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Upcoming Events
ABA Training Class
Visual Supports Workshop
March 1 - AZA United
Family Event at the Movies
February 7 - North Valley |
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Take Advantage
Contact us about any of the services below by clicking on the link.
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Why AZA?
Each provider agency has its own unique set of services and benefits to consider. Here are some things that AZA United can offer you:
For Hab & Respite Providers:
Wages up to $13.50/hour
Matching wages for transfers
Frequent raise opportunities
Home visit support any time
Paychecks twice per month
Taxes withheld
Coming soon:
Health insurance
401K plans
Online timesheets
Performance reviews
Lead Habilitator positions
For Families:
Home visit support any time
Monthly family events
Free skills assessments
Voting rights (Annual Meeting)
Ongoing employee recruiting
No sequenced waiting lists
For more information about our services, please contact us. |
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Link of the Month
Senate bill 1263 ("Steven's Law") has been submitted to the Arizona legislature in an effort to increase health insurance coverage for children on the autism spectrum.
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Movie Night!!  Families of AZA United, come join us at North Valley Harkins Theatres for our February Family Event. AZA United has reserved an entire theatre for our families and their guests on the evening of Thursday, February 7th. Our Family Events Committee has chosen the new Veggie Tales movie for this special evening, and the volume will be adjusted to meet the sensory needs of our kids. This is a great opportunity to have some fun and not worry about what anyone else thinks! If you would like to join us, please contact us as soon as possible. Tickets are limited and will be distributed on a first-come first-served basis. All Member families of AZA United are eligible for up to 6 free tickets for the child, family members and a habilitation/respite provider. Arizona Autism Support will be joining us as well and providing free GFCF snacks! Does it get any better than this? For those who can't make it this time, not to worry - we'll do it again next month in the East Valley. |
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A New Home for AZA United  Meetings have been held, dotted lines have been signed, and now it is official: AZA United will be moving into the new "Disability Empowerment Center of Arizona" in fall of 2008! This center, which is currently under construction in Phoenix on Washington St. (east of 48th St.), is a project developed by Arizona Bridge to Independent Living (ABIL) and will bring several disability related organizations from the around the valley under one roof. The design is based on making everything easily accessible for individuals with varying disabilities, including parking and a stop on the Light Rail. The plans include shared space available for trainings and conferences, as well as a Sports & Fitness Center with basketball courts, weight rooms and a swimming pool! AZA United's suite will include 2 clinic rooms for team meetings, behavioral assessments, training sessions and more. Observation rooms and secure video systems will also be available. With this new setup, AZA United will be able to significantly expand available services, trainings and career opportunities. Stay tuned! |
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PECS Training Comes to Phoenix  Pyramid Educational Consultants, Inc., the founders of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), are hosting a PECS Basic Training in Phoenix on February 11 & 12. Employees of AZA United will qualify for a raise upon successful completion of this training. To register, send an email to Kristen. |
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Basketball in the Summer  AZA United is now planning a one-day summer basketball camp for our kids! Because of the varying ages, skills and locations of our families, we will probably repeat the event 3 times in different parts of the valley. One of our Member families developed the idea and has agreed to lead a special committee for this project. While nothing has been confirmed yet, there is a good chance of a special appearance by the Phoenix Suns Gorilla! Anyone who is interested in joining this committee and helping to make this event a success should contact us. We are also working on setting up an ice skating event to give our kids a unique experience. If you would like your child to participate, please send an email to Jacqueline, our Family Events Committee chair. |
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Free CPR Class for Dads Ray Morris, founder of "Dads 4 Special Kids," is providing a free CPR class for Dads on February 9th in Phoenix. The class will discuss how to perform and modify CPR for your child's specific needs, as well as how to develop an emergency action plan for your family. For more information, contact Ray. |
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The Professional World of ABA As our pool of qualified habilitation providers has grown througout the past year, many of our employees have asked us what careers are available in the field of working with children on the autism spectrum. While there are many many answers to that question, the field that is typically most closely related to habilitation is Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA. There are many local and national resources in the field of ABA, some of which are still fairly new to Arizonans. The general trend for aspiring professionals is to become a "Board Certified Behavior Analyst," or BCBA. Requirements include a Master's degree, graduate coursework in Behavior Analysis, supervision from a BCBA, and successful completion of a certification exam. AZA United will be offering BCBA supervision by 2009. The largest worldwide membership organization for the field is ABA International, which holds a conference every year. There are also several smaller ABA associations that offer membership and hold annual conferences, such as the California Association for Behavior Analysis (CalABA) and the Nevada Association for Behavior Analysis (NABA). Arizona now has representation as well in the recently formed Four Corners Association for Behavior Analysis, whose first conference will be held this April in Boulder, CO. Joining any of these organizations and attending conferences is a great way to become more integrated in the field of ABA. Finally, another group has recently been formed to advance the professional needs of ABA researchers and practitioners, the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA). There are also many university programs around the country that offer excellent training and education in the field of ABA, whether specifically focused on autism or applied to a broader population. Anyone who is interested in learning more about this topic is encouraged to contact us. | |
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Thanks for all you do, and don't forget to tell us what else we can do...for you! |
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