Behavioral Concepts (BCI), a company of behavioral clinicians specializing in the care of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) throughout Central Massachusetts, is proud to sponsor the second annual “Halloween Full of Pieces” autism-friendly Halloween party which will be held on October 28, 2018 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Knights of Columbus, 91 Manville Street, Leicester, MA. This event is open to the public.
Hosted by the Knights of Columbus Council 4528, this special event is a sensory-friendly and safe trick or treating experience for children with ASD. BCI’s Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapists will assist in the event alongside the Knights and staff volunteers.
The event will feature a haunted house, sensory-friendly activities, face painting and more.
There is no cost to attend “Halloween Full of Pieces” party and children may wear costumes if they wish.
“From all the scary decorations, lights and sounds to sensory issues with costume clothing fabric and accessories, Halloween can be an especially tricky time for children and families with autism,” explained Sally Burke, a Licensed Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) at BCI.
Below, Burke offers five tips to help families with autism celebrate Halloween:
1. If you think your child would like to (and can tolerate) wearing a costume, have him/her practice wearing it for short intervals while playing in the days/weeks prior to Halloween.
2. A visual social story or a book that discusses the topic of Halloween and what to expect prior to the event can be extremely helpful. Review it often in the days leading up to Halloween.
3. Practice trick or treating with a family member or neighbor you know well. Whether you and your child gets to one house or quite a few on Halloween, be sure to praise them for a job well done.
4. Plan your trick or treating route. Consider skipping homes with lots of lights, sounds and scary decorations.
5. Remember, staying home and passing out treats may be just as much fun for your child as going out, so don’t rule out the option.
About BCI
Behavioral Concepts (BCI) provides Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services to children with autism and their families in central Massachusetts. We identify and facilitate effective personalized instruction that allows children to discover more, learn more, and be more – increasing their independence and enhancing their quality of life at home, in school, and in the community. BCI is a Massachusetts Department of Public Health approved provider of specialty ABA services for early intervention. BCI also provides center, home-based, and afterschool services through private and public health insurance. The organization was founded in 2002 by Dr. Jeffrey R. Robinson. Further information on BCI is available at http://bciaba.com.
BCI is part of the LEARN Behavioral family of companies, a national organization dedicated to helping all children succeed in school and life. Learn more at http://learnitsystems.com.
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