CARD Researchers Named to the Board of Editors of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD), Research and Development Director Jonathan Tarbox PhD, BCBA-D and Research and Development Manager Adel C. Najdowski PhD, BCBA-D have been invited to sit on the editorial board of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis (JABA), a highly regarded journal, that publishes peer-reviewed, research on applications of the experimental analysis of behavior to problems of social importance.
“This is an exceptional honor as JABA is the premier scientific journal in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and we are really excited by the opportunity to serve on the board of editors,” says Dr. Tarbox.

Dr. Tarbox and Dr. Najdowski join Research and Development Manager’s Dennis R. Dixon, PhD, who is now serving as a member of the Editorial Board for Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders and Research in Developmental Disabilities and Melissa Olive PhD, BCBA-D who sits on the Board of Editors for the Journal of Early Intervention, Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, Exceptional Children, and Young Exceptional Children.

About The Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis (JABA):
JABA was established in 1968 as a peer-reviewed, psychology journal, that publishes research about applications of the experimental analysis of behavior to problems of social importance. The journal is indexed in, among others, PubMed PsycINFO, and Web of Science. It is published quarterly by the Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior (SEAB). JABA is a delayed open access journal: all issues from 1968 onwards, except the most recent three, are available free from PubMed Central.

About the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD):
The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD) maintains a reputation as one of the world’s largest and most experienced organizations effectively treating children with autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, PDD-NOS, and related disorders. Following the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), CARD develops individualized treatment plans for each child. CARD provides both US regional and remote services around the globe through its 19 satellite sites in California (11 sites), New York (2 sites), Virginia, Illinois, Texas, Arizona, Australia, and New Zealand as well as its franchise clinics in the United Arab Emirates and South Africa. With a mission to increase access to the most effective treatments, CARD has developed strong working relationships with parent organizations, schools and government agencies all over the world, including the Middle East, Europe, and Hawaii.

For more information about CARD, visit http://www.centerforautism.com/.

CARD Moves New Zealand Office to New Location

Office move is prompted by growing community need for top-quality autism treatment.

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders Inc. (CARD), one of the world’s largest organizations effectively treating autism, has relocated its Auckland, New Zealand satellite office. The new address is 72 Apollo Drive, 1st Floor Albany.

“The move was done to accommodate the growth and to help the center’s visibility in the area,” says CARD New Zealand Managing Supervisor Sheree Adams, BA, BCBA.

The new office location shares space with Autism House, a non profit organization dedicated to helping families with children with autism. “We will be working collaboratively with Autism House. They will refer families to us for diagnostic services and behavior intervention and we will provide the type of services families in the area need, including therapy, recreation and respite.”

CARD follows the principles of Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), a treatment for autism that has been researched and empirically validated by the scientific community. CARD Program utilizes an array of teaching methodologies based on ABA practices such as, Errorless Learning, Discrete Trial Training, Natural Environment Training, Fluency-Based Instruction, and Verbal Behavior.

CARD offers the following services, Initial Assessment which is conducted to determine service needs; Special Outpatient Services (SOS) which is designed to help individuals who may be struggling with specific problems; Comprehensive Programs, an approach to help children achieve success and Diagnostic Assessment that consists of various activities that allow you to observe social and communication behaviors related to the diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorders.

For more information about CARD New Zealand, visit www.centreforautism.co.nz , call 64 (9) 4195025, or email cardnz@xtra.co,nz

About the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD):
The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD) maintains a reputation as one of the world’s largest and most experienced organizations effectively treating children with autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, PDD-NOS, and related disorders. Following the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), CARD develops individualized treatment plans for each child.

CARD provides both US regional and remote services around the globe through its 19 satellite sites in California (11 sites), New York (2 sites), Virginia, Illinois, Texas, Arizona, Australia, and New Zealand as well as its franchise clinics in the United Arab Emirates and South Africa. With a mission to increase access to the most effective treatments, CARD has developed strong working relationships with parent organizations, schools and government agencies all over the world, including the Middle East, Europe, and Hawaii. For more information about CARD, visit www.centerforautism.com.

CARD Rochester Autism Conference - Tomorrow - Not too Late to REGISTER!!

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD) will host a one day, comprehensive CARD Rochester Autism Conference on October 28, 2009 at The Country Party House located at 321 East Linden in Rochester, New York.


“CARD has brought together six of its leading autism experts to present workshops which will deliver the most effective autism interventions, the latest in autism research and information on the most successful autism curricula to date,” says CARD Rochester Managing Supervisor Denise Rhine, MS Ed, BCBA. “We are confident that both professionals and parents will greatly benefit from this intensive conference.”

The CARD Rochester Autism Conference is designed for Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), Board Certified Associate Behavior Analysts (BCaBAs), parents, caregivers, students, and professionals (including teachers, social workers, speech and language pathologists, and others).

The conference begins with a keynote address by world renowned autism expert, Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh and ends with a screening of RECOVERED: Journeys Through the Autism Spectrum and Back, an award-winning documentary of four children who recovered from autism.

Other speakers include the following experts:

Melissa Olive, PhD, BCBA-D

Dr. Olive completed her master's degree at Vanderbilt University in 1992, specializing in early communication intervention. She was selected as a trainee for a national project on Positive Behavior Support at the University of Minnesota, where she completed her doctorate in 1999. Dr. Olive has received over $1.5 million in funding for research and treatment on ABA related interventions. The author of over twenty book chapters and articles in peer-reviewed publications, she currently serves on the Editorial Boards for the Journal of Early Intervention, Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, and Exceptional Children. Missy is a frequent guest reviewer for the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders and Young Exceptional Children. Her interests include researching communication intervention, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), Functional Communication Training (FCT), assessment and treatment of challenging behavior, and training others to implement Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Prior to joining the CARD staff, Missy served on the faculties at the University of Nevada, Reno, and the University of Texas at Austin.

Jonathan Tarbox, PhD, BCBA-D

Dr. Tarbox is currently the Director of Research and Development at the Center for Autism and Related Disorders. Dr. Tarbox has worked in a variety of positions in the field of behavior analysis, including basic research, applied research, and practical work; with individuals with and without autism and other developmental disabilities, of all ages, and their families and care providers. He has worked for and in public school districts, private schools, sheltered workshops, group homes, developmental centers, behavioral consultation agencies, hospitals, and community-based recreational programs; in direct service provision, supervision, consultation, and program development and director roles. His early career involved positions at both the New England Center for Children and the Kennedy Krieger Institute. Dr. Tarbox is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral, and he received his PhD in Behavior Analysis from the University of Nevada, Reno, under the mentorship of Dr. Linda J. Hayes. Throughout his career in behavior analysis, Dr. Tarbox has been actively engaged in basic, applied, and interdisciplinary research and has published articles in peer-reviewed journals, book chapters in behavioral psychology texts, and articles in popular media. Dr. Tarbox currently serves on the board of editors for The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, the Governmental Affairs Committee of the Practice Board of the Association for Behavior Analysis International, the Board of Advisors for the Chicago School for Professional Psychology Los Angeles Campus, is the Chair of the Research Development Committee of the California State University, Northridge Applied Behavior Analysis Consortium, and is the President-Elect of the Nevada Association for Behavior Analysis. Dr. Tarbox's primary research interests include verbal behavior, rule-governed behavior, private events, and recovery from autism. Dr. Tarbox's primary professional interests include graduate academic and clinical training, as well as dissemination of behavior analysis at the national and international levels.

Dennis Dixon, PhD

Dr. Dennis Dixon received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Louisiana State University with a focus in developmental disabilities. He completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and specialized in the treatment of severe challenging behaviors. The author of over 20 peer-reviewed articles and multiple book chapters, he currently serves on the editorial board of Research in Developmental Disabilities and Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. He also serves as a frequent reviewer for the Journal of Mental Health Research in Developmental Disabilities. Dr. Dixon is a research manager at the Center for Autism and Related Disorders. In addition to his work at CARD he is also currently adjunct faculty at the School of Forensic Studies at Alliant International University and within the Applied Behavior Analysis program at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. His research interests have focused on issues related to psychometric assessment, test construction, sleep disorders, and biomedical interventions for persons with intellectual disabilities.

Katrina Lublin, MS, CCC-SLP

Katrina Lublin is a certified speech-language pathologist and department supervisor at the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc since 2004. She has worked with children with autism for eight years within collaborative models incorporating ABA. Her experiences also include working with children and adults who exhibit a variety of speech and language disorders within acute care, inpatient rehabilitation and outpatient rehabilitation settings.

Denise Rhine, MS Ed, BCBA

Denise Rhine began her studies at The State University of New York at Potsdam to obtain her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Elementary Education. She went on to receive her master’s degree in Special Education at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York, where she received her certification in Special Education: Kindergarten through 12th grade. She took her course work for becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst through the University of Nevada-Reno and received her certification in 2007. Denise is currently the Senior Managing Supervisor at the Center for Autism and Related Disorder’s Rochester, New York office. She has worked for CARD for over 13 years and had four years previous experience working with children on the autism spectrum. Denise is a member of the Autism Task Force in Monroe County in Rochester, New York. She was recently published in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis for the treatment of rumination with a child on the autism spectrum.

Lisa Schrader, MS Ed, BCBA

Lisa Schrader obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Special Education in 2002 from Keuka College in Keuka Park, New York. She went on to earn her Master’s degree in Special Education at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York. She completed her coursework for becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst through the University of Nevada-Reno and received her certification in 2007. Lisa is currently a Case Supervisor at the Center for Autism and Related Disorders Rochester, New York office. She has worked for CARD for six years. She is a member of NYSABA and is currently a member of their public relations committee.

For more information about the conference, visit www.centerforautism.com/autism_conference.
Registration deadline is October 23, 2009.

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD) maintains a reputation as one of the world’s largest and most experienced organizations effectively treating children with autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, PDD-NOS, and related disorders. Following the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), CARD develops individualized treatment plans for each child. CARD provides services around the globe. For more information about CARD, visit www.centerforautism.com.

CARD ROCHESTER AUTISM CONFERENCE - THIS WEDNESDAY - REGISTER TODAY

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD) will host a one day, comprehensive CARD Rochester Autism Conference on October 28, 2009 at The Country Party House located at 321 East Linden in Rochester, New York.


“CARD has brought together six of its leading autism experts to present workshops which will deliver the most effective autism interventions, the latest in autism research and information on the most successful autism curricula to date,” says CARD Rochester Managing Supervisor Denise Rhine, MS Ed, BCBA. “We are confident that both professionals and parents will greatly benefit from this intensive conference.”

The CARD Rochester Autism Conference is designed for Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), Board Certified Associate Behavior Analysts (BCaBAs), parents, caregivers, students, and professionals (including teachers, social workers, speech and language pathologists, and others).

The conference begins with a keynote address by world renowned autism expert, Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh and ends with a screening of RECOVERED: Journeys Through the Autism Spectrum and Back, an award-winning documentary of four children who recovered from autism.

Other speakers include the following experts:

Melissa Olive, PhD, BCBA-D

Dr. Olive completed her master's degree at Vanderbilt University in 1992, specializing in early communication intervention. She was selected as a trainee for a national project on Positive Behavior Support at the University of Minnesota, where she completed her doctorate in 1999. Dr. Olive has received over $1.5 million in funding for research and treatment on ABA related interventions. The author of over twenty book chapters and articles in peer-reviewed publications, she currently serves on the Editorial Boards for the Journal of Early Intervention, Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, and Exceptional Children. Missy is a frequent guest reviewer for the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders and Young Exceptional Children. Her interests include researching communication intervention, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), Functional Communication Training (FCT), assessment and treatment of challenging behavior, and training others to implement Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Prior to joining the CARD staff, Missy served on the faculties at the University of Nevada, Reno, and the University of Texas at Austin.

Jonathan Tarbox, PhD, BCBA-D

Dr. Tarbox is currently the Director of Research and Development at the Center for Autism and Related Disorders. Dr. Tarbox has worked in a variety of positions in the field of behavior analysis, including basic research, applied research, and practical work; with individuals with and without autism and other developmental disabilities, of all ages, and their families and care providers. He has worked for and in public school districts, private schools, sheltered workshops, group homes, developmental centers, behavioral consultation agencies, hospitals, and community-based recreational programs; in direct service provision, supervision, consultation, and program development and director roles. His early career involved positions at both the New England Center for Children and the Kennedy Krieger Institute. Dr. Tarbox is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral, and he received his PhD in Behavior Analysis from the University of Nevada, Reno, under the mentorship of Dr. Linda J. Hayes. Throughout his career in behavior analysis, Dr. Tarbox has been actively engaged in basic, applied, and interdisciplinary research and has published articles in peer-reviewed journals, book chapters in behavioral psychology texts, and articles in popular media. Dr. Tarbox currently serves on the board of editors for The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, the Governmental Affairs Committee of the Practice Board of the Association for Behavior Analysis International, the Board of Advisors for the Chicago School for Professional Psychology Los Angeles Campus, is the Chair of the Research Development Committee of the California State University, Northridge Applied Behavior Analysis Consortium, and is the President-Elect of the Nevada Association for Behavior Analysis. Dr. Tarbox's primary research interests include verbal behavior, rule-governed behavior, private events, and recovery from autism. Dr. Tarbox's primary professional interests include graduate academic and clinical training, as well as dissemination of behavior analysis at the national and international levels.

Dennis Dixon, PhD

Dr. Dennis Dixon received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Louisiana State University with a focus in developmental disabilities. He completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and specialized in the treatment of severe challenging behaviors. The author of over 20 peer-reviewed articles and multiple book chapters, he currently serves on the editorial board of Research in Developmental Disabilities and Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. He also serves as a frequent reviewer for the Journal of Mental Health Research in Developmental Disabilities. Dr. Dixon is a research manager at the Center for Autism and Related Disorders. In addition to his work at CARD he is also currently adjunct faculty at the School of Forensic Studies at Alliant International University and within the Applied Behavior Analysis program at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. His research interests have focused on issues related to psychometric assessment, test construction, sleep disorders, and biomedical interventions for persons with intellectual disabilities.

Katrina Lublin, MS, CCC-SLP

Katrina Lublin is a certified speech-language pathologist and department supervisor at the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc since 2004. She has worked with children with autism for eight years within collaborative models incorporating ABA. Her experiences also include working with children and adults who exhibit a variety of speech and language disorders within acute care, inpatient rehabilitation and outpatient rehabilitation settings.

Denise Rhine, MS Ed, BCBA

Denise Rhine began her studies at The State University of New York at Potsdam to obtain her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Elementary Education. She went on to receive her master’s degree in Special Education at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York, where she received her certification in Special Education: Kindergarten through 12th grade. She took her course work for becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst through the University of Nevada-Reno and received her certification in 2007. Denise is currently the Senior Managing Supervisor at the Center for Autism and Related Disorder’s Rochester, New York office. She has worked for CARD for over 13 years and had four years previous experience working with children on the autism spectrum. Denise is a member of the Autism Task Force in Monroe County in Rochester, New York. She was recently published in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis for the treatment of rumination with a child on the autism spectrum.

Lisa Schrader, MS Ed, BCBA

Lisa Schrader obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Special Education in 2002 from Keuka College in Keuka Park, New York. She went on to earn her Master’s degree in Special Education at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York. She completed her coursework for becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst through the University of Nevada-Reno and received her certification in 2007. Lisa is currently a Case Supervisor at the Center for Autism and Related Disorders Rochester, New York office. She has worked for CARD for six years. She is a member of NYSABA and is currently a member of their public relations committee.

For more information about the conference, visit www.centerforautism.com/autism_conference.
Registration deadline is October 23, 2009.

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD) maintains a reputation as one of the world’s largest and most experienced organizations effectively treating children with autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, PDD-NOS, and related disorders. Following the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), CARD develops individualized treatment plans for each child. CARD provides services around the globe. For more information about CARD, visit www.centerforautism.com.

Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh to Speak at Rochester Autism Conference!

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD) will host a one day, comprehensive CARD Rochester Autism Conference on October 28, 2009 at The Country Party House located at 321 East Linden in Rochester, New York.


“CARD has brought together six of its leading autism experts to present workshops which will deliver the most effective autism interventions, the latest in autism research and information on the most successful autism curricula to date,” says CARD Rochester Managing Supervisor Denise Rhine, MS Ed, BCBA. “We are confident that both professionals and parents will greatly benefit from this intensive conference.”

The CARD Rochester Autism Conference is designed for Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), Board Certified Associate Behavior Analysts (BCaBAs), parents, caregivers, students, and professionals (including teachers, social workers, speech and language pathologists, and others).

The conference begins with a keynote address by world renowned autism expert, Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh and ends with a screening of RECOVERED: Journeys Through the Autism Spectrum and Back, an award-winning documentary of four children who recovered from autism.

Other speakers include the following experts:

Melissa Olive, PhD, BCBA-D

Dr. Olive completed her master's degree at Vanderbilt University in 1992, specializing in early communication intervention. She was selected as a trainee for a national project on Positive Behavior Support at the University of Minnesota, where she completed her doctorate in 1999. Dr. Olive has received over $1.5 million in funding for research and treatment on ABA related interventions. The author of over twenty book chapters and articles in peer-reviewed publications, she currently serves on the Editorial Boards for the Journal of Early Intervention, Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, and Exceptional Children. Missy is a frequent guest reviewer for the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders and Young Exceptional Children. Her interests include researching communication intervention, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), Functional Communication Training (FCT), assessment and treatment of challenging behavior, and training others to implement Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Prior to joining the CARD staff, Missy served on the faculties at the University of Nevada, Reno, and the University of Texas at Austin.

Jonathan Tarbox, PhD, BCBA-D

Dr. Tarbox is currently the Director of Research and Development at the Center for Autism and Related Disorders. Dr. Tarbox has worked in a variety of positions in the field of behavior analysis, including basic research, applied research, and practical work; with individuals with and without autism and other developmental disabilities, of all ages, and their families and care providers. He has worked for and in public school districts, private schools, sheltered workshops, group homes, developmental centers, behavioral consultation agencies, hospitals, and community-based recreational programs; in direct service provision, supervision, consultation, and program development and director roles. His early career involved positions at both the New England Center for Children and the Kennedy Krieger Institute. Dr. Tarbox is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral, and he received his PhD in Behavior Analysis from the University of Nevada, Reno, under the mentorship of Dr. Linda J. Hayes. Throughout his career in behavior analysis, Dr. Tarbox has been actively engaged in basic, applied, and interdisciplinary research and has published articles in peer-reviewed journals, book chapters in behavioral psychology texts, and articles in popular media. Dr. Tarbox currently serves on the board of editors for The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, the Governmental Affairs Committee of the Practice Board of the Association for Behavior Analysis International, the Board of Advisors for the Chicago School for Professional Psychology Los Angeles Campus, is the Chair of the Research Development Committee of the California State University, Northridge Applied Behavior Analysis Consortium, and is the President-Elect of the Nevada Association for Behavior Analysis. Dr. Tarbox's primary research interests include verbal behavior, rule-governed behavior, private events, and recovery from autism. Dr. Tarbox's primary professional interests include graduate academic and clinical training, as well as dissemination of behavior analysis at the national and international levels.

Dennis Dixon, PhD

Dr. Dennis Dixon received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Louisiana State University with a focus in developmental disabilities. He completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and specialized in the treatment of severe challenging behaviors. The author of over 20 peer-reviewed articles and multiple book chapters, he currently serves on the editorial board of Research in Developmental Disabilities and Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. He also serves as a frequent reviewer for the Journal of Mental Health Research in Developmental Disabilities. Dr. Dixon is a research manager at the Center for Autism and Related Disorders. In addition to his work at CARD he is also currently adjunct faculty at the School of Forensic Studies at Alliant International University and within the Applied Behavior Analysis program at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. His research interests have focused on issues related to psychometric assessment, test construction, sleep disorders, and biomedical interventions for persons with intellectual disabilities.

Katrina Lublin, MS, CCC-SLP

Katrina Lublin is a certified speech-language pathologist and department supervisor at the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc since 2004. She has worked with children with autism for eight years within collaborative models incorporating ABA. Her experiences also include working with children and adults who exhibit a variety of speech and language disorders within acute care, inpatient rehabilitation and outpatient rehabilitation settings.

Denise Rhine, MS Ed, BCBA

Denise Rhine began her studies at The State University of New York at Potsdam to obtain her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Elementary Education. She went on to receive her master’s degree in Special Education at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York, where she received her certification in Special Education: Kindergarten through 12th grade. She took her course work for becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst through the University of Nevada-Reno and received her certification in 2007. Denise is currently the Senior Managing Supervisor at the Center for Autism and Related Disorder’s Rochester, New York office. She has worked for CARD for over 13 years and had four years previous experience working with children on the autism spectrum. Denise is a member of the Autism Task Force in Monroe County in Rochester, New York. She was recently published in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis for the treatment of rumination with a child on the autism spectrum.

Lisa Schrader, MS Ed, BCBA

Lisa Schrader obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Special Education in 2002 from Keuka College in Keuka Park, New York. She went on to earn her Master’s degree in Special Education at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York. She completed her coursework for becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst through the University of Nevada-Reno and received her certification in 2007. Lisa is currently a Case Supervisor at the Center for Autism and Related Disorders Rochester, New York office. She has worked for CARD for six years. She is a member of NYSABA and is currently a member of their public relations committee.

For more information about the conference, visit www.centerforautism.com/autism_conference.
Registration deadline is October 23, 2009.

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD) maintains a reputation as one of the world’s largest and most experienced organizations effectively treating children with autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, PDD-NOS, and related disorders. Following the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), CARD develops individualized treatment plans for each child. CARD provides services around the globe. For more information about CARD, visit www.centerforautism.com.

Forever Families - With a laugh and a smile, Joseph warms the heart

Joseph has autism, but people who work closely with him say with love and attention, he's learning quickly.

"He's just his own person, he's so unique and fun to be around," case worker Kendall Wylie said. "His speech has improved tremendously just from the six months I've known him. We went from one- to two-word commands and phrases, and now he's speaking, he actually spoke in a five-word sentence to me."

The 6-year-old liked to run around and explore, and was to learn how to work an unfamiliar lock on a door.

"That shows me that he's a good problem solver," autism specialist Dr. Melissa Olive said. "His ability to learn so quickly was very exciting for me."

With a kind and generous personality like Joseph's, it's not hard to fall in love with him.

ut along with love, the right family for him needs patience.

"I don't think there's any family that could be wrong for him," Dr. Olive said. "Unless the family doesn't have patience, but then that family may not be ready to adopt any child, because raising children takes a lot of patience."

With just a little patience, he'll let you in, to see one of his greatest qualities.

"He has a belly laugh that will make anyone fall in love with him," Dr. Olive said.

And a smile that can make you cry, a smile we hope he can share with his forever family.

VIEW THE NEWS VIDEO - CLICK HERE!

By: Jennifer Borget - News 8 Austin

National Children's Health Survey Report Finds Autism Prevalence

A national report released today in the journal Pediatrics reveals that 1 percent of U.S. children ages 3-17 have an autism spectrum disorder, an estimated prevalence of one in every 91 children. This is a dramatic increase from the one in 150 prevalence rates currently reported.

“This national study charts a dramatic rise in the prevalence of autism in the United States and we applaud this administration’s recognition that autism is an urgent public health priority,” said Autism Society President and CEO Lee Grossman. “But families today are asking: how high must these prevalence rates rise before the nation responds? Significant resources must be directed toward screening and diagnosis, affordable interventions that treat the whole person and comprehensive education plans to foster lifelong skill development so that people with autism will have the ability to work and live independently.”

The report, entitled “Prevalence of Parent-Reported Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children in the US,” published in today’s issue of Pediatrics, was conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services National Survey of Children’s Health, using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The report was conducted via a telephone survey of over 78,000 parents, and determined a point prevalence of 110 per 10,000 respondents, roughly 1 percent of the population of children in the United States.

On a constituent call to discuss the report, the CDC reported that its initial analysis of the Autism and Developmental Delay Monitoring project data, due out later this fall, confirm the 1 percent figure. This report will also contain more data on age of diagnosis, groups affected, and access to interventions.

The increasing numbers have long-term economic costs to the country, as autism is a chronic medical condition affecting people across the lifespan. “Lifespan services, particularly for adults, are typically inadequate and inappropriate,” Grossman stated. “This new data should be a call to action to the government to improve and increase services and supports first.”

The Autism Society has been working with Congress on several key bills, which have stalled. “The information in this new report highlights the pressing need for additional services, support and treatments for families affected by autism spectrum disorders,” said Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL). “My bill, the Autism Treatment Acceleration Act, will help children and adults with autism gain better access to coordinated services, improve training for professionals treating these disorders, and will relieve the financial burden on the millions of families struggling with this disability.”

This bill, if funded, would provide funding for applied research into effective interventions, the first ever demonstration grants on adult services, create an adult prevalence study, and fund family support and information networks.

“Autism affects millions of American families, and the cost of diagnosis, early intervention, and treatment imposes a heavy burden on most of them,” said Congressman Mike Doyle (D-PA), co-chair of the Congressional Autism Caucus. “This legislation, the Autism Treatment Acceleration Act of 2009, would improve the dissemination of information between autism researchers and service providers, improve training for professionals treating autism spectrum disorders, and mandate that health insurers cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. Enactment of this legislation would do a lot to help millions of American families.”

“The increase in the reported prevalence of autism across the nation testifies to the urgency of executing a comprehensive strategy in response to this public health emergency,” said Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), co-chair of the Congressional Autism Caucus. “For its part, Congress must ensure robust funding to support aggressive programs of research, education, and services. Furthermore, Congress needs to enact additional legislation, such as the Autism Treatment Acceleration Act of 2009, that will establish the infrastructure and mechanisms for delivering appropriate services across the lifespan to individuals with autism and their families. We must look to maximize the reach and impact of our investments and activities by closely coordinating government efforts with those of national advocacy organizations, such as the Autism Society.”

For more information or to schedule interviews, please contact Autism Society Media Specialist Carin Yavorcik at 419-787-8146 or cyavorcik@autism-society.org, or Autism Society Vice President of Constituent Relations Marguerite Kirst Colston at 240-672-4734 or mcolston@autism-society.org.

About Autism
Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disability that typically appears during the first two years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a “spectrum disorder” that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause for autism, but increased awareness and funding can help families today.

About the Autism Society
The Autism Society, the nation’s leading grassroots autism organization, exists to improve the lives of all affected by autism. We do this by increasing public awareness about the day-to-day issues faced by people on the spectrum, advocating for appropriate services for individuals across the lifespan, and providing the latest information regarding treatment, education, research and advocacy. For more information, visit www.autism-society.org.

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders Research Team Finds that a Higher Intensity of ABA Treatment at a Younger Age Leads to Faster Learning












Researchers at the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD) found that increasing treatment hours within an early intensive behavioral intervention program resulted in greater efficiency in new skill acquisition. This effect was the strongest in younger children within their study.

In Effects of age and treatment intensity on behavioral intervention outcomes for children with autism spectrum disorders, published in the September 2009 edition of Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, CARD researchers Doreen Granpeesheh, Dennis R. Dixon, Jonathan Tarbox, Andrew M. Kaplan, and Arthur E. Wilke found that an increase in treatment hours and a decrease in child age predicted an increase in the number of skills learned per hour of treatment. For example, a child between two to five years old, receiving 150 therapy hours per month would master an average of 54 skills per month. If this same child received only 40 therapy hours per month they would on average master 21 skills per month. This is contrasted to a child between five to seven years, who would master 57 skills per month if given 150 monthly therapy hours. And an average of 15 skills per month if given 40 therapy hours per month.

The 245 participants were selected from a pool of clients receiving behavioral intervention services at a CARD, a nation-wide provider of Applied Behavior Analysis-based treatment programs for children and young adults with ASDs. The participants were between 16 months and 12 years old, received an average of 20 or more hours of intervention per month, and had mastered at least one skill per month. Participants were from California, Arizona, Illinois, Texas, Virginia, and New York.

“While several studies have addressed the association between age and treatment intensity or hours of therapy received, this study is one of only two that used such a large sample of children,” Tarbox said. “Plus, since CARD serves a large number of children across the United States, we were able to investigate questions at a scale that isn’t normally possible. The size and geographic diversity of the study population decreases the likelihood that there are regional biases and increases the likelihood that these outcomes can be generalized across a larger region.Only one other autism treatment study, based in Canada, included a larger number of participants. It included over 300 children residing in Ontario, Canada.

The study outcomes showed that younger children learned faster than the older children, all other things being equal. It also showed that increases in therapy hours resulted in increases in new learned skills.

“This is what we have suspected all along, but it wasn’t until now that we had data across such a large group of children that really showed it clearly,” Dixon said. “It’s important to keep in mind, though, that this does not mean older kids on the spectrum can’t learn – they certainly can and do – it just means you get a larger effect out of the same dose of behavioral treatment when the treatment is implemented early.”

The study also showed no point of diminishing returns as hours were increased. Meaning that 20 hours per week was better than 10, 30 hours per week was better than 20, and 40 was better than 30. The degree of improvement did not decrease as treatment intensity approached 40 hours per week.

“It’s common for therapy programs to max out at 40 hours per week, however, based on our findings the magic number of 40 hours per week may not really be the upper limit at all,” Tarbox said. “We may actually be able to get even better outcomes with a larger intensity of treatment – but of course, more research would be needed before we could make conclusions such as those.”

Questions regarding this study should be directed to Dr. Jonathan Tarbox, CARD Director of Research at j.tarbox@centerforautism.com or 818.345.2345.

About the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD):
CARD is committed to science as the most objective and reliable approach to evaluating treatment for autism. CARD’s mission is to conduct empirical research on the assessment and treatment of autism and to disseminate CARD’s research findings and derived technology through publication and education of professionals and the public. While the primary focus of CARD’s research is ABA-based methods of assessment and treatment, CARD’s overall approach to research includes any topic which may hold promise for producing information that could improve the lives of individuals with autism.

In addition, CARD maintains a reputation as one of the world’s largest and most experienced organizations effectively treating children with autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, PDD-NOS, and related disorders. Following the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), CARD develops individualized treatment plans for children worldwide. For more information about CARD, visit www.centerforautism.com . For more information about the CARD Research department, visit www.centerforautism.com/autism_research.


CARD Finds Chewing Gum is an Effective Treatment for Rumination in a Child with Autism

According to new research conducted by the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD), the “Chewing Gum as a Treatment for Rumination in a Child with Autism” study reveals the challenging behavior of rumination can be treated effectively by using chewing gum as a replacement behavior. The study is published in the current issue of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis.

Rumination involves regurgitation of previously ingested food, re-chewing the food, and re-swallowing it. The study examined a child with autism who displayed chronic rumination for approximately one year, resulting in the decay and subsequent removal of several teeth. After several treatments failed, including thickened liquids and starch satiation, the child was taught to chew gum. His rumination decreased significantly when gum was made available.

“The key findings of this research study are significant for both parents and practitioners,” says researcher Denise Rhine, MS ED, BCBA. “The findings suggest that access to chewing gum may be an effective and practical treatment for rumination in some individuals with autism.”

The complete “Chewing Gum as a Treatment for Rumination in a Child with Autism” study is published in the summer 2009 Edition of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, pages 381-385. The study is also located online at http://seab.envmed.rochester.edu/jaba/toc/cur/jabacurrent.php.

Questions regarding this study should be directed to Dr. Jonathan Tarbox, CARD Director of Research at j.tarbox@centerforautism.com or 818.345.2345.


About the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD):

CARD is committed to science as the most objective and reliable approach to evaluating treatment for autism. CARD’s mission is to conduct empirical research on the assessment and treatment of autism and to disseminate CARD’s research findings and derived technology through publication and education of professionals and the public. While the primary focus of CARD’s research is ABA-based methods of assessment and treatment, CARD’s overall approach to research includes any topic which may hold promise for producing information that could improve the lives of individuals with autism.

In addition, CARD maintains a reputation as one of the world’s largest and most experienced organizations effectively treating children with autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, PDD-NOS, and related disorders. Following the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), CARD develops individualized treatment plans for children worldwide. For more information about CARD, visit www.centerforautism.com.

In addition, CARD maintains a reputation as one of the world’s largest and most experienced organizations effectively treating children with autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, PDD-NOS, and related disorders. Following the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), CARD develops individualized treatment plans for children worldwide. For more information about CARD, visit www.centerforautism.com.

Center for Autism and Related Disorders Brings Together Six Leading Autism Experts for One Day Conference!

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD) will host a one day, comprehensive CARD Rochester Autism Conference on October 28, 2009 at The Country Party House located at 321 East Linden in Rochester, New York.


“CARD has brought together six of its leading autism experts to present workshops which will deliver the most effective autism interventions, the latest in autism research and information on the most successful autism curricula to date,” says CARD Rochester Managing Supervisor Denise Rhine, MS Ed, BCBA. “We are confident that both professionals and parents will greatly benefit from this intensive conference.”

The CARD Rochester Autism Conference is designed for Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), Board Certified Associate Behavior Analysts (BCaBAs), parents, caregivers, students, and professionals (including teachers, social workers, speech and language pathologists, and others).

The conference begins with a keynote address by world renowned autism expert, Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh and ends with a screening of RECOVERED: Journeys Through the Autism Spectrum and Back, an award-winning documentary of four children who recovered from autism.

For more information about the conference, visit www.centerforautism.com/autism_conference. Registration deadline is October 23, 2009.

About the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD):
The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD) maintains a reputation as one of the world’s largest and most experienced organizations effectively treating children with autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, PDD-NOS, and related disorders. Following the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), CARD develops individualized treatment plans for each child. CARD provides services around the globe. For more information about CARD, visit www.centerforautism.com.

Learn More About Social Skills Groups in Central Calfifornia

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD) is awarded a $15-thousand dollar grant by the Families for Effective Autism Treatment (FEAT) Fresno-Madera County chapter. The grant will fund a Social Skills program for individuals with autism
ages six to 21 who reside in the Central Valley.

The CARD Fresno office is honored to accept this gracious grant from FEAT, “says Sarah Cho, MSW, BCABA. “We are excited to bring an advanced level Social Skills curriculum to as many children and adolescents in the Central Valley. Our thanks and gratitude goes out to FEAT for making this opportunity possible for individuals who need this intervention and their families.”

The Social Skills program will begin in January 2010 at the CARD office located at 4928 E. Clinton Way, Suite 105, in Fresno, California. 12 week sessions will run during the Fall, Winter and Summer from 4:00-5:30 pm. A maximum of ten students will be placed in each group, based on age and skills. Program tuition will be determined with grant assistance. “Individuals must meet specific inclusion criterion to be part of the social skills group,” says Cho.

Eligibility requirements:
Between the age of 6 – 21 years old Diagnosis of Autism, PDD-NOS, Asperger’s and/or other developmental disorder with the following skill set:

Vocal Speech
Ability to answer questions, make reciprocal statements and questions
Request and comment with eye contact
Compliance with Adults
Ability to play simple games such as tag, hide ‘n seek

Focus Areas:
Cognition (Meta and Social)
Children with autism are frequently described as having a “theory of mind” deficit, or as having “mind blindness” (Baron-Cohen 1995). “Social-cognition,” or “theory of mind,” refers to our seemingly innate human ability to “mind read,” or to make inferences about what we and others might feel, want, know, like or prefer, think, believe, and intend. Further, we use these inferred mental states as a means for determining appropriate responses to others. For example, we tell people about things they do not already know, and we respond to others according to their intentions, not their actual behavior, as in not yelling at or hitting someone who has accidentally bumped into you in a crowded hallway. Numerous studies have indicated that children with autism have deficits in using “mentalistic” language, and inferring the mental states of others.

Based on developmental norms of social-cognitive skills in typically developing children, the CARD Social-Cognitive Curriculum seeks to break down each “skill” into its own systematic and comprehensive program. As such, Supervisors seeking to improve the social-cognitive skills of their clients have a sequential format, beginning with the earliest skills to emerge, such as Emotions and Desires, shifting to more complex skills based on differing informational and belief states, such as Knowing, Thinking, and Beliefs, then progressing to more advanced skills based on pretense, such as False-Beliefs, Deception, and Intentions.

The teaching of each skill follows a general procedure across programs, beginning with the child identifying his own perspective, moving to the identification of others’ perspectives, then finally, rehearsal and application of appropriate social responses depending on others’ perspectives.

Language Pragmatics
Until this point, the child should have learned many essential components of communicative competence including requesting, commenting, reciprocating social statements, talking about past and future events, etc. Language pragmatics brings together all previously learned conversational skills to teach the child to engage in age-appropriate conversations. Specifically, language pragmatics is the practical ability to use language to communicate with others in a social context. Pragmatic language involves not only what is said, but also why and for what purpose something is said.

The following are important skill sets that will be taught in the language pragmatic component of the Social Skills Group. Language pragmatics is a central feature of the child’s overall CARD program and is crucial to the child’s success in the social environment.

Message
Topic Selection Topic Maintenance Topic Content Topic Shifting Topic Clarification (explaining what you mean when someone is confused) Topic Termination (ending a conversation)

Function of Communication
Requesting Asking Questions Commenting Pleasantries

Nonverbal Language
Facial, Expression, Gestures, Body Language, Eye Contact

Prosody
Question Inflection, Emotional, Prosody

Non-Literal Language
Sarcasm , Figures of Speech

Social Skills
The CARD Socialization / Social Behavior Curriculum is a collection of programs, procedures, activities, and ideas which may be used to address one of our clients’ most pervasive areas of deficit: social skills. The Socialization / Social Behavior Curriculum are specifically designed to be implemented in the social environment, such as the CARD Social Group. Further, it is this portion of the Curriculum that more closely resembles more “traditional” social-skills curricula, teaching specific social targets such as “Apologizing” or “Initiating Play.”

The CARD Socialization / Social Behavior Curriculum is divided into 2 subsections: 1) Fundamental Procedures, and 2) Specific Skills. The fundamental procedures are those programs which may be considered “pivotal” for teaching the specific skills, and include Social Play (procedures for play-dates), Community Social Behavior (procedures for parent-training and generalization), and Following Rules (procedures for developing rule-governed behavior) and Social Stories (adapted from Carol Gray). It is these fundamental procedures (rules, play-dates, etc.) that are then used to teach the specific skills, such as Sharing and Turn-Taking or Levels of Friendship.

Baseline Measures:
Standardized Social Skills Assessment
Clinical observation with peer for skill check-off list

Post-Treatment Measures:
Standardized Social Skills Assessment
Clinical observation with peer for skill check-of list

Data Collection:
Weekly data collection on targeted skills
Average of 90-100% on targeted skill needed across two social groups for mastery criterion
Summary of skills introduced, emerging and mastered will be provided at end of session with graduation recommendations

Skill Levels:
Social Group Levels One through Five
Level 1 – Beginning Social Skills
Level 2 – Beginning/Intermediate Social Skills
Level 3 – Intermediate Social Skills
Level 4 – Intermediate/Advanced Social Skills
Level 5 – Advanced Social Skills

Questions regarding the Social Skills program should be directed to Angie Mitchell at a.mitchell@centerforautism.com or (559) 255-5900