Autism Program
Prevalence of Autism
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about 1 in 31 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While nearly four (4) times more common in boys, ASD is reported across all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups.
Autism is considered a developmental disability related to differences in the brain. Sometimes ASD is thought to be a genetic condition, while other times the cause is unknown. While we still have much to learn about autism, AccessAbilities provides services to both children and adults to assist with communication, social interaction, behavior, play, and skill development to help achieve the highest level of independence.
ASD may be diagnosed before the age of two (2) and last a lifetime. Children may exhibit symptoms as early as 12 months old and be delayed in reaching developmental milestones. Some children meet developmental milestones until age 24 months and then begin to lose those skills and stop reaching new milestones. As teens and adults with autism, communication with peers, understanding behaviors expected at work or school, or maintaining friendships and interactions becomes a challenge. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) emphasizes an approach to understanding how behavior and environment influence the ability to learn new skills.
AccessAbilities:
Compassionate Partner Through the Years
At AccessAbilities, we are a partner with families from diagnosis through treatment, toddlers through young adulthood. For over 20 years, AccessAbilities has provided families with services and therapy utilizing a deep understanding of specific goals prioritized by the family, surroundings, and factors influencing behavior and skill building. We focus on goals that are important to you and your family by sharing our proficiency in the science of ABA and respecting your knowledge and expertise of your child, teen, or adult family member. We recognize that no two people with autism are the same, thus there is no set age at which we automatically discharge a person from therapy. Some individuals with autism will receive both ABA services and waiver support simultaneously, as we focus on the whole person and offer comprehensive options during the intake and onboarding phase of the assessment process. AccessAbilities will provide extensive information in an easy-to-understand format, so that families may make the most informed decision regarding services.
Early Intervention:
a Shift From Fear to Hope
Autistic individuals have a better chance than ever to live full, productive, happy lives, in part due to access to service providers, such as AccessAbilities. The AccessAbilities’ clinical psychology team is able to screen children and provide a formal diagnosis in collaboration with the child’s medical team. At AccessAbilities, we welcome the opportunity to partner with your medical team and other therapists to apply the best approach in achieving goals. Intensive one-on-one intervention is the most effective way to assist in the development of learning, sensory integration, language and communication skills, playing and social skills. Techniques learned through ABA are extended to family and friends and utilized in multiple environments to reach meaningful successes and develop talents throughout the stages of life.
Our ABA Center
At AccessAbilities, Inc., we’re redefining excellence in ABA therapy through purposeful, data-driven care and a culture of continuous growth. Our clinicians are empowered to innovate, collaborate, and lead—delivering meaningful outcomes for every child and family we serve. We believe progress thrives where professionalism meets compassion, and where every team member is supported to grow their impact.
Long-term Journey
While many children that we serve graduate by meeting their treatment plan goals within two to three years, teens or young adults may require continued support to live, work, and play independently. Teens and young adults with autism may require assistance to maintain a job or need mentors to help focus interests in school or career planning, and with the right balance of family, community, and AccessAbilities, autistics are able to continuously improve, self-advocate, and lead a fulfilling life!
From our center-based services for the early learner and after-school programs for tweens, to home-based services for all ages, AccessAbilities is committed to helping you thrive and reach a maximum level of independence. It is truly a partnership, a journey together to achieve success, as defined by you. For the early learner, parents or caregivers are expected to grow and learn with your child. Advancing skills means practicing outside of and in addition to therapy time. We provide the training, you support the process to recognize progress. The same can be said for young adults and the benefit of engaging resources within the community. Our purpose is to celebrate you, create opportunities, and inspire independence.
Who Will Be a Part of My Journey?
In addition to your circle of support, clinical practitioners, counselors, and other therapists, the AccessAbilities’ team will include a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), and leadership roles. These clinical professionals are trained individuals responsible for assessing the client’s level of function and behaviors, partnering to create and implement a treatment plan inclusive of the family’s goals and priorities, and collecting and analyzing data to measure and report progress.
- Masters prepared clinician who has completed supervised experience in applied behavior analysis (ABA) and passes the BCBA exam. Trained in Ukeru Crisis Prevention, CPR, AED, and First Aid.
- Uses their knowledge of behavior analysis to assess and design interventions to help clients learn new skills, reinforce positive behaviors, and adapt to new environments.
- Supervises and mentors Behavior Technicians to implement client treatment plans.
- Partners with families to teach techniques to assist clients in generalizing new skills outside of therapy sessions.
- Serves as the care manager of the client’s ABA services responsible for assessments, treatment plans, training, programming, and reporting of progress.
- Collaborates with other disciplines and the client’s extended healthcare team to leverage the interdisciplinary model.
- Completes criminal background check.
- Nationally recognized paraprofessional certification requiring 40-hour training, competency validation, and exam.
- Provides direct one-on-one behavioral intervention to teach communication, social, and daily living skills and reinforce positive behaviors in multiple settings.
- Implements the client’s individualized treatment plan under the direction and supervision of the BCBA.
- Collects client data and documents progress toward treatment goals.
- Trained in Ukeru Crisis Prevention, CPR, AED, and First Aid
- Completes criminal background check