www.bcotb.com
PRESS RELEASE
March 24, 2009
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Julie Capobianco, 813-892-5756
FLORIDA RESIDENTS PRESENTED WITH
"WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY"

New Insurance Law Goes Into Effect April 1
TAMPA, FL - March 24, 2009 -  On April 1st, a significant piece of Florida legislation will go into effect -- the "Window of Opportunity Act," signed into law last year, requires insurance companies to provide coverage for the screening, diagnosis, intervention and treatment of autism spectrum disorder, including applied behavior analysis therapy or ABA. 
 
This is important news for thousands of people throughout the greater Tampa area. Statistics show one in every 150 children develops autism, a disorder that impacts the entire family including siblings, parents, grandparents and many others. Before the "Window of Opportunity Act," many families could not afford ABA therapy, which is the only therapy with more than 30 years of research and more than 500 published studies in scientific journals proving its effectiveness on children diagnosed with autism.
 
Now that families can depend on some support from insurance companies, there is a quality and local resource for ABA therapy available in the Tampa Bay area. 
 
Behavioral Consulting of Tampa Bay is a local organization with offices in both Hillsborough and Pasco counties that is committed to assisting children using ABA therapy.  The highly trained staff at Behavioral Consulting has aided the development of more than 200 children diagnosed with both autism spectrum disorder and other problem behaviors using ABA therapy. 


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.