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C o n n e c t
W i t h U s !
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F a m i l y
T e s t i m o n i a l
*Click on the photo above for more testimonials!
"Our twins were both diagnosed with autism by the age of 3. After several months in a special education pre-k class, we were not seeing the progress we hoped and decided to seek additional therapy for them.
BCOTB turned out to be the answer to many of our prayers. We have been receiving services from BCOTB since the spring of 2011 and our experience has been absolutely amazing. We started with 10 hours of therapy each week but we saw so much progress that we recently increased both kids to a full-time therapy schedule.
We have seen significant improvement in language (expressive and receptive), attention span and social skills.
BCOTB therapists and office staff really go the extra mile. We work with Jamie and her team at the Wesley Chapel office and they are exceptional. Our twins love their therapists.
We've received help from them in areas ranging from preparation for IEP meetings to home visits for potty training assistance.
They value our opinions and incorporate our input into our children's therapy goals. We are continually impressed and forever grateful for the skill and compassion of this team."
- Parents of 4 year old twins with autism
Have a Success Story you'd like to share? Drop us a line here!
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M e e t O u r
T h e r a p y
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Westchase Office:
6916 W Linebaugh Ave,
Suite 102
Tampa, FL 33625
813-265-0210
Wesley Chapel Office:
3717 Turman Loop,
Suite 102
Wesley Chapel, FL 33544
813-345-8584
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Greetings!
Welcome to the February 2012 newsletter from Behavioral Consulting of Tampa Bay.
We've got a great month ahead, and of course, the best weather in the country right here in Florida. Happy Valentine's Day, and if you're lucky enough, you get to celebrate President's Day on February 20 with a three-day holiday weekend!
The New Year got off to a great start for BCOTB. We received lots of good press in January about the growth of our company and the talented and dedicated people we have added to our staff. The 2012 Tampa Bay Walk Now for Autism Speaks takes place on Saturday, April 21 at Raymond James Stadium. BCOTB's group dedicated to the walk, the Behavior Bunch, has organized two fundraisers at two Tijuana Flats restaurants so set aside some time to join us for food and fun. Details are below. As we proudly announced last month, we are honored to host the world renowned Dr. Vincent J. Carbone of the Carbone Clinic in New York. All BCOTB staff will attend a special three-day advanced training workshop in March presented by Dr. Carbone, known for his 'break-through' treatment of children with autism and special needs.
Finally, since giving candy and sweets on Valentine's Day is a popular tradition and no child, especially a child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder should be left out, we offer some ideas and recipes to make Valentine's Day a yummy one for your child and your entire family.
As always, please let us know if there is something you would like to see featured, or if you have suggestions for topics to be covered in our future newsletters. We appreciate it. Have a great month and Happy Valentine's Day!
Kelley Prince, M.A., BCBA
President, Behavioral Consulting of Tampa Bay
ANALYSIS · INSTRUCTION · ACHIEVEMENT
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Celebrate a Worry-Free Valentine's Day
Make Valentine's Day special for your child with special needs. Often our children get left out of the Valentine's Day activities because of the integrated parties and social gatherings. 
We believe Valentine's Day is for everyone, even if your child is on a gluten, casein or soy-free diet. Why not start the day off using a heart-shaped cookie cutter to make heart pancakes or toast for breakfast, or sandwiches for lunch? Send temporary tattoos, stickers or pencils for the class party instead of candy.
If you want to go all out and bake a cake or cupcakes, here are some yummy Valentine's Day recipes for cakes and cupcakes that everyone can enjoy! For more information about a GFCF diet, go to: http://www.gfcfdiet.com/, that provides a central and virtual location for parents to find other parents using Dietary Therapy and a list of products to help guide you through the grocery stores as well as other relevant information about dietary intervention.
Check out some simple recipes below:
 Chocolate Cake
1 cup white rice flour
1/2 cup sorhgum flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup Casein Free cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon guar gum
Mix these ingredients in a bowl, and then add:
1/2 cup cooking oil
1/2 cup rice milk or other milk substitute
1/2 cup hot water
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla
Stir until mixed, grease and flour an 8 x8 inch pan. Pour batter into pan and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. This can be doubled to make a sheet cake or two round cake pans or 24 cupcakes. For cupcakes bake for 20 -25 minutes.
Basic White or Yellow Cake
6 tablespoon Casein Free margarine
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs or 3 egg whites
1 cup rice flour or Gluten Free flour mix
6 tablespoons potato starch flour
2 tablespoons tapioca flour
1 teaspoon guar gum
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup Casein Free milk substitute with 2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar or 2 teaspoons of lemon juice
1 teaspoon Gluten Free, Casein Free vanilla extract
(If you use Vanilla Almond Breeze milk drink you will not need the vanilla)
Mix together margarine, eggs and sugar until blended. In a separate bowl combine flours, guar gum, baking powder, soda and salt. In a separate measuring cup, prepare milk and mix with vanilla extract. On low speed, add dry mix to egg mixture alternating with milk. Mix just until combined. Spoon batter into two baking pans. Bake at 350 for around 30 minutes.
Basic Frosting
1 1/4 cup Gluten Free Casein Free powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
Mix together. Add strawberries, cocoa, or anything else that you like!
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Carbone Workshop to Take Place in March
We are pleased to welcome to Tampa Bay, Dr. Vincent J. Carbone, BCBA-D founder of the Carbone Clinic, headquartered in New York. Dr. Carbone will host a special three-day clinic just for BCOTB on March 9 - 11.
The entire BCOTB staff will take part in an intensive training workshop for the development and implementation of behavioral therapy to teach language and basic learner skills to children diagnosed with autism and other related disabilities. The workshop will present concepts and principals that are often presented in graduate studies in applied behavior analysis. |
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2012 Walk Now for Autism Speaks
Join us for a night of Giving-back!
Get ready for The 2012 Walk Now for Autism Speaks which is scheduled for Saturday, April 21st at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
BCOTB has a fundraising team in place called The Behavior Bunch, and we have organized two evening benefits to raise money for the walk.
 The first will be held on Monday, February 20th at the restaurant, Tijuana Flats on Collier Parkway located in the Lifestyle Family Fitness Shopping Complex in Lutz from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m.
On March 14, we'll host another fundraiser for the walk at the Tijuana Flats in Westchase from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Please join us for two evenings of fun, good conversation and great food all for a worthy cause with 10 percent of the proceeds going to the Walk Now for Autism Speaks cause.
Click here for more information on how to join our team, the Behavior Bunch! |
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Behavioral Consulting of Tampa Bay Doubles its Growth to Meet Increased Demand for Child Therapy
As more and more children are diagnosed with autism and other developmental disabilities along the autism spectrum, the need for early intervention and therapy is rapidly growing. 
Behavioral Consulting of Tampa Bay has helped hundreds of Tampa Bay-area families by utilizing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, and as a result, has seen double-digit growth in 2011.
We have increased the size of our staff to 33 employees. In 2012, the company plans to hire additional people for its Westchase and Wesley Chapel locations and will add at least four employees to staff a new location in Brandon that is expected to open the third quarter of the year.
The Brandon location will initially be staffed by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst, and two behavior therapists.
Meet our team, read their bios, and see what wonderful additions we have made to our staff who are eager to help and serve the needs of your children.
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Upcoming Events
Community Meeting and Local Events
- The Autism Society of America and AMC Theaters presents: Sensory Friendly Films every month at both the AMC Woodlands Square 20 (727-771-6643) in Oldsmar, as well as the AMC Veteran's 24 (813-243-4881) in Tampa. All shows begin at 10am, but you should call the theater in advance to confirm showings:
-  For the entire month of February, Busch Gardens and Sea World are both offering a preschool pass for children five and younger to get into the parks free of charge. What a wonderful way to spend President's Day weekend, enjoy the beauty of the parks and all the great events they have to offer. Click here for more information.
- TIKVAH Talk at theTampa Jewish Community Center, Monday, February 28th from 7pm until 9pm: This month's topic is: What Every Caregiver Should Know About Sensory Integration presented by Paula L. Tarver, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist and Co-author of Advance My Baby. Attendees will learn about sensory processing so that they can be empowered and equipped with the developmental knowledge necessary to assist children in reaching their full potential. Please RSVP to Lydia Abrams with your name and phone number. For more info, click here.
For more events that may not be listed here, see our Events Calendar. As always, please let us know if you have suggestions on items you would like to see featured in a future edition of our Monthly Newsletters.
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Behavioral Consulting of Tampa Bay
About Us
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 errorless 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.
Due to Florida's Window of Opportunity Act, requiring insurance companies to cover up to $36,000 in autism-related services, Behavioral Consulting of Tampa Bay is now an in-network provider for Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Cigna. We also accept TRI-CARE and United Health insurances. Click here to download our Insurance Information Form, fill it out and email or fax it back to us - we're more than happy to help you decipher your coverage limits!
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