www.bcotb.com
PRESS RELEASE
June 1, 2009
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Julie Capobianco, 813-892-5756
  LOCAL CENTER NAMED 'MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE'
BY LOCAL CHAPTER OF AUTISM ORGANIZATION
  
Autism Speaks Presents Honor at 'Autism Awards'
TAMPA, FL - June 1, 2009 -  Behavioral Consulting of Tampa Bay has been named the 'Most Valuable Resource' by the Tampa Bay chapter of international advocacy organization, Autism Speaks. 
 
Behavioral Consulting Founder and President, Kelley Gardner-Prince accepted the award on behalf of the organization May 19th at the Autism Speaks' Autism Awards held at the Improv in Ybor City. 
 
"Autism Speaks and Behavioral Consulting of Tampa Bay share a common goal which is to help individuals living with autism and their families," Gardner-Prince commented.   "We are honored to have been recognized and feel it is our duty to support other local organizations that focus on autism research and treatment."
 
Last year, Behavioral Consulting of Tampa Bay hosted an autism awareness event at the St. Pete Times Forum for a Tampa Bay Lightning game, and for the last several years, the staff has volunteered at and participated in the Tampa Bay Walk Now for Autism at MOSI.  
 
Behavioral Consulting Operations Assistant, Susan Bonifield was asked to be on the Autism Speaks committee for this year's walk after becoming involved with them almost three years ago.  "Working on their committee is very rewarding to me because, after seeing the struggles families go through on a daily basis, any help we can provide to them is very gratifying."
 
This year's local walk attracted more than 2,800 supporters and raised more than $140,000 for autism research and awareness.
 
Autism Speaks is the nation's top private funder of research into causes of and treatments for autism and is dedicated to raising public awareness about autism.  They have been instrumental in successfully passing autism insurance legislation in five states, including Florida's Window of Opportunity Act, and are working with 23 other states to pass new insurance bills to provide important treatment coverage for families affected by autism.

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.