Interventions

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

ABA is the most comprehensive and effective approach to treating autism and related disabilities.  It provides a framework for addressing the child’s whole environment to assist in analyzing/treating behavior, teaching skills, and measuring progress.  Through ABA, we are heavily reliant on the use of positive reinforcement as a primary tool in creating positive changes.

Discrete Trial Teaching (DTT)

DTT provides a highly structured series of teaching lessons, consisting of high rates of practice trials during intense, direct instruction.  The goal of DTT instruction is to offer repeated exposure to target skills and increase the child’s rate of skill acquisition.

Incidental Teaching (IT)

IT allows for skill acquisition in a natural setting and is not as direct or structured as other methods of instruction.  The therapist is skilled in utilizing child-chosen motivators to drive program delivery and seeing every moment as a teaching opportunity, while targeting goals.  Motivation is the key force behind learning.   

Pivotal Response Training (PRT)

This highly effective approach targets several “pivotal” behaviors through child-chosen motivation to increase communication and socialization.  The primary focus is on developmental skills that children with autism are often lacking, such as initiating inquiries, responding to multiple cues, and self regulation.

Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)

PECS provides a visual system to teach children to engage in spontaneous, functional communication.  It follows a developmental sequence of vocabulary and allows children to communicate with ease to caregivers and peers.  PECS is a must for non-verbal and pre-verbal children, but is also effective in enhancing speech and language development in children with echolalia, processing delays, and difficulties in speech organization.

FloorTime

This child-centered, relationship-based method is ideal for the very young child and can easily be incorporated into parent-child play sessions.  Our goals in using FloorTime strategies include increasing eye contact, joint attention, social referencing, and emotion sharing during the early phases of intervention.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)

CBT techniques have been proven effective in the treatment of childhood fears/phobias, anxiety, enuresis and encopresis, eating disorders, social isolation, and issues with self esteem.

Social Skills Training

Our Master's and Doctoral level therapists combine proven techniques to gain success in teaching children to be an active part of a group. Children participate in fun, motivating activities that are specifically chosen to improve social pragmatic language and social-emotional behavior. See a list of classes offered.

Parent Training

A variety of training and workshop opportunities are available through the Center for Autism Resources and Education (C.A.R.E). Topics include: Behavior Management, Sibling Support, Diet and Nutrition, Development, Social Inclusion, Sensory Integration, Speech/Communication, and Many more. Check out the schedule of upcoming topics at www.careautism.net. These are open to the community and free of charge to caregivers and family members.

6215 Lorraine Road, Bradenton, FL 34202 (941) 758-4707