Clinical Services
APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS (ABA)
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is an evidence-based practice focusing on socially significant behaviors-the behaviors that matter to you. Our team of clinicians works with each family to identify behaviors to focus on during our services; these include behaviors for reduction such as hitting, spitting, throwing objects, or dropping to the floor as well as behaviors to increase such as initiating interactions, skills to increase independence, following directions, and self-care skills.
ABA is different from other clinical interventions because it focuses on the immediate environment-what is happening immediately before and after the behavior and uses this information to help change behavior. Our behavior services are provided in the home and in the community and provide caregivers the tools and strategies to manage their child’s behavior.
DOES YOUR CHILD NEED ABA?
ABA has been endorsed by many federal and national agencies as an effective scientific approach for treating autism, including the U.S. Surgeon General, American Academy of Pediatrics, Autism Society of America and the National Institute of Mental Health. However, ABA can be used for anyone who exhibits behaviors to reduce, often thought of as “problem behaviors” or behaviors to improve.
ABA may be right for your child if he or she:
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Engages in aggressive or destructive behavior
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Has difficulty following directions
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Elopes/runs away from areas
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Needs support during social interactions
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Requires support in daily living and self-care tasks (bathing, dressing, eating, etc.)
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Occupational Therapy (OT) helps people across the lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities, or occupations. Children’s “occupation” is to play and learn! Our licensed occupational therapists work with your family to identify cognitive, physical, sensory, or motor skills to target during our weekly services.
Skills include fine motor deficits to improve handwriting, basic living skills such as holding a toothbrush or utensil, or sensory deficits that may interfere with daily living activities such as grooming, bathing, toileting, and getting dressed.
DOES YOUR CHILD NEED OT?
Occupational Therapy is widely used with children with developmental disabilities like autism, often in collaboration with other therapies such as ABA. However, your child does not need to have a specific diagnosis to receive OT services.
OT services may be right for your child if he or she:
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Presents a delay in developmental milestones
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Displays difficulty responding to sensory input (aversive to or seeking textures, sounds, tastes, smells, visual input, touch, etc.)
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Has difficulty with fine motor tasks such as zippering, buttoning, holding a pencil, tying shoes
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Demonstrates challenges in coordination and motor skills; looks like poor balance, bumping into objects or people, difficulty with hand/eye coordination
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Uses too much force or intensity when playing or writing