children with autism

BCI to host open house at new Fitchburg location on Jan. 17, 4pm to 7pm

December 20, 2016 by Joe D'Eramo

Behavioral Concepts, Inc. (BCI), a company of behavioral clinicians specializing in the treatment of children with autism in Central Massachusetts, will celebrate the recent opening of its new location at 207 Authority Drive in Fitchburg with an open house on Tuesday, January 17, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The open house will feature tours of the facility and a ribbon-cutting ceremony with brief remarks from BCI staff members, elected officials and members of the business community. Light refreshments will be served. The general public is welcome to attend.

“There is a great demand for services for children with autism in the Fitchburg/Route 2 corridor. Before opening this location, we were only been able to work with clients in their homes,” said Colleen Canty, director of BCI’s Fitchburg location. “With this office in place, we have the ability to offer the services we have in Worcester to children in Fitchburg and surrounding communities in north central Massachusetts.”

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.

To RSVP to attend the open house on January 17, please RSVP by January 10 to Colleen Canty at ccanty@bciaba.org or 508-735-9290.

For questions about programs offered by BCI, please visit 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 meet the unique needs of our clients. It’s BCI’s goal to maximize individual potential, increase independence and enhance our clients’ quality of life within their home, school and community.

BCI provides center- and home-based services through health insurance and is an approved provider of Specialty ABA Services for Early Intervention in Central Massachusetts. BCI’s main care center, located at 345A Greenwood Street in Worcester, Massachusetts, offers intensive treatment for young children aged 3 to 6 years of age, an after-school program for all school-aged children and a weekend social skills program. In addition, BCI will open a second location in Fitchburg, Mass., in November 2016. BCI also provides in-home services within a one-hour radius of Worcester.

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

Homework and children with autism

September 26, 2016 by Joe D'Eramo

Students and homework. It can be a very big challenge for parents to find a way to get their children to lock in and focus so they get their homework done. Students with autism are no different than other students and parents need to provide the proper structure to make homework time a productive time.

“Children with autism do much better with a regular routine. That goes for doing chores around the house, going outside to play, going to school and, in particular, doing homework. Developing a homework routine is key to getting their work done,” said Dr. Jeffrey Robinson, founder and director of Behavioral Concepts, Inc., a company of behavioral clinicians specializing in the care of children with autism in Central Massachusetts.

Dr. Robinson encourages parents to have a set time for homework—e.g. directly after dinner. You should also select a place where you are not likely to be interrupted by other members of the household or other family activities (e.g. using the dinner table would not be advised). You may want to consider a separate room in the house just for homework.

Scheduling a time do homework is another key. You want to select a time when you and your child can sit down, uninterrupted, and focus. After dinner is usually a good time for students and parents as you’ve had a chance to get home, get some nourishment and unwind before hitting the books. Avoid late night homework sessions when you are both too tired to work.

“To keep students interested, you also want to incorporate their interests into their studies. For example, if they are asked to read a book a night and your child likes football, find a book about football or one that has football as part of the storyline,” said Dr. Robinson.

Dr. Robinson also encourages rewards for students doing their homework. The reward can be a continuation of what your child has in school (e.g. stickers for a completed assignment) or it can be something you come up with on your own (e.g. 30 minutes of computer time for successfully completed homework).

“In addition to the one-on-one attention from you, the parent, it’s also key to coordinate closely with the school and your child’s teachers so that homework sessions are reinforcing what your child is learning at school. Your teacher may also have some insights on how your child learns best to make homework time productive and issue-free,” said Dr. Robinson.

Based in Worcester, 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.

For questions about programs offered by BCI, please visit www.bciaba.org or call 508-363-0200.

About Behavioral Concepts, Inc. (BCI)

BCI provides center- and home-based services through health insurance and is an approved provider of Specialty ABA Services for Early Intervention in Central Massachusetts. BCI’s main care center, located at 345A Greenwood Street in Worcester, Massachusetts, offers intensive treatment for young children aged 3 to 6 years of age, an after-school program for all school aged children and a weekend social skills program. BCI also provides in-home services within a one-hour radius of Worcester.

BCI’s Corporate Offices are located in Mansfield, Mass. For complete information, visit https://bciaba.com or to arrange a consultation with a BCI clinician, please call (508) 363-0200.

BCI to open office at 207 Authority Drive, Fitchburg, MA

September 7, 2016 by Joe D'Eramo

Behavioral Concepts, Inc. (BCI), a company of behavioral clinicians specializing in the care of children with autism in Central Massachusetts, recently announced plans to open an additional office at 207 Authority Drive in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. The new location is set to open later this month.

“Our goal has been to serve students within a one-hour radius of our main office in Worcester. We have experienced a high demand for our services along the Route 2 corridor which has created a need for this additional location,” said Dr. Jeff Robinson, BCI founder and director. “The new location will enable us to provide intensive day, after school, and weekend social skills training for clients in that area.”

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. BCI staff also includes one occupational therapist, two speech therapists and two licensed speech and language assistants on staff.

Instruction is provided across a variety of domains, including: Activities of daily living, functional and augmentative communication, social skills, leisure and recreation, 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.

“An added but not to be overlooked benefit of the new location is our relationship with Fitchburg State University. We’ve had an ongoing relationship with the University through an internship program and many of our therapists did their undergraduate and graduate work there,” said Robinson. “With the new location and the growing need for service, we hope to build an even stronger bond with Fitchburg State students and faculty.”

For questions about BCI and programs offered by the company, please visit www.bciaba.org or call 508-363-0200.

About Behavioral Concepts, Inc. (BCI)

BCI provides center- and home-based services through health insurance and is an approved provider of Specialty ABA Services for Early Intervention in Central Massachusetts. BCI’s main care center, located at 345A Greenwood Street in Worcester, Massachusetts, offers intensive treatment for young children aged 3 to 6 years of age, an after-school program for all school aged children and a weekend social skills program. BCI also provides in-home services within a one-hour radius of Worcester.

BCI’s Corporate Offices are located in Mansfield, Mass. For complete information, visit https://bciaba.com or to arrange a consultation with a BCI clinician, please call (508) 363-0200.

BCI and Hockomock Area YMCA ink agreement to benefit children with autism spectrum disorders.

July 11, 2016 by Joe D'Eramo

(WORCESTER, MA) As a private company of behavioral clinicians specializing in the care of children with autism, Behavioral Concepts, Inc. (BCI) often provides its services in the homes of clients. Thanks to a new arrangement with the Hockomock Area YMCA, families now have the option to secure services for their children at any of the Hockomock Area Y’s four locations (Foxboro, Franklin, Mansfield and North Attleboro).

“The Hockomock Area YMCA is truly special. They created the Integration Initiative, a program which embraces, welcomes, and supports persons with disabilities in many of the programs offered by the Y. They discovered that many of their members with autism were unable to access the programs without specialized support. BCI provides the specialized skills training and support to assist clients with autism in participating with their peers in community settings including the Hockomock YMCA. Our staff is able to teach social, communication, and group participation skills in a setting using typical peer models,” said BCI Founder and Director Dr. Jeff Robinson.

“The Hockomock Area YMCA adopted a policy of inclusion many years ago and we have tailored our activities so all children can participate,” said Karen Friedman, Senior Director of the Integration Initiative at the Hockomock YMCA. “We are excited that many more members with autism will be able to more fully participate in Y activities thanks to our partnership with BCI.”

For most families, insurance covers the ABA and specialty services provided by BCI. BCI currently has no wait list in this new geographic area; staff will review insurance coverage for ABA Services with families during the intake process. Programming in this area also includes home services and parent training. Social skills groups and afterschool programming are also in development, and will be held in the Hockomock Area Y locations. BCI programs are tailored to address the clinical needs of each individual client.

Hockomock Area YMCA locations are as follows: North Attleboro Branch, 300 Elmwood Street, North Attleboro; Bernon Family Branch, 45 Forge Hill Road, Franklin, MA; Invensys Foxboro Branch, 67 Mechanic Street, Foxboro; and Mansfield Arts & Education Center, 40 Balcom Street, Mansfield, MA.

Based in Worcester, 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 and ongoing training and evaluations by their clinical supervisors.

Instruction is provided across a variety of domains, included but not limited to: Activities of daily living, functional and augmentative communication, functional academics, community outings and safety awareness. 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.

For questions about programs offered by BCI, please visit www.bciaba.org or call 508-363-0200. For information about Hockomock YMCA programs, visit www.hockymca.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 meet the unique needs of our clients. It’s BCI’s goal to maximize individual potential, increase independence and enhance our clients’ quality of life within their home, school and community.

BCI provides center and home-based services through health insurance and is an approved provider of Specialty ABA Services for Early Intervention in Central Massachusetts. BCI’s main care center, located at 345A Greenwood Street in Worcester, Massachusetts, offers intensive treatment for young children aged 3 to 6 years of age, an after-school program for all school aged children and a weekend social skills program. BCI also provides in-home services within a one-hour radius of Worcester.

BCI’s Corporate Offices are located in Mansfield, Mass. For complete information, visit https://bciaba.com or to arrange a consultation with a BCI clinician, please call (508) 363-0200.

About the Hockomock Area YMCA:

Where Cause Meets Community. At the Hockomock Area YMCA, strengthening community is our cause. The Hockomock Area YMCA is an organization of men, women, and children sharing a commitment to nurture the potential of kids, promote healthy living, and foster a sense of social responsibility.

The Hockomock Area YMCA is committed to partnering and collaborating with others to create and deliver lasting personal and social change in the 15 communities they are privileged to serve. The Hockomock Area YMCA is a not-for-profit charitable cause-driven organization with facilities in North Attleboro, Foxboro, Franklin, and Mansfield. For more information visit hockymca.org.

Back to school at work. Behavioral Concepts, Inc. (BCI) partners with Bay Path University on workplace Master’s Degree program

June 20, 2016 by Joe D'Eramo

photo of Brittany Freitas — Brittany Freitas

“I would love to get my Master’s but just haven’t got the time.” That’s a common lament of many people in the work force. Behavioral Concepts, Inc. (BCI), a company of behavioral clinicians specializing in the care of children with autism in Central Massachusetts, recently partnered with Bay Path University where BCI staff members can earn their Master’s degree and board certified behavior analyst (BCBA®) certification without leaving the office.

“As a company that works with children with autism spectrum disorders, we are often able to only provide the services that are covered by the family’s insurance. Most insurance carriers require case managers with a BCBA® certification. So, it’s in the best interest of the families we work with as well as our company that we have as many staff members with the BCBA® certification as possible,” said BCI Founder and Executive Director Dr. Jeff Robinson. “We are grateful to Bay Path University for working with us to put this program together.

BCBA-D and BCBA® are the highest levels of certification in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis and are issued by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board®. To be eligible for the BCBA® certification, a Master’s degree (or a PhD) is required as well as 1,500 hours of supervised experience in the field. The program enables BCI staff members to get their classroom instruction from Bay Path University teachers at BCI’s 345A Greenwood Street, Worcester location. In addition, students will do their required field work at BCI or the Center Applied Behavioral Instruction (CABI). CABI, a school for children with autism, is also located at 345 Greenwood.

“There are many ways this partnership is beneficial for all parties. It benefits the students for convenience and applicability to their everyday jobs. They can study and work toward their credential right at work, with their employer supporting a significant portion of the cost of their tuition. For BCI, it leads directly to more certified clinical coordinators and practitioners. For the university, it allows us to teach and work directly with student on site, better connecting the classroom and professional experiences for students,” said Dr. Susan Ansleigh, Bay Path University’s Director of Graduate Program in Applied Behavior Analysis.

As part of the program with Bay Path University, BCI picks up 60 percent of the tuition cost. Students/staff who take part in the program commit to working for BCI for two years after receiving their BCBA®.

Fourteen BCI employees began the Bay Path University program last October. Rick and Brittany Freitas are brother and sister who both work at BCI and are enrolled in the BCBA program with Bay Path University.

“I knew I wanted to get my BCBA®. The how was the difficult part,” said Brittany Freitas, who has worked at BCI since January, 2015. “I’m grateful to have an employer like BCI who has made it possible for me, my brother and our co-workers to earn this extremely important certification.”

BCI staff members from the first class are slated to graduate with a Master’s degree in spring 2017 and will be able to sit for the BCBA® examination later that year.

Clinical coordinators interested in work opportunities at BCI 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.

For more information on Bay Path University, please visit http://www.baypath.edu/.

About Behavioral Concepts, Inc. (BCI)

Founded in 2002, BCI provides Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Occupational and Speech Therapy to children with autism and their families. These services are tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients. It’s BCI’s goal to maximize individual potential, increase independence and enhance our clients’ quality of life within their home, school and community.

BCI provides center- and home-based services through health insurance and is an approved provider of Specialty ABA Services for Early Intervention in Central Massachusetts. BCI’s main care center, located at 345A Greenwood Street in Worcester, Massachusetts, offers intensive treatment for young children aged 3 to 6 years of age, an after-school program for all school aged children and a weekend social skills program. BCI also provides in-home services within a one-hour radius of Worcester.

BCI’s Corporate Offices are located in Mansfield, Mass. For complete information, visit https://bciaba.com or to arrange a consultation with a BCI clinician, please call (508) 363-0200.

BCI Holds Open House! Unveils New Services!

August 14, 2014 by admin

On August 13th, 2014 Behavioral Concepts Inc. hosted an open house to the Autism Community. During this event families and others associated with the Autism Community visited our facility, were informed of our services and were able to visit our newly finished center. With the opening of our center comes the unveiling of new services as well. These services are as follows: Center Based, After School and Weekend Social Skill Services.

Center Based:
BCI is excited to announce the opening of Center Based ABA Services. Center Based Services provides Applied Behavioral Analysis(ABA) techniques and methodology to children diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder in a clinic-like environment. The skills taught will be delivered 1:1 by a specially trained ABA Therapist under the supervision of a BCBA.

After School:
After School Services are designed to aid your child in after school activities like Homework, Social Skills, Special Interest Clubs and Sports.

Social Skills:
Behavioral Concepts Inc, provides a unique opportunity for your child to attend social skills groups with typically developing peers. It is our goal to set forth this group in such a way that it will enhance your child’s opportunity to learn and practice skills with same age peers in a group setting. The group facilitators will include a Clinical Coordinator and/or BCBA on site.
Social skills are those communication, problem-solving, decision making, self-management, and peer relations abilities that allow one to initiate and maintain positive social relationships with others. Deficits or excesses in social behavior interfere with learning, teaching, and adult/ peer relationships. Social competence is linked to peer acceptance, adult/ teacher acceptance, inclusion success, and post school success.
Children with autism have difficulty managing many of the life enhancing experiences enjoyed by their typically aged peers. Whether it’s going to the playground, eating in a restaurant, or going to a highly stimulating children’s activity center (e.g., Chuck E. Cheese) our trained staff will accompany the parent(s) to promote the generalization of skills taught in the isolation of the home. For example our staff will be with you when navigating the grocery store, getting a haircut, or visiting their physician or dentist. Our clinicians may create social stories, visuals and/ or reinforcement procedures to help your child to understand the expectations and the sequence of events that occur in each novel visit.

All of our services are arranged through the following insurance companies: Aetna, Beacon, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Fallon Health, Harvard Pilgrim, Tufts and United Behavioral Health.