Autism Services

Applied Behavior Analysis

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a science devoted to improving socially significant behavior. For children with autism these behaviors include communication, socialization, academic skills, play, and daily living skills such as toileting, feeding, and dressing. Most often, unwanted behaviors such as tantrums, aggression, and self-injury serve as a means to communicate with parents and caregivers. ABA-based interventions work to replace these behaviors with more appropriate and effective means of communication.

ABA Interventions

ABA interventions are the most widely researched and supported treatments for individuals with autism. ABA-based treatments are ranked as the most effective treatments for autism by the National Standards Project and are endorsed by organizations such as the U.S. Surgeon General, Organization for Autism Research, Autism Speaks, and American Academy of Pediatrics.

SPEAK Program

This program incorporates intensive and individualized one-on-one ABA services with group speech therapy in a natural learning environment. This approach provides the comprehensive services needed by many children to prepare them for independence in a school environment. Individual speech and occupational therapy services are integrated within the therapy day.

The SPEAK program is offered year-round, Monday-Friday. All services are designed to meet the specific needs of each child.

Individual ABA

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is available as a part of our SPEAK program and as an individual service. Typical clients vary in age from toddlers to preschool-aged children.

Young clients benefit from intensive individual instruction that emphasizes communication, understanding instructions, and pre-academics. These skills prepare youngsters for successful transition to group instructional and therapy programs. School-age children benefit from programs designed to reinforce established skills, promote communication and social goals, and support educational success.

Therapy sessions occur 3-5 times per week, for two or more hours per session. Our staff assists in determining the best therapeutic course for each client.

Individual Occupational Therapy

Pediatric occupational therapy helps children gain independence and promotes development of fine motor skills, sensory motor skills, and visual motor skills that children need to function and socialize in their home, school, play, and community environments.

Individual Speech Therapy

Individual speech services entail one-on-one sessions between therapist and child. Sessions are structured around each child’s individual goals and last 30-45 minutes. Areas of therapy include receptive and expressive language, pragmatic language and social skills, articulation, apraxia of speech, oral motor skills, and feeding.

Autism Testing

Prior to enrollment in any treatment program, clients must receive a developmental evaluation. This is a specialized series of tests, designed to detect Autism Spectrum Disorder as early as 18 months. These tests track a child’s development in various areas including practical, language and motor skills, as well as intellectual, social, and pre-academic abilities.

The developmental evaluation results are thorough and detailed, and allow GulfSouth Autism Center to build and tailor an effective treatment program to your meet your child’s specific needs.

Contact us to learn more about Autism Testing in general, and for a list of resources where developmental evaluations are available near you.

Autism Services

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