BCI

More than 200 Central Massachusetts families made tracks to Great Wolf Lodge New England in Fitchburg for HMEA’s Autism Resource Central’s Family Fun Day held on Sunday, September 23, 2018.

The autism-friendly event, which was exclusively sponsored by Behavioral Concepts (BCI), a company of behavioral clinicians specializing in the care of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) throughout Central Massachusetts, presented an afternoon of fun at the Great Wolf Lodge indoor waterpark followed by a pizza party.

In addition to sponsorship, BCI was on-site hosting a number of Sensory Fun Activities, such as water beads, Play Doh, kinetic sand, and other activity stations, throughout the afternoon.

The popular event was sold out within a day.

“We’re pleased to have an opportunity to partner with our friends at Autism Resource Central and provide a day of fun in a supportive environment to families and children with ASD,” said Jeff Robinson, Ph. D., BCI’s President and CEO.

About Autism Resource Central
Located in Worcester, MA, HMEA’s Autism Resource Central of Central Massachusetts is a non-profit organization that serves as an information and referral service for children and families affected by disorders within the Autism Spectrum; Autism, PDD NOS and Asperger’s. Autism Resource Central supports the needs of more than 3,000 families in Central Massachusetts. For more information, visit autismresourcecentral.org.

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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Family Fun Day at Great Wolf Lodge a Great Success – Autism Friendly EventRead More

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.

BCI Announces “Halloween Full of Pieces” Autism Friendly Event October 28thRead More

Two Directors at Behavioral Concepts (BCI), a company of behavioral clinicians specializing in the care of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) throughout Central Massachusetts, will speak at the Association for Behavior Analysis International’s (ABAI) 44th Annual Convention which will be held at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego and Marriott Marquis San Diego & Marina in San Diego, California, May 24–28, 2018.

Jill McGrale Maher, M.A., BCBA, LABA, Program Director at BCI’s Fitchburg location, will lead the workshop “Teaching Staff to Teach Social Skills Groups for Learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder” on Thursday, May 24, 2018.

Maher will also speak on the topic of “Teaching Staff to Effectively Teach Groups of Learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder” (assisted by BCI’s Katelyn Moisan) and on the topic “Making Significant Staff and Client Behavior Change Using Basic Strategies” (assisted by BCI’s Katelyn Moisan) on Saturday, May 26, 2018.

Maher, who is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Licensed Applied Behavior Analyst (LABA), has more than 35 years combined experience in special education and applied behavior analysis, leading programs for children with autism spectrum disorders. She has presented papers at numerous conferences and invited talks across the country and has several publications.

Maher joined BCI in 2017. She holds a master’s degree in human development and completed coursework towards her Ph.D. in developmental and child psychology from the University of Kansas. Maher is a state certified special education teacher as well as an adjunct professor at Endicott College and has previously taught at Worcester State University. She is a member of ABAI, the Berkshire Association of Behavior Analysis and Therapy (BABAT), and the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA).

Candice Colón-Kwedor, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LABA, Director of Professional Development and Research at BCI’s Worcester location, will speak on the topic of “Response Interruption and Redirection Treatment Integrity Considerations” on Saturday, May 26, 2018.

Dr. Colón-Kwedor specializes in the assessment and treatment of severe challenging behavior in children and adolescents and has 13 years of experience providing consultative services and clinical services in the private school and residential setting. She joined BCI in 2017. Dr. Colón-Kwedor serves as adjunct faculty at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and previously held a similar position at Endicott College. More recently, she was elected to serve on the Board for the Berkshire Association of Behavior Analysis and Therapy (BABAT). Dr. Colón-Kwedor received her doctoral degree from Western New England University and obtained a Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis from Northeastern University. She is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D) and Licensed Applied Behavior Analyst (LABA) in the state of Massachusetts.

She is a member of ABAI, BABAT, and the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA). Dr. Colón-Kwedor’s research has been published in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. She is also a contributing author to a BCBA supervision reference manual and has served as a guest reviewer for The Analysis of Verbal Behaviorand Behavioral Interventions.

To learn more about the ABAI conference, visit https://www.abainternational.org/events/annual-2018.aspx.

For more information about BCI, visit http://bciaba.com/.

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 It family of companies, a national organization dedicated to helping all children succeed in school and life. Learn more at http://learnitsystems.com/family

BCI Directors Speak at ABAI Conference in San DiegoRead More

Valentine’s Day is around the corner. But, for teens with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a day focused on relationships and filled with social interaction can create an array of emotional confusion.

From understanding non-verbal social cues and holding “successful” conversations to dealing with anxiety, making friends and dating – it is imperative that teens on the spectrum learn social skills and social relatedness. Not only will learning social skills better enable them to relate to their peers while in school, it sets them up for future success when it comes to living independently, holding a job, and building relationships.

Jill McGrale Maher, M.A., BCBA, LABA, Program Director at Behavioral Concepts (BCI), a company of behavioral clinicians specializing in the care of children with ASD throughout Central Massachusetts, explained, “It’s important to first identify your older child’s fears and deficits in the area of social skills in order to help untangle the emotions involved.”

McGrale Maher offers four key tips for parents of teens with ASD:

•    Teach your teen about different situations that may happen on Valentine’s Day by role playing the exchange of Valentine’s cards or treats.
•    Discuss the purpose behind Valentine’s Day and provide more detail. Role-play and rehearse everything including personal space, eye-contact, voice volume, and turn taking.
•    Several days prior to a Valentine’s Day event, role-play and rehearse exactly what is expected.  It can be very helpful in alleviating anxiety to actually visit where the event will take place as well.
•    For teens who may have a date, review everything including hygiene, manners, what to say, conversation starters, endings, and how to save a conversation. Again, roleplay as much as you can.

According to McGrale Maher, “Social skills deficits are one of the first indicators of ASD. Additionally, evidence clearly indicates that when young adults with ASD are not successful in life and work situations, it is almost always due to a lack of social skills.”

Fitchburg and Worcester After School Programs Focus on Social Skills
BCI has developed After School and Saturday programs to teach social skills to children and teens, with the goal of imparting skills to ensure a happy, successful, blended life in the community.

Social skills programming encompasses social pragmatics, group working skills, play skills, imitation, observational skills, perspective taking skills, how to act in a variety of situations, relationship development, self-awareness, and self-management. The teen social skills programs are more expansive and include dealing with frustration, anger and anxiety, advanced conversational skills, reading non-verbal cues, building and maintaining relationships, dealing with family and school demands, and decision making.

After identifying and assessing each child’s current social skills, the children are divided into three group levels. Typically, level one is for young children, level two for ages eight to 11 years-old, and level three is for teens. The after-school sessions run a minimum of two hours, and Saturday morning and afternoon sessions are each three hours long. The Fitchburg program has capacity for 30 students, while Worcester can accommodate 60 students.

For more information about BCI’s After School and Saturday programs, visit bciaba.com

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 It family of companies, a national organization dedicated to helping all children succeed in school and life. Learn more at http://learnitsystems.com/family.

Navigating Valentine’s Day – BCI Offers Helpful Social Tips for Teens with ASDRead More

Is your child ready for school? Many parents and students feel anxious about the changes a new school year brings.

Janice McNeill, MS, BCBA, LABA, Director of Hockomock Area Services at Behavioral Concepts, Inc. (BCI), a company of behavioral clinicians specializing in the care of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) throughout Central Massachusetts, offers tips to better prepare families for some of the challenges and obstacles faced at the start of a new school year.

Visit the school, classroom, and or teacher to help prepare your child for the school year. During your visit, encourage your child to sit in the chairs, at their desk or on the rug, whichever is appropriate for their level of schooling. Take pictures of your child in their classroom, with their teacher, on the bus, with the bus driver, and in any other school or transition settings. You can use these pictures informally or you may choose to develop a social story about their school day.

Share pertinent details about your child with the school team. Information about your child’s preferences (both their likes and dislikes); your goals for your child during the coming days and school year; as well as any changes in allergies, medications, behavior, or learning needs should be shared with your child’s school team. This is particularly important if your child is new to school, attending a school new to them, or has had changes in any of the above information. It is often beneficial to communicate by email since this provides a written record for your reference.

Set up a visual schedule. Similar to a “chore chart”, outlining a child’s daily responsibilities can help them follow a routine and gain independence at home and at school. If your child can brush their teeth, make their bed, and get themselves dressed for school, but does not do so without prompting from you to move from one activity to the other, the use of a visual schedule may help to increase their independence, and increase the time you have available for the morning routines and activities you need to complete.

Calendars are key. Calendars help us all schedule our commitments and plan our time, but they can also help to increase your child’s awareness of when certain activities will take place or when activities will be available. For example, if your child struggles with understanding when they can go swimming, show them a calendar with a swimming sticker on swim day (e.g. Saturday). Make a point of marking an “x” through each day before bedtime to mark the passage of time which may help them learn when they can go swimming and help increase their ability to wait.

Get more rest. Studies show in general that those of us living in the U.S. do not sleep enough, which can be a particular area of difficulty for student and parents. Setting a specific time for bed (or at least quiet time in their room until sleep occurs) and rising at the same time each morning can help the transition to increased sleep.

Set up and practice morning and evening routines. A sleep inducing bedtime routine could include listening to relaxing music, using a night light instead of leaving a light on, and enjoying a warm drink. Consider foods, eaten two hours or so before bedtime, that can induce sleepiness such as bananas, almonds, milk, cereal, oatmeal, and cherries (taking care to avoid allergens).

“Above all, consider individual strengths and struggles – yours and your child’s,” said McNeill. “Making a plan for decreasing the areas of struggle can help increase your child’s skills and your resourcefulness. Using tools such as calendars and schedules, and creating and sticking to routines will significantly help with the transition to a new school year.”

About Behavioral Concepts, Inc. (BCI)

Behavioral Concepts (BCI) provides Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services to children with autism and their families in central Massachusetts.  BCI identifies and facilitates 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. As a Massachusetts Department of Public Health approved provider of specialty ABA services for early intervention, BCI provides center, home-based, and after-school 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.

Behavioral Concepts, Inc. Offers Tips to Help Children Adjust to a New School YearRead More