SPOKANE, Wash. — Most families of children with autism are left in limbo when it comes to seeking therapy.
Specifically, applied behavior analysis therapy, which is what SOAR Behavior Services specializes in.
The clinic has been treating children with autism with applied behavior analysis therapy for about five years.
But the clinic just created a new program this year — a short-term day treatment program — to grant more children access to this therapy that’s high in demand and hard to come by.
SOAR Behavior Services regularly has a waitlist of more than 300 families seeking ABA therapy.
And it’s not uncommon for families across the country to be put on waitlists for six months to a year or more.
“At SOAR, we understand how frustrating that wait can be when you’ve just received a diagnosis and now you have to wait to get your child treatment,” said Executive Director of SOAR Behavior Services Jim Matthews. “But that’s also why we’re so excited to be able to provide this new program because hopefully it will provide parents with some of that relief that they’ve been wanting.”
The program is fully funded and initiated by the Washington State Healthcare Authority.
Children attend a 48-day program that includes speech therapy as well.
Parents will also get some training that will help them navigate their child’s diagnosis.
Overall, the new program is meant to give families an introduction to ABA therapy before pursuing it long-term for their child.
According to SOAR, applied behavior analysis is considered the gold standard for autism therapy.
It supports the idea that positive reinforcement leads to autistic children learning social, verbal and cognitive skills that will help them in life.
Spokane mom, Alex Miller says her seven-year-old daughter, Iris, has grown through ABA therapy — going from being non-verbal to saying ‘Mom’ for the first time two years ago.
“You hear ‘Mom’ for the first time and you’re just totally taken aback by it. You’re like ‘Oh my gosh!’ and you’re just like sobbing. It’s amazing, it’s life-changing,” said Miller.
Before finding SOAR, Miller says she called every place that offered ABA therapy, even places in Seattle, looking for treatment for her daughter.
She says the professionals at SOAR Behavior Services were just the community she and her daughter needed.
For more information on the new day treatment program, see this page on the SOAR Behavior Services website.
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SOAR Behavior Services starts new program to grant families access to autism therapy - KXLY Spokane
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