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BCI Sponsors ‘Kids Corner’ at 2015 Community 5K Run and Walk for Autism

articles on children with autism

BCI Sponsors ‘Kids Corner’ at 2015 Community 5K Run and Walk for Autism

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Behavioral Concepts Inc. – will be sponsoring the ‘Kids Corner’ at this years 5k Run and Walk for Autism. At our booth we will have fun filled activities for children and adults as well as information about our services. We’ll have staff on location to answer any questions.

More information about the event:

Where

Join us on April 26th at DCR’s Quinsigamond State Park for what has become the biggest celebration of Autism Awareness Month in Central Massachusetts.

When

April 26th, 2015

NEW THIS YEAR

We have tightened up the schedule for the day!

While there are two components to the event it is one event!

Times & Events

The day begins at 8:30 AM and will end at 2:00 PM

Morning
Afternoon
5K registration: 8:30 AM- 9:30 AM
Opening Ceremony: 12:00 PM
5K Opening ceremony: 9:45 AM
Food service opens: 12:15 PM
Race Starts : 10:00 AM
Entertainment 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Awards : 11:00 AM – 11:15 AM
 
Walk Registration & Check In: 11:30 AM
 

“We have added a registration fee for the walk component of this event, just like the Run. Individuals will pay $10 while a family will pay $25.00 – Think of it as your contribution to your walk effort! You can still create teams but each family or member on a Team needs to register. Those who do not register on line will be charged $15 for individuals and $35 for their family on the day of the event. Family is defined as Parents & Children in one household.” – Autism Resource Center

BCI Proudly Sponsors TOP Soccer of Auburn

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soccerlogo

 
Behavioral Concepts proudly sponsors TOPSoccer, a special needs soccer team out of Auburn, MA.

TOP Soccer Registration Available

Registration is Still Open For TOPS (specialneeds), U5, U6 and U8 spring soccer.

Openings in Town
Groups
Ages
U5 (coed)
Born between 9/1/09 – 4/30/11.
U6 (coed)
Born 9/1/08 – 8/31/09
U8 (boys and girls divisions)
Born 9/1/06 – 8/31/08
TOPS (Special Needs)
Born 9/1/95 – 8/31/10
Download Flyer

New school an option for kids struggling with autism (Article by T&G)

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jdufresne
Teacher Josh Dufresne works with student Alyjah Ortiz, 5, on his schoolwork at the Center for Applied Behavior Instruction. (T&G Staff/CHRISTINE HOCHKEPPEL)

 

WORCESTER — Children and adolescents with autism, particularly those with behavioral issues who are struggling in a local public school setting, have a new option available to them: the Center for Applied Behavioral Instruction.

The private school, which received its unanimous approval to operate from the Worcester School Committee in November, is already up and running with two students, and several more referrals in process.

The school accepts students from the city of Worcester as well as from districts within a one-hour radius of the school.

Founder and executive director Jeffrey Robinson is currently in the process of preparing the required documentation to obtain final approval from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Mr. Robinson, who co-founded the school with Brian Doyle, has been affiliated with the Worcester Public Schools for nearly two decades, and has provided services to students with autism through his company, Behavioral Concepts, Inc. Mr. Robinson has a doctorate in special education from Boston College, while Mr. Doyle has a doctorate in education from Nova Southeastern University, and a specialist degree in special education from Simmons College.

Located on in a former storage space on Greenwood Street, the school occupies one-third of 15,000- square-foot building leased by Behavioral Concepts, which is the parent company of the school. The school currently has four classrooms and a gymnasium, and operates with a staff of two teachers, a teacher’s aide, a nurse, psychologist and several therapists, and can serve between 25 and 29 students.

Read More Article By: T&G – Sandy Meindersma CORRESPONDENT)

Visit CABI’s (Center For Applied Behavioral Instruction) website here: www.cabiautism.org

 

How to prepare your ASD child for middle school

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WORCESTER, MA…

For children leaving grade school, entering middle school can be a very trying time and a difficult adjustment. For children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), that transition poses more challenges than the average student could imagine.

“For children with ASDs, going to school is a habit. When it’s time to move on to a new school, that means the habit needs to be altered and that’s not as easy as explaining to them that this year they will be going to a new school,” said Dr. Jeff Robinson, Ph.D., founder of Behavioral Concepts, Inc. (BCI), a company of behavioral clinicians specializing in the care of children with autism in Central Massachusetts. “The process of transitioning children with ASDs really needs to begin well before the school year.”

Robinson recommends several steps to help parents of children with ASDs help their middle school-age children make the transition to their new school:

  • Write a social story or series of stories to help the student prepare for the change
  • Allow the student to have as many visits to the new school as needed
  • Practice a walking route to classes and opening and closing their locker
  • Identify important areas such as: bus stop, homeroom, bathrooms, cafeteria, gym, etc.
  • Review the yearbook to familiarize with faculty and school activities during the year
  • Take the student to parent-teacher orientation
  • Practice scripts so the child knows where to get help and requesting for a quiet place to calm down (practice routes)
  • Prepare the student that each teacher has different rules and procedures

“While preparing your child is one thing, it’s important to communicate to administration and faculty at the new school that you have an ASD child attending middle school next year and would like to set up a time to meet and go over some things,” said Dr. Robinson. “That’s actually one of the reasons we formed BCI 10 years ago was to work with schools to ease the transition of ASD students at all grade levels.”

Based in Worcester, Mass and with offices in Mansfield and West Boylston, Mass., BCI provides much needed services to children with autism and their families. BCI instructional programs are delivered using discrete trial training, task analysis, and systematic prompting procedures implemented by ABA therapists who have successfully completed pre-service training, on-site, and quarterly evaluations by their clinical supervisors.

Instruction is provided across a variety of domains, included by not limited to: Activities of daily living, functional and augmentative communication, functional academics and community outings and safety awareness. Social skills groups with peer models are also offered as part of BCI’s services. A heavy emphasis is placed on generalization and maintenance of skills, in addition to family training, so that families may implement the supports and carry-over skills in the home.

BCI accepts Harvard-Pilgrim, Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Behavioral Health, Tufts, Aetna and coverage from other major health care providers.

For complete information, visit http://bciaba.org or to arrange a consultation with a BCI clinician, please call (508) 363-0200.

About Behavioral Concepts, Inc. (BCI)

Founded in 2002, BCI provides educational, behavioral, consultative and assessment services to children with autism and their families. These services are based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and are tailored to the unique needs of the individuals BCI works with. It’s BCI’s goal to maximize student potential, increase independence and enhance our clients’ quality of life within their home, school and community.

BCI’s main care center is located at 170 Goddard Memorial Drive, in Worcester, Massachusetts. BCI operates its BASICS services at 100 Hartwell Street in West Boylston, Mass. The BASICS program is a sub-contract arrangement between Behavioral Concepts, Inc. and the Central Massachusetts Special Education Collaborative. BASICS provides services to children aged 7-22 with autism and maladaptive behaviors. BCI’s Corporate Offices are located in Mansfield, Mass.

For complete information, visit http://bciaba.org or to arrange a consultation with a BCI clinician, please call (508) 363-0200.

Behavioral Concepts, Inc. (BCI) celebrates 10 years of caring for children with autism and autism spectrum disorders

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WORCESTER, MA…

Think about how things have changed since 2003. The hybrid automobile had not yet hit the mainstream market. The “Curse of the Bambino” was alive and well with the Red Sox not having won the World Series since 1918. And one in 150 children was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). It was under those conditions that Dr. Jeffrey Robinson opened Behavioral Concepts, Inc. (BCI), a company of behavioral clinicians specializing in the care of children with autism in Central Massachusetts.

Robinson started the firm with one clinical therapists and a staff of four. Today, BCI has a staff of 163. And, unfortunately, it’s been reported that one in every 88 children is diagnosed with an ASD.

“In 2003, we saw a genuine need for families with children diagnosed with an ASD, both from a care standpoint and from an information perspective so parents knew what programs were available through the school system,” said Robinson. “BCI has experienced incredible growth over the years, particularly since insurance companies started covering services for children with ASDs in 2011 and as more and more children are diagnosed.”

In addition to its growth from a staff perspective, BCI has also grown in terms of its offerings. Within the last year, BCI’s Board Certified Behavior Analysts designed and implemented a social skills group on Saturday mornings. Beyond instruction from BCI clinicians, the social skills sessions include interaction with other children who serve as role models for BCI students involved in the social skills program.

“The beauty of the social skills class is not only the broad range of topics we cover—topics like teamwork, bullying, appropriate play, sportsmanship, initiating and reciprocating peer interaction—but that it’s covered by most major insurances,” said Robinson. “We try to keep the price fairly affordable, typically between $35 to $50, but the insurance can make a huge difference. In fact, we’re one of the few firms around that has a social skills that’s accepted by most major insurance companies.”

BCI currently offers a summer social skills program with classes scheduled during the week as well as on Saturday. For complete information, you can visit the BCI website at www.bciaba.org or call 508-363-0200.

About Behavioral Concepts, Inc. (BCI)

Founded in 2002, BCI provides educational, behavioral, consultative and assessment services to children with autism and their families. These services are based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and are tailored to the unique needs of the individuals BCI works with. It’s BCI’s goal to maximize student potential, increase independence and enhance our clients’ quality of life within their home, school and community.

BCI’s main care center is located at 170 Goddard Memorial Drive, in Worcester, Massachusetts. BCI operates its BASICS services at 100 Hartwell Street in West Boylston, Mass. The BASICS program is a sub-contract arrangement between Behavioral Concepts, Inc. and the Central Massachusetts Special Education Collaborative. BASICS provides services to children aged 7-22 with autism and maladaptive behaviors. BCI’s Corporate Offices are located in Mansfield, Mass.

For complete information, visit http://bciaba.org or to arrange a consultation with a BCI clinician, please call (508) 363-0200.

Facebook Testimonial

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While you are thinking about what to do with the kids this summer, you may want to consider BCI’s summer Social Skills program. Here’s the calendar.

To explain why the summer program is even more important once school is out, read the following testimonial from our Facebook page.

“I wanted to say that often vacations can be overwhelming when you have a child, or in my case, children, on the Spectrum. Kids who thrive on routine are suddenly thrown off, and the comfort and stability are out the window. I’m not sure if anyone else has these issues, but vacations seemed more difficult than regular days. Over vacations, my boys still ask for the bus, get their backpacks, and even go to the porch to wait. It’s tough to try to explain that the bus isn’t coming today, later…but later when? We have just completed an awesome Spring Vacation Week, thanks to the amazing efforts of the BCI staff. My boys attended Social Groups every morning led by Miss Sally Burke. It was wonderful to have a routine and to have something that the boys could look forward to and more importantly enjoy doing! Each afternoon our incredible therapists came over to have some fun in the community. Squeezing into my van with the boys and sometimes even driving their own vehicles searchng for playgrounds with the best fences so the boys wouldn’t run into harm’s way, to finding the coolest McDonald’s PlayLand when the weather wasn’t perfect. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again, and again, and again, BCI is an amazing company filled with caring, patient, understanding, educated staff and they have changed my family’s life. I am so grateful.”

Sophie Ewings

What should parents of children within the autism spectrum read?

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A must read for parents with children within the autism spectrum

WORCESTER, MA…

When it comes to summer reading, most people look to escape in a novel or science fiction. Most parents of children within the autism spectrum do not have that luxury. Reading/self-education is a critical part of meeting their child’s needs. So what do parents of children within the autism spectrum read? Perhaps most importantly, what should they read?

“Before their child’s diagnosis, most parents know little about the autism. So they are literally starting from ground zero,” said Dr. Jeff Robinson, founder and director of Behavioral Concepts, Inc., a company of behavioral clinicians specializing in the care of children with autism in Central Massachusetts. “In addition, keeping up with a child with autism can be extremely time-consuming. So it’s important to having a focused reading list that provides you the information you need in an efficient manner.”

Dr. Robinson recommends the following books for parents of children within the autism spectrum:

Beyond summer reading for parents, BCI is also offering a summer session of its Social Skills program, which began on June 1. The program is a three-hour session on Saturday mornings, from 9:30 to 12:30. Topics covered include:

  • Teamwork
  • Eye Contact
  • Transitions
  • Bullying
  • Emotions
  • Appropriate Play
  • Teen Relationships
  • Sportsmanship
  • Food Tolerance
  • Language Building
  • Role Playing Social Scenarios
  • Initiating and Reciprocating Peer Interaction

There is no age limit for the social skills program. BCI accepts all major insurance companies or private pay at a rate of $35-$50 per hour depending on the student/staff ratio your child needs. Parents or guardians interested in this program for their students can call (508) 363-0200. For complete information on BCI, visit http://bciaba.org.

About Behavioral Concepts, Inc. (BCI)

Founded in 2002, BCI provides educational, behavioral, consultative and assessment services to children with autism and their families. These services are based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and are tailored to the unique needs of the individuals BCI works with. It’s BCI’s goal to maximize student potential, increase independence and enhance our clients’ quality of life within their home, school and community.

BCI’s main care center is located at 170 Goddard Memorial Drive, in Worcester, Massachusetts. BCI operates its BASICS services at 100 Hartwell Street in West Boylston, Mass. The BASICS program is a sub-contract arrangement between Behavioral Concepts, Inc. and the Central Massachusetts Special Education Collaborative. BASICS provides services to children aged 7-22 with autism and maladaptive behaviors. BCI’s Corporate Offices are located in Mansfield, Mass.

For complete information, visit http://bciaba.org or to arrange a consultation with a BCI clinician, please call (508) 363-0200.

A summer social. Behavioral Concepts, Inc., a child autism services company, announces summer social skills groups.

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WORCESTER, MA…

Parents of children within the autism spectrum face a different challenge in the summer. While you want to let your child have a little down time, you also want to keep developing the skills they have honed during the school year. That’s why Behavioral Concepts, Inc. (BCI), a company of behavioral clinicians specializing in the care of children with autism in Central Massachusetts, recently announced the summer schedule for its social skills program.

During the school year, the social skills program takes place on Saturday mornings from 9:30am to 12:30pm. Starting June 26, the social skills program will be available during the week, Monday through Friday as well. Morning and afternoon sessions are available and the program will run from June 26 to August 26. For the complete summer schedule, visit https://bciaba.com/social-skill-services/.

Hours for the Saturday morning program will remain 9:30am to 12:30pm.

“We’re pleased to be able to offer this very successful program on weekdays during the summer,” said Dr. Jeffrey Robinson, BCI founder and director. “Not only does this program provide the children with the training needed, but it does so in an environment where they can interact with peers and develop those skills. Better yet, most major health care providers will cover this program, an added bonus for parents.”

In addition to instruction from BCI clinicians, the social skills sessions include interaction with other children who serve as role models for BCI students involved in the social skills program.

Topics covered include:

  • Teamwork
  • Eye Contact
  • Transitions
  • Bullying
  • Emotions
  • Appropriate Play
  • Teen Relationships
  • Sportsmanship
  • Food Tolerance
  • Language Building
  • Role Playing Social Scenarios
  • Initiating and Reciprocating Peer Interaction

“The social skills program features a role model element that gives our students a chance to see appropriate behaviors—waiting your turn, raising your hand—in an activity-based setting,” said Robinson. “The other critical part is that we have a very high instructor to student ratio, typically three students per instructor. That gives instructors the chance to utilize the peer models for appropriate skills and reinforce the good behaviors.”

BCI accepts Harvard-Pilgrim, Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Behavioral Health, Tufts, Aetna, Fallon and coverage from other major health care providers for the social skills program.

There is no age limit for the social skills program. BCI accepts all major insurance companies or private pay at a rate of $35-$50 per hour depending on the student/staff ratio your child needs. Parents or guardians interested in this program for their students can call (508) 363-0200. For complete information on BCI, including the summer social skills calendar, visit http://bciaba.org.

About Behavioral Concepts, Inc. (BCI)

Founded in 2002, BCI provides educational, behavioral, consultative and assessment services to children with autism and their families. These services are based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and are tailored to the unique needs of the individuals BCI works with. It’s BCI’s goal to maximize student potential, increase independence and enhance our clients’ quality of life within their home, school and community.

BCI’s main care center is located at 170 Goddard Memorial Drive, in Worcester, Massachusetts. BCI operates its BASICS services at 100 Hartwell Street in West Boylston, Mass. The BASICS program is a sub-contract arrangement between Behavioral Concepts, Inc. and the Central Massachusetts Special Education Collaborative. BASICS provides services to children aged 7-22 with autism and maladaptive behaviors. BCI’s Corporate Offices are located in Mansfield, Mass.

For complete information, visit http://bciaba.org or to arrange a consultation with a BCI clinician, please call (508) 363-0200.