommodated? Absolutely! Sensory breaks are given as needed and can be added to the students schedule. We have multiple quiet and relaxing spaces to reset including separate rooms, gazebos, and a rocking chair porch.

My child needs assistance with toileting, how is this handled? We Belong will accommodate bathroom needs on a case-by-case basis. We Belong does not train staff in bathroom assistance at this time, however some staff may have prior experience in this area. Let us know what your students bathrooms needs are and we will do our best to support you!

Do you evaluate for Autism Spectrum Disorder? No, We Belong does not diagnose ASD. If you are looking for an evaluation for your student, shoot us an email and we will provide you with referrals!

Do you offer transportation to We Belong? At this time, we are unable to offer transportation. We understand this is a significant barrier for many families, and hope to provide transportation as our program grows. If transportation is a barrier, let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you.

I cannot afford full tuition, do you offer alternative forms of funding like scholarships? We Belong aims to make our program as accessible as possible. At this time we do not have scholarships available, however, we are working on providing a sliding scale. Let us know what your budget is and we will do our best to accommodate you!

Do you allow a personal aid to accompany my child? Yes! Personal aids are welcome and encouraged. Be sure to include your student's personal aid in the IAP. Students who come with a personal aid will not be assigned a 1-to-1 support specialist at We Belong.

Can my neurotypical child attend We Belong? Yes! What is neurotypical anyway? Students do not need an official diagnosis to attend We Belong. We aim to accommodate any student who has a history of rejection from other afterschool programs, regardless of diagnosis.

What is an IAP? An IAP is and Individual Afterschool Plan. Unlike an IEP, this is not a legal document but rather a tool to get to know your student better and monitor their progress at program. Before attending We Belong, administration will meet with you, your student, and any other supports you would like to include in the meeting to fill out the IAP form. IAP's will be reviewed and updated quarterly and as needed.

I notice you are at Christmount, is this a religious-based after school program? We Belong is not a religiously based program. Although we are deeply grateful for Christmounts support, we are a separate entity.

If you haven't found the answer to your question here, feel free to contact us for your specific question. We will get back to you as soon as possible.

Other Important Information

Other information, printables and links you might find helpful in answering some of your questions.

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Directions to We Belong

We Belong is located at Christmount about 6 minutes southwest of downtown Black Mountain, just off of highway 9.

222 Fern Way Black Mountain NC, 28711

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We Belong Fact Sheet

All the We Belong program details all in one place in a printable .pdf format. 

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How to Apply to We Belong

We Belong is currently accepting program interest inquiries to build the best program possible for your families needs. ​Stay tuned for our offical application!

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