Submitted by: Lauren Green, BCBA

Receiving a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is imaginably difficult. As a parent, answers are what we seek. What additional supports are there for my child and how do I go about knowing what sources of information to trust?

I have social media and I see articles, blogs, and posts from friends that show so many things that help their children with Autism. I have seen essential oils, diets, weighted vests and blankets, therapies that I have never heard of, but claim to cure Autism. I am desperate to see changes and to help my child. How do I determine if these things will really help?

If you have ever felt this way, please know you are not alone. Thankfully, there are some really great resources for parents of person’s with Autism Spectrum Disorder. These resources will help you determine what research has been conducted for the treatments you read about online as well as what treatments are proven to be effective in reducing the symptoms associated with ASD.

One resource that is particularly helpful in aiding parents in determining effectiveness of treatment is the National Standards Report by the National Autism Center. The report takes a look at all treatments that have had any research completed and categorizes the treatments into the following areas: Established Treatments (there is substantial research producing positive outcomes for the treatments listed), Emerging Treatments (there is some research showing positive outcomes, but more research is needed before determining if the treatments are effective treatments), Unestablished Treatments (there is little to no research done on these treatments to draw conclusions on their effectiveness or ineffectiveness), and Ineffective/Harmful Treatments (there are several well-controlled studies that show there is no positive effect from the treatment or the treatment produces harmful outcomes). Below is a link to the National Standards Report:

http://www.autismdiagnostics.com/assets/Resources/NSP2.pdf

Another resource for parents and families is the Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT). Their website is user friendly and allows parents to access information regarding effective treatments for their children. The website features a section regarding treatments, but also a section dedicated to parents who are navigating life with a child with ASD. Please visit the ASAT online at the link below:

http://www.asatonline.org/for-parents/

As you seek out help for your child, remember that you aren’t alone in your questions. You aren’t alone in your desires to see your child progress. You aren’t alone in wondering where to begin searching for answers. As you search, we hope you consider the use of resources listed above as guidance for choosing effective treatments.

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Submitted by: Stacey Francesconi, BCBA

There are big things happening for Reaching Milestones in 2017! Already an established agency in the Southern Region (Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina), Reaching Milestones strives to bring high quality ABA services to families in need. In the new year we are broadening our services to cover a new region: New York! New York state is a mandated insurance coverage state but with a lack of providers in the Upstate Region quality services are hard to come by. The following is the process that lead to the Capital Region getting its very own Reaching Milestones clinic!

My name is Stacey and I joined the Reaching Milestones team in 2012. I am a certified Special Education teacher who needed a change of pace. Once joining the team as a behavior technician I was hooked on ABA. I worked my way up to lead behavior technician, BCaBA, BCBA, and supervising BCBA in my 3 years at the Richmond Hill Georgia clinic. This was the best time of my life but I wanted to move back to my home state of New York to be with family. Once arriving home I realized the immense shortage of clinics who were like Reaching Milestones. Who am I kidding I was shocked at the lack of ABA in this area all around! I showed a need, met with lots of influential people, and proposed an offer to the leaders at Reaching Milestones. I was unsure if they’d be willing to expand that far or to give me a chance. After reviewing my hard work and the NEED in this area they decided it was time for Reaching Milestones to give these families in need the high-quality services they both needed and deserved. Now it was my time to make it happen!

We have had a lot of help along the way from doctors, families, other practitioners, and others in the field. Dr. Bentley from Developmental Pediatrics in Latham has been instrumental in getting our mission statement out to parents and believing in our contiguity of services. Janine Kruiswijk and the Autism Society of the Greater Capital Region have let us host parent trainings on toilet training and food acceptance. They have welcomed us to many of their events where we could spread the word on ABA. The amazing ladies at ABC Nursery School in Clifton Park have been the most welcoming and open hosts as we await our own building. They have let us use space to see a small amount of kids while we develop a client base and determine the perfect building space for our own clinic. There have been many others on the journey, too many to name, and we thank them all!

At this point we are credentialed with multiple insurance agencies, have a small group of clients, and have been hosting workshops and events. The future holds our own building with what I know will be an amazing staff. The process has been tough, and the hardest parts might not be over for me but in the end I know it will be worth it to help the families that need it right here in my hometown. I am so thankful for all who have helped and cannot wait for the next leg of this journey! Stay tuned on the Reaching Milestones Facebook page to see what NY is doing and feel free to contact me if you’re in the area and would like to be a part of this amazing journey.

Let’s do this NY!

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