Page 129 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2018

GIVING BACK autism programs
MISSISSIPPI CENTER FOR AUTISM
& RELATED DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster photos courtesy of MS 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
responding to spoken words
• Visual/Perceptual Skills: interpreting
things he/she sees visually
The newest program at MCARDD is
happening in local school districts. “In August of 2018 we were contracted by the Ocean Springs and Jackson County School Districts,” said Director of Education Outreach Donna Joachim. “Now ABA Therapy is being offered
in the classroom. Therapists from the center work within the teacher’s schedule to provide ABA therapy, removing the need to attend therapy after school hours.”
Mississippi Center for Autism and Related Developmental Disabilities
4061 Suzanne Dr., D’Iberville 39540 228.396.4434 | www.mscentersforautism.org
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