ABA Therapist Kendall D-J and his client doing table work

By: Alison Senior (Direct of Center-based Services – Worcester)

Our Worcester ABA Center is thrilled to share that we will be expanding our space this fall. The expansion will create four new instructional areas, as well as an expanded sensory area, and will allow us to double our enrollment capacity for the Intensive Day Program. Both our Intensive Day Program and our After-school Program will expand to sixty children per session. We are so excited to be able to move some families off the wait-list while continuing to provide a high quality of clinical services to all our clients.

The new space will feature four new instructional areas, additional restrooms for targeting activities of daily living, and an expanded sensory area. Two of the instructional areas will be set up much like our existing Center space, with interactive play centers for structured leisure activities and cooperative play and table areas for group instruction and targeted social skills lessons. We will be able to expand upon the different play areas offered, including additional dramatic and exploratory play activities, and finally have homes for all the additional toys we’ve had in storage. We will also be adding a large area with individual cubbies and open table work areas, dedicated to discrete trial instruction time. This will allow each child to receive individualized instruction time, with limited distractions. Our fourth new space will be home to Circle time, creating dedicated space for group instruction in pre-academics, story time, as well as music and movement activities. In the lobby area of our new space, we will be creating an expanded sensory area, dedicating space to having multiple activity options available for a greater number of children to access at once.

With the expanded number of instructional areas available, we will be increasing the day program to at least six groups of up to 10 clients each. Having a greater number of groups gives us the opportunity to refine peer groups and individualize group activities based on skill level even further. Our group schedules will also be shifting to allow for more movement between instructional areas, building motor breaks into transition time, and have each client contact a greater number of different activities across their day.

We are so excited to share these new developments with you and cannot wait to show off the new space once we are up and running. If you would like more information about our Worcester Center-Based Services or if you would like to be added to the wait-list for an opening, please contact the main office at 508-363-0200.

Sally Burke, M.S. Ed., BCBA, Director of Early Intervention Services at BCI has been working with children with a variety of special needs for more than 15 years. In her article entitled “My child has been diagnosed with ASD. Now what?” which was featured in Bay State Parent, Sally provides parents with a helpful overview of what happens after an ASD diagnosis – from finding service providers to accommodate the recommended number of treatment hours to asking the right questions.

Read the article

BCI has partnered with HMEA’s Autism Resource Central to offer a Family Fun Day at Great Wolf Lodge in September! This is a special event that will be held on September 24th for children who are part of HMEA’s Autism Resource Central. BCI will offer a quiet area as well as sensory-friendly activities. BCI is an ongoing supporter of HMEA’s Autism Resource Central and this event has been made possible through the agency’s $5,000 sponsorship.

BCI recently announced a partnership relationship with Assumption College in Worcester as it pertains to the company’s internship program. As part of the agreement, BCI and the school will work together to recruit Assumption College undergraduates for its fall and spring internship programs.

“With one in 68 births resulting in a diagnosis for autism spectrum disorder, the demand for direct staff trained in applied behavior analysis will be tremendous in the years to come,” said Dr. Jeff Robinson, BCI founder and director of BCI. “The internship program with Assumption is a positive step toward developing the next generation of clinical staff to help meet this demand.”

As part of its internship program, Assumption students will work a total of 30 hours a week at BCI or its onsite school, the Center for Applied Behavioral Instruction (CABI). The Human Services/Rehabilitation Studies department at Assumption College is now accepting resumes for internships in the fall.

BCI interns typically are college students with aspirations of being a clinical coordinator or therapists. BCI interns have most often been psychology, education, special education and criminal justice, though all majors are welcome to apply. Students must receive course credit to participate in BCI’s internship program.

In addition to Assumption College, BCI has similar relationships with Fitchburg State University, Worcester State University and Quinsigamond Community College. In addition to a one-semester internship, BCI offers a year-long fellowship program for Worcester State University students.

College students interested in applying for an internship at BCI during the fall semester of 2016 can send a cover letter and resume to info@bciaba.org or by snail mail to: Behavioral Concepts, Inc., 345A Greenwood Street, Worcester, MA  01607, ATTN: Dr. Jeffrey Robinson.

College and universities interested in internship opportunities for their undergraduates should also contact Dr. Robinson at info@bciaba.org or by calling 508-363-0200.

Behavioral Concepts, Inc. (BCI) continues to seek Board Certified Behavior Analysts who want an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children affected by autism. We are an expanding organization who values the involvement of staff in the growth of the company.

Our current need is for full time and part-time (after school) BCBA’s to provide consultation and program development/staff supervision with our insurance program clients.

We believe in child centered behavior analysis and low caseloads (10-12). Our BCBA’s are responsible for assessment, program development, and analysis. They are liaisons to school staff and families of the children we support. Our BCBA’s provide direct supervision to our ABA therapists. If you are interested in being part of the solution please contact: Jeffrey R. Robinson, Ph. D., Director. Visit our new website at: www.bciaba.org

Clinical Coordinator Job Description

The clinical coordinator is responsible for development, assessment, and analysis of instructional and behavioral programs, curriculum modification, data analysis, and functional analysis of aberrant behaviors for a case load of 5-12 students. The coordinator is responsible for supervising and observing ABA therapists and case students weekly in order to effectively evaluate student progress. The clinical coordinator collaborates with a team of professionals to develop individualized education plans (IEPs) and writes quarterly progress reports. The clinical coordinator assists in staff and parent training, and acts as a liaison to public school staff.  The clinical coordinator attends monthly clinics with the ABA therapists, parents, public school faculty, and assistant director to evaluate student progress. Clinical coordinators must have five or more years experience using the principles and methodology of applied behavioral analysis to work with children with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities. Clinical coordinators preferably will have a Masters degree in a related field (i.e., ABA, Special Education, etc) and Board Certification (BCBA).

Competitive Benefits & Compensation Package Includes:

• Health Insurance / Dental / Vision
• Disability
• Life Insurance
• 401 K (up to 4% match
• Work cell phone provided
• Professional Development stipend provided as well as additional stipends for professional activities including poster and paper presentations

Sign on Bonus of $1500

Starting salary range 50,000-65,000 commensurate with experience