Thursday, December 1, 2011

Special Offer for App Store Gift Card


Now through December 31st, 2011, new registered participants will receive an iTunes App Store gift card compliments of Behavior Frontiers. Receive a $15 gift card for a family package or a $25 gift card for a professional package.    

Find the right ABA Online Training Package here.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Now parents and professionals who are registered for Behavior Frontiers Online ABA Training can download, pre-fill and print helpful data sheets to use during behavior intervention programs for children with autism. Find a list of all of the data sheets at Behavior Frontiers Training Center. Our online training program is designed to provide you with all the ABA methods needed to work effectively with children with autism and other special needs. Our participant manual, downloadable forms & video access for up to one year from registration are all just part of our unique training packages now available in easy payment options. For more information, visit our Behavior Frontiers Online Training Center.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

CalABA Meeting 11/16 in Santa Monica

The CalABA Insurance Work Group is hosting a regional meeting to disseminate the latest information on ABA coverage by health insurance companies.

Come talk about the insurance, legislation and CalABA's goals for its members. Talk about how things look from your point of view. 

This meeting should be a priority for all behavior analysts. 

When: November 16th, from 5:45 - 7 pm
Where: Ken Edwards Center, 1527 4th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401
RSVP via email to Daniel Shabani by Monday, November 7th.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Santa Monica Disabilities Commission Poster Contest


Calling all kids in grades K - 12 in Santa Monica, CA... It's poster contest time!

Universally accessible playgrounds are places where children of all abilities can play side by side. They even make it possible for parents with disabilities and seniors to participate.

What does this mean to you?

SHOW US!

Who would play there? What would it look like? What would be in it?

Winning posters will be displayed at City Hall and the site of the new universally accessible playground during construction.

Entry deadline: October 21, 2011
Contest Flyer - English (pdf)
Contest Flyer - Spanish (pdf)

For more information on universally accessible playgrounds, please visit www.facebook.com/smbuap.

Questions about the contest? Contact Stacy Rowe at 310-458-8644 or stacy.rowe@smgov.net.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

New Updates in Our Los Angeles Office


We are pleased to announce some wonderful staffing updates within Behavior Frontiers!

First, Kelly Kratzer has been promoted to Clinical Director of our Los Angeles office. She will be working with our behavior supervisors and case managers to oversee the behavior intervention programs for all of the clients based out of our Los Angeles office.

Also, Christine Russ has been promoted to Scheduling Coordinator. She will continue to schedule cases on the Westside, as well as working with our schedulers to oversee the schedules for all of the clients based out of our Los Angeles office.

Furthermore, please welcome a new addition to our staff, Hilda Franco, who has been hired as another scheduler! She will transition into the role of scheduling clients located in the South Bay Area of our Los Angeles office.

We are excited to have these individuals supporting the Behavior Frontiers team in new ways and we look forward to the improvements that will come with their input and knowledge.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Back To School Tips for Children with Autism



  1. Go shopping! Involve your child in back to school shopping as much as possible. While it is important that the parent maintain control of the price ranges and items purchased, allowing your child to have a reasonable amount of say (e.g., choosing the Power Rangers pencil box instead of the Sponge Bob one) in any school supplies and clothes can help to make him/her more excited to use the new things and in turn more excited about the upcoming school year. You can maximize the effectiveness of this strategy by having your child wait until school starts to wear new school clothes or use the new school supplies. That is, of course, unless your child typically needs time to grow accustomed to new things, in which case you can use the days prior to school starting to have “practice” school days where you can expose your child to his/her new things.
  2. Write a personalized social story. Write a story preparing your child for the upcoming school year. Take into consideration what things will remain the same – these things will be comforting to children for whom change creates anxiety. Also, be sure to explain any changes that will come with the beginning of the school year – if your child is changing schools, teacher, aides (or anything that you feel may be troubling to your child), take this opportunity to prepare him/her. See if you can get pictures of the new things that will be in your child’s environment and do your best to describe them in language that your child will understand. If you aren’t able to get actual pictures, try to find pictures on the internet or use clip art. Read the story to your child daily as the first day of school draws near. Not sure how to start? Use this template as a start, but be sure to personalize it to your child’s situation and needs. [PAGE 1 & PAGE 2]
  3. Count down! Get a calendar for your child and highlight the first day of school. When there is a week or two before school is to begin, show your child the calendar as you mark off the current day and explain how many days remain before the first day of school. Use this time to address any fears about the upcoming school year and get a feel for your child’s comfort level with going back to school. This is also a great time to read your social story! On at least one of these days, it may be a good idea to take your child to the school and just play on the playground, if that’s possible, especially if your child will be attending a new school. Remind your child how much fun he/she will soon get to have every day!

Thursday, August 4, 2011

What is Autism? Do You Know the Signs?

Autism is a spectrum disorder which includes a large range of symptoms and behaviors. This video features children showing signs of autism.


This video is part of our ABA Online Training Center for parents and professionals. To find out about our online training and seminars, visit: http://training.behaviorfrontiers.com/

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

New Resource Web Site Serving Southern California

From the Law Offices of Jeffrey A. Gottlieb, http://www.barbaraskids.com is a classifieds and directory to help parents locate resources for their special children. Categories range from attorneys, non-profit advocacy organizations to IEP support and autism therapy services.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

ABA Training for Parents & Professionals

Behavior Frontiers, a nonpublic agency offering solutions to help children with autism and other special needs using state-of-the-art applied behavior analysis (ABA) services, has launched an innovative ABA training program for parents and professionals. Available in two formats, the training program can be completed in person at a seminar led by a Behavior Frontiers Specialist or through the Online Training Center. 

ABA treatment focuses on applying behavior methods to help improve the behaviors, as well as the overall quality of life, of children with autism and other special needs. It involves rewarding children for appropriate behavior and not rewarding their problem behaviors. Parents, teachers, classroom aides, therapists, and others can now use Behavior Frontiers training program to learn how to use these practical ABA methods to help change their child’s life for the better. 

Participants attending a live seminar will learn ABA methods under the guidance of Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) in a 2-day intensive training environment. Live seminars will be available is most major cities by the end of 2011. The seminar includes over one hundred professionally produced video demonstrations of instructors using techniques with students, as well as role-play and discussion activities. 

The online training is a total of 4 ½ hours of video-based instruction, which can be taken at the participants’ own pace. The online training includes all the videos from the training seminar in order to give participants the information they need to learn about ABA methods to effectively help students with autism and other special needs. 

Participants who register as “Behavior Analyst” or “Professional” may access an online exam after they have finished their training seminar or online training. Once these participants successfully pass the exam, they will become Certified Behavior Instructors for Autism – Level 1 and may be listed on Behavior Frontiers online registry for one year. 

“ABA methods have been supported by hundreds of scientific studies spanning the past five decades and have been found to be effective by numerous agencies and organizations,” says Behavior Frontiers Founder, Helen Mader, M.A., B.C.B.A., and “we felt is was critical to develop and offer the most comprehensive ABA training to both parents and professionals. Our ABA training videos make learning these new skills clear and easy because participants are able to actually see instructors effectively using these methods with children.” 

To find out more about Behavior Frontiers Innovative Training & Treatment, call 888-922-2843 or visit http://www.training.behaviorfrontiers.com.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

An Artist with Autism

Follow an aspiring artist on her journey through life with autism. Not diagnosed until age 30, Siobhan Purdy documents how she has adapted her behavior to deal with her anxieties, overcome fears, and do what makes her happy. Read her blog and check out more of her artwork.


Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Behavior Frontiers Expands to the Dallas/Ft. Worth Area

The new Behavior Frontiers office located in North Dallas will serve the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex and the surrounding Collin, Denton and Tarrant counties. We will also serve military families through TRICARE’s Enhanced Access to Autism Services Demonstration Project in the Naval Air Station JRB Fort Worth area.

Families will receive individualized ABA treatment plans provided by Behavior Frontiers’ knowledgeable and highly-trained clinical staff members, including Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), using accurate and results-driven ABA methods to improve the quality of life for children and their families.

We are pleased to announce that Grace Gomez, M.A., B.C.B.A., a valued member of the Behavior Frontiers team for almost six years, will be the Clinical Director of the new Dallas office. Although her positive outlook, knowledgeable clinical skills, and helpful attitude will be greatly missed in the Los Angeles office, we know that the families and employees she works with in Texas will benefit immensely.

Behavior Frontiers is now seeking qualified individuals to fill multiple positions, such as behavior supervisor, behavior instructor, and administrative assistant/scheduler, for the Dallas/Ft. Worth location. Interested applicants are encourage to send their cover letter and resume to CareersDallas@behaviorfrontiers.com.

Friday, May 13, 2011

Light it up blue was a HUGE success!!!

Thank you to everyone who helped spread autsim awareness by showing off your blue lights on April 2nd. Your efforts were recognized and greatly appreciated! The team here at Behavior Frontiers all contributed by bringing in lamps from home and blue lights to shine our light on autism awareness from our 4th floor office here in Los Angeles.


 
If you liked that, you'll love the beautiful pictures of prominent buildings and landmarks from around the world including the Sydney Opera House, Empire State Building, and even Niagara falls showing their support by lighting it up blue: http://action.autismspeaks.org/page/m/5ecb3c0a/5ea9e309/66516c76/2c139b44/717948995/VEsF/

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

California Autism Insurance Reform Bill


AB 171 will have its first hearing on Tuesday, April 26th at 1:30 pm.

Call your Assemblymember and ask them to co-author AB 171 and ask them to speak with their colleagues on the Assembly Health Committee and encourage them to support AB 171 and vote YES when it is called for a vote, if they are not already a co-author of the bill.

Find your assemblymember here

If you aren't sure of what to say, this will get you started:

"Hi. My name is (NAME) and I live at (ADDRESS) in your district. I am calling to ask Assemblymember (NAME) to co-author AB 171, the autism insurance reform bill, and ask for the favor of asking their colleagues on the Assembly Health Committee to join them and support the bill by voting YES when it comes to a vote. Not only will this bill provide the children of California with appropriate health care coverage for the treatments and therapies they need but it will save the state millions of dollars every year. This is very important to my own family because (STATE YOUR REASON). Thank you so much for your support."

Posting this below can help you spread the word through Facebook/Twitter as well.

"Attention CA friends and family! Help me secure healthcare coverage for my child with autism. Insurance companies in our state have consistently denied him/her with access to the therapy and treatment that he/she needs. Please register at autismvotes.org. Then help by calling your Assemblymember to ask them to co-author AB 171. Thanks so much!"

Via autismvotes.org


Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Light It Up Blue

Behavior Frontiers just pledged to Light It Up Blue for autism -- and we think you should too! World Autism Awareness Day is coming up on Saturday, April 2, and it’s going to light up the world in blue! Light It Up Blue is an easy way to raise awareness about autism and be part of a worldwide movement to show your support for the autism community.

Sign the pledge to raise autism awareness: http://action.autismspeaks.org/share-blue

Participating in Light It Up Blue is simple -- just sign the pledge to do things like wear blue clothing, feature the Light It Up Blue logo on your Facebook profile, or write a blog posts about the event. http://action.autismspeaks.org/share-blue

Thanks for helping us light it up blue this year!


Thursday, March 10, 2011

Join Our Team for Walk Now for Autism Speaks

Walk Now for Autism Speaks is Saturday, April 23, 2011! Please take a minute and join our team. Together we can walk to change the future for all who struggle with autism.

It's simple to join:
Click This Link and search for Behavior Frontiers:
Walk Now For Autism Speaks!


2011 Los Angeles Walk Now for Autism Speaks

Monday, February 7, 2011

CA-Important Proposed $750 Million Cut in Services

Governor Brown's administration has proposed cutting $750 million from regional centers.  This is a huge cut which will undoubtedly have tremendous consequences for children and adults served by the regional centers. Here is a summary of some of what the legislature has proposed, so far, followed by information on what you can do.

Some of the Proposed Cost-Cutting Methods
Legislative Analyst's Policy Brief. Cost-cutting options include: (a) expanding existing Family Cost Participation (i.e., having families contribute to payment for services), or, (b) using means testing to determine program eligibility, for example, limiting regional center eligibility to families who do not have the means to pay for the services (for family of 4, this cut-off could be for families making more than $89,000/yr).

Proposed budget trailer bill language - New Service Standards: This would require DDS (which oversees regional centers) to develop new standards regarding an individual's eligibility for regional center services, duration & frequency of services, and parent responsibilities.  Given that this is a cost-cutting measure, it is assumed that this could further limit who is eligible for services, the duration of services, the intensity of services, and require more parent training and less direct provision of 1:1 services.

Proposed budget trailer bill language - RC Services - 85% direct/15% indirect  - This would affect every regional center service provider.  It would require that, "at least 85% of regional center funds (received by the provider) be spent on direct services (i.e., paying our interventionists and supervisors)."  That is, no more than 15% of regional center revenue could be spent on employee training, administrative staff (e.g., our schedulers, etc.), directors who oversee clinical quality & so on.  Stanford University's Stanford Social Innovation Review published a research article titled, "The Nonprofit Starvation Cycle," which describes the impact of underfunding overhead.  As one colleague notes, "The article describes how underfunding overhead will have disastrous effects on services (and) may jeopardize organizations existence... It reports that overhead rates across all industries vary but the average is 25%."

What You Can Do:
1.     Write or call the chairs and members of the budget subcommittees. Tell them how these unprecedented cuts will affect you and your family. The California Disability Action Network (CDCAN) suggests that, "We need to focus on the amount - the total $750 million reduction in state general fund spending in developmental services that the Governor is proposing and to persuade the Legislature to reject, or significantly reduce that amount. We can and should offer up ideas and solutions to save money later - after the Legislature makes a decision about the$750 million. Any idea we come up with now does nothing to lower the overall reduction amount of $750 million. That is the issue and threat confronting ALL of us NOW."

Here is their contact info (From CDCAN):
Sen. Mark DeSaulnier, Chair
Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health and Human Services
State Capitol - Room 5019
Sacramento, CA 95814

Copy to:
Sen. Mark Leno, Chair
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee
State Capitol - Room 5019
Sacramento, CA 95814

Assemblymember Holly Mitchell, Chair
Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services
State Capitol - Room 6026
Sacramento, CA 95814

Copy to:
Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield, Chair
Assembly Budget Committee
State Capitol - Room 6026
Sacramento, CA 95814

And ALWAYS send copies to:

The name of your own State Senator and Assemblymember
State Capitol (no room needed)
Sacramento, CA 95814
Note: sending the letter to their district office - where you live - is better

Marty Omoto at CDCAN also recommends sending a letter via mail vs. email as he says emails are more likely to be ignored.
  
2.  Sign up for free CDCAN reports at http://www.cdcan.us/ to stay informed on the budget crisis and how it affects your child's services.

3. Attend the upcoming legislative hearing in Sacramento regarding the $750 million in cuts:
Thurs 2/10/11- Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health & Human Services, 10:00 am, State Capitol, Room 4203

The legislature will likely take action on these proposed cuts sometime this month, so the time to have a voice is now.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Researchers Create Autistic Neuron Model

A recent study leads to great breakthroughs in our ability to study autism spectrum disorders! Scientists from the Salk Institute of Biological scientists and UC San Diego used stem cells of people with Rett Syndrome to replicate autism in the lab allowing them to learn more about the way autism develops and progresses. Key findings demonstrated that the neural symptoms of autism are reversible, raising hope that autism may one day be curable. Read more here: http://bit.ly/eogyH3