Page 74 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2016

GIVING BACK autism treatment
MISSISSIPPI CENTER FOR AUTISM
& RELATED DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES Mississipi Center For Autism
The Mississippi Center for Autism
& Related Developmental Disabilities (MCARDD) was founded in 2005
by Dr. Alfred E. McNair, Jr. with a mission to provide the best available treatment and services to anyone affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder so they can live fuller, more complete lives.
“As the need for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) programs grew
for addressing complex behaviors associated with Autism or other
disorders, services expanded and continue to grow to meet the needs of families,” says Terra Dickey, director of the center. “Thus, MCARDD’s intervention program which consists of clinic-based Autism services was implemented.”
MCARDD provides a clinic based program in which basic skills are taught to each child to enhance communication and living skills. Each child has one-to-one sessions with an ABA therapist based upon his or her individual program. Through this program, the center provides:
• Language and Functional Communication: communicating needs to others
• Independent Play: playing alone with no assistance
• Social Skills: interacting with others
• Imitation: imitating behaviors or
vocalizations of others
• Listener Responding: attending and
story by Lynn Lofton
responding to spoken words • Visual/Perceptual Skills:
interpreting things he/she sees
visually
“These services are designed for
children who may have behaviors
that are interfering with their ability to learn,” Dickey said. “An analysis
of the behavior of concern will be completed via parent interview and direct observation. Once the analysis is conducted, a plan will be written
in which parents receive training. For center-based ABA therapy to have lasting effects, parents must assist the child with bringing the skills he or she learns to other natural environments, especially in the home and community settings. This may include making changes to the physical environment, changing the way family members interact with the child, and practicing and rewarding skills learned at the center.”
photos courtesy of
Mississippi Center for Autism and Related Developmental Disabilities
4061 Suzanne Dr., D’Iberville 39540 | 228.396.4434 | www.mscentersforautism.org
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