TLC for Children with Autism

 

The Treatment and Learning Center for Children with Autism serves as a premier therapeutic treatment and resource center for the greater East Texas area serving children with Pervasive Developmental Disorder and Autism. The Treatment & Learning Center was initiated in October 2009. The Treatment & Learning Center provides individualized quality Applied Behavior Analysis services to families with children with autism and other developmental disabilities. Our goal is to provide precise learning opportunities for children to become successful in all life venues. We will target young children with the intention of expanding the program to serve adolescents, and eventually becoming a recognized alternative classroom site for children enrolled in local school districts.

 

What is a Pervasive Developmental Disorder?

 

Pervasive Developmental Disorders are a class of developmental disorders that are also expected to be enduring and require ongoing services similar to those needed by persons with mental retardation. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) states that:

"Pervasive Developmental Disorders are characterized by severe and pervasive impairment in several areas of development: reciprocal social interaction skills, communication skills, or the presence of stereotyped behavior, interests and activities."

Autistic Disorder is probably the most familiar of the Pervasive Developmental Disorders. Developmental Disability and other developmental disorders are frequently seen together in the same person.

 

What is Applied Behavioral Analysis?

 
Applied Behavioral Analysis is a scientific method that has been proven to be the most effective intervention for people with Autism and other developmental disabilities. ABA is the implementation of systemically applying interventions based upon the principles to improve social/adaptive deficits in a significant and life affirming way
More specifically…

• ABA is a structured one-on-one program which relies almost entirely upon meaningful, individualized rewards for specific behaviors.
• Therapists who provide ABA are trained and certified to provide therapy.
• ABA therapy includes benchmarks for success, and evaluates outcomes based on individualized goals. 

Why is Applied Behavioral Analysis effective with children and adolescents with autism?

ABA uses pure positive reinforcement - a way that all of us learn. A child with Autism needs this type of intensive attention - or even more intensive attention coupled with individualized reinforcers - to learn very simple concepts like "on" and "in." The good news is that if this is done properly then the child often will learn how to learn faster and with fewer and fewer "unnatural" interventions. There is simply no shortcut, no "natural" alternative. Just as infants cannot go to Kindergarten, so children with autism cannot "just learn" at their chronological age level. They must be led through the proper language, play, and social developmental sequence, moving ahead when they have mastered each step.

 

Who is eligible to receive services?

• Children with pervasive developmental disorders, primarily, but not limited to autism
• Has a serious functional impairment
• Or is at risk of disruption of a preferred living or child care environment due to PDD symptoms
• Or Is enrolled in a school system's special education program because of a serious behavioral, social, and/or communication disturbance
• And is between the ages of 18 months and 18 years old.