www.bcotb.com
PRESS RELEASE
December 13, 2008
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Julie Capobianco, 813-892-5756
"HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS" HAS UNIQUE
MEANINGS FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM AND THOSE WHO LOVE THEM. 
Local Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Available to Offer Suggestions
TAMPA, FL - December 13, 2008 - Families everywhere are beginning to plan for the holidays -- families coming together from across town or across the country to enjoy special moments around the tree or the dining room table.
 
Yet for hundreds of thousands of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and those who love them, the holidays represent enormous stress and anxiety as they face a break from everyday routines.
 
Kelley Gardner, MA BCBA, Board Certified Behavior Analyst and president of Behavioral Consulting of Tampa Bay, Inc., is working with children and their parents to deal with the special challenges at this special time of year and offers suggestions.
 
Routine Is The Best Routine- Children with Autism thrive on routine.  The holidays, with schools closed and different types of activities scheduled, can create significant stress. 
 
Imagine for example, you suddenly find yourself in Japan without knowing where you are, not understanding the language and without a specific place to go.  That, explains Gardner, is how a child with Autism feels when his routine is changed and he doesn't have the language skills to understand the new environment. 
 
When a change in routine is anticipated, she suggests, plan for it by helping the child visualize what the day will entail.  Gardner recommends a daily "visual schedule" strategy to show the activities that will occur as a means of creating predictability, which will reduce anxiety.
 
Food for Thought - Watch the Food - The holidays always include special foods, from grandmother's Christmas cookies to eggnog and festive dinners.  But children with Autism Spectrum Disorder may require gluten (wheat and other grains) and casein (milk and milk products such as cheese, butter and yogurt) -free diets.  Work with the parents to better understand the dietary needs of their child and eliminate the temptation.
 
Patience Is Indeed a Virtue- For the parents of children with Autism, the holidays represent increased stress brought on by the judgments of others.  Often unintentionally, strangers in the mall, on airlines and even family members just don't understand the actions of a child with Autism.  All too often, parents of a child with Autism find it easier to just stay at home.  Gardner says we all need to learn about Autism Spectrum Disorder and its symptoms and refrain from making judgments when we see behaviors that are different.  Increased awareness of the behaviors associated with Autism and a little patience can go a long way for these families. 
 
All Toys Are Not Created Equal - Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder typically don't "play" with toys in the traditional sense.  If you are a grandparent or family friend, talk with the parents about the type of gift to buy for the holidays.
 
While acknowledging the holidays can be difficult times for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their parents, Kelley Gardner and her team of behavior therapists offer a variety of techniques and suggestions to make this time of year as comfortable as possible for all.
 
If you would like more information that will be helpful to the parents, grandparents, families, friends and the general public during the holiday season, please contact Kim Francis Communications to arrange an interview with Kelley Gardner.

About Behavioral Consulting of Tampa Bay
Behavioral Consulting of Tampa Bay implements Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) programs with an emphasis on verbal behavior.  Our skill acquisition programs, customized for each child's learning needs, focus on evoking language and communication, self-help skills, compliance behavior and appropriate peer and social skills.   We provide discreet trial teaching in addition to natural environment teaching, while using error-less learning techniques.  To maintain a consistent level of quality, our Board Certified Behavior Analysts oversee programs and evaluate and document progress every 4 weeks.
 
Behavioral Consulting of Tampa Bay compared the rate of development in 18 clients who were between the ages of 2 and 7 years old during the onset of services.  All received our intensive instruction averaging 10 hours a week for 5 months.  We found, on average, the group more than doubled their original skill set.  Based on these findings, we're confident that all children, regardless of skill deficits, diagnosis, or behavior, can learn skills and develop behaviors never before thought possible if a quality behavior analysis program is implemented.  
 
Behavioral Consulting of Tampa Bay has 2 locations to serve you: 6916 W. Linebaugh Avenue, Suite 102 in Tampa and 3717 Turman Loop, Suite 102, in Wesley Chapel.  For more information, please visit their website, www.bcotb.com, call 813-265-0210 or send an email to info@bcotb.com.