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Natural Consequences ~~ Process Therapy ~~ Program Structure The Motivational Achievement Center (MAC) is classified a “Special Day School” and is a proud part of the Alton Unit School District #11 located in Alton and Godfrey, Illinois. The MAC was developed in 1995 to serve students of the Alton school district who exhibit severe emotional disorders (SED), behavioral disorders (BD) and students who may have a secondary learning disability (LD). Until this time, students who could not be served in a special education classroom within the district were transferred to private placements throughout the metro/ St. Louis area. This transferal of students from the public education system to a private system was not only an additional monetary burden on the district, as private placement tuition is paid by the district, but it became apparent that once students were placed into private placement, their opportunities for a successful re-integration back into the district were severely compromised. Today, the program serves students from grades Kindergarten through Eight with a maximum class-load ratio of eight students to two staff (Teacher and Paraprofessional) and an overall maximum school size of 48 students. In addition to each classroom utilizing a special education teacher and paraprofessional, the school also utilizes three "Social Skills Tutors" whose roles are to support the classroom operations within the school, three full-time Social Workers, and a full-time Art Therapist. All MAC staff are highly proficient in the use of Non-Violent Crisis Intervention techniques and all staff are certified by the Crisis Prevention Institute .
While most programs of this sort utilize Behavior Modification and the use of a points/ levels system in an attempt to modify student behavior, the MAC program is built upon the concept of "Natural Consequences". The goal of applying natural consequences for behavior is to move the student from a reactionary, externally motivated behavior pattern to a behavior pattern which uses logic and intrinsic values to determine the type of behavior needed for success in a given situation.
In the case of our friend, the bird, consequences for leaving muddy bird tracks on the floor could have resulted in a variety of punishments from verbal to physical. However, using natural consequences, the "dirty bird" is faced with the task of not only "making right" for his actions, but has time to reflect on making better decisions in the future To facilitate this process, students are first taught the desired behavior and then upon successful completion of the behavior which was taught, receive a tangible reward. Over time, the tangible reward is minimized and eventually extinguished while the verbal/ intangible reward (i.e.. verbal praise) continues. This methodology moves student actions from the "work for a treat" ideology to a "work because success feels good" ideology. Our therapeutic staff are tops in their professions and work closely with classroom staff to monitor student progress, collaborate on behavior plans and remediation techniques, and offer guidance as to the psycho-social make-up of each student. The therapeutic component to MAC success is based upon the use of Process Therapy (PT), as detailed by Dr. James Spicer, Ph.D.
Process Therapy is different from other forms of therapy in key ways:
(MAC Operating Manual; Dr. James Spicer; Camelot Care Centers, Inc. September 1984) In addition to the unique services by MAC personnel, our students are also provided with Occupational Therapy (OT) and Physical Therapy (PT) services as needed. Through the use of Process Therapy, natural consequences and any OT/PT services needed, the goal of the Motivational Achievement Center is to help our students identify their needs, wants and problems, offer them suggestions on how improve upon their needs, wants and problems and successfully reintegrate them back into a less-restrictive environment in their "home" school as quickly and efficiently as possible so they can reintegrate with as little delay and/or stigma as possible. Once a student reaches "Phaseback", or successful reintegration into their home school, MAC services continue to monitor that student and offer additional support to the student as well as their receiving teacher.
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Why the "Boomerangs"? For many years, the Motivational Achievement Center did not have a traditional school mascot, school colors, etc. This was primarily due to the MAC's unique role in serving as a "way point" for students as they transitioned from their "home" school to the MAC and back to their "home" school after successfully exhibiting appropriate classroom behaviors. In an attempt to build "esprit de corps" among our students, "Boomer" the boomerang was adopted as the school mascot. The boomerang is an especially appropriate mascot for our school as the goal of the MAC is to return our students back to their home schools after they have made progress with us. | ||
As seen in the
cartoon, the use of natural consequences rely less on punishment and
attempts to reinforce logical behavioral actions through "real world"
interactions. 
