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ABA Services at the Autism Center
June 30, 2010
The Autism Center: The Homestead's Center-Based ABA Services
The Homestead is eager to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services. Through the opening of a Center where these services can be provided in a location that is designed specifically for this purpose, The Homestead will be able to use research-based, evidence proven techniques geared specifically to children with autism. Highly trained staff will be able to implement intensive programs that are designed and overseen by professionals in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis.
The goal of the Autism Center is to provide individualized, intensive intervention using research-based practices that will lead a child to learn more efficiently from school, home and community.
What do these services look like? A child may be enrolled for intensive services for up to five days a week. Each session will be two to four hours in length, depending on the needs and readiness of the child. Instructors have the option of providing one-on-one instruction in individual learning rooms or in the group room according to the needs of child being served. A combination of both will be useful for many children who need guided practice in implementing new skills.
Where is the Center located? At this time we are working on a location in Altoona, easily accessible from I-80. A limited number of children will be able to be served in this location. We have plan of opening additional sites in the state in the near future to meet more children's needs.
Who will be able to access this service? Most children enrolled will be accessing the Center through Medicaid Remedial Services. Others may there by private pay, insurance benefits, and contracted services from other agencies. For more information about Remedial Services, see the information posted on this website or contact us for more information.
Do these services replace school or preschool? No. Our intention is to provide a service in a setting that is "school like" in order to intensively teach the skills that will help the child be more successful in learning at school. It is not an academic setting, but rather a skill building setting. We hope to be able to collaborate with school personnel about specific training tracks that will help each child get more from their school day.
What will be taught? In addition to communication skills, coping skills and behavioral interventions, we will focus on teaching the child many of the skills other children just seem to pick up. These may include things like how to negotiate for shared materials, how to ask for a turn, how to engage with play items for appropriate periods of time, how to respond to group instruction, and how to attend to others and imitate what they are doing. This will be an environment in which the child can successfully practice other social skills such as learning to wait and accepting no.
Does this replace hourly Supported Community Services (SCL)? No. It may be done in conjunction with SCL hourly services. Or these services may be provided alone and not with SCL hourly services. Our hope is that most children will find supplemental support to extend the learning into other environments. One way to accomplish this is that as children "graduate" from the Center program, more and more of their instruction will take place in their homes and the community. At the time that they no longer need top level oversight, they may be served only through SCL.
What makes this more intensive programming than SCL? These services will have the direct and almost daily oversight of professionals who have received formal training in ABA. Additionally, the Center will be staffed so that there should be very infrequent times when sessions are cancelled due to staffing reasons. The number of hours of service is determined based on research and best practices.
What else makes it different from other services we currently receive? If your child is accessing the Center through Remedial Services, an assessment will be conducted at least every six months to determine if progress is being made in order to reauthorize another six months of service.
What is the family's role? In order to access the Center, families must also agree to participate in family training. These training sessions will be arranged at the family's convenience and are geared toward helping the family carry over behavioral and skill based interventions in the home. These family sessions can focus on specific problems the family is facing such as bed time routines, handling tantrums, or generalizing the use of new skills at home.
Is transportation included? Unfortunately the Homestead will not provide transportation to and from the center. Families will be responsible for arranging and providing transportation. It may be possible to acquire transportation assistance through other transportation systems such as schools or collaborating agencies.
What do we do if we are interested in this service? To learn more about the Autism Center and get your child on the list for services, contact Lynsey Tully, admissions coordinator, at The Homestead, 515-957-3344.
About The Homestead
The Homestead is a private, non-profit organization that provides innovative solutions for children and adults with autism, their families and allied professionals. Services are provided in the community, in homes and in a unique agriculture based campus program. Autism is a neurological disorder that severely hinders the way information is gathered and processed causing problems in communication, learning and social skills. It occurs in roughly 1 of every 110 births.
