Educational Entitlement for ABA Services: A Right for All

• By: By Brad Stevenson, PhD, BCBA-D, CDE® Melmark Carolinas Rita M. Gardner, MPH, LABA, BCBA, CDE® Melmark Keri Bethune, PhD, BCBA-D Melmark Carolinas
• January 2nd, 2023
• ABA, applied behavior analysis, evidence-based intervention, FAPE, free appropriate public education, insurance, insurance-funded services, special education services, Winter 2023 Issue
• 1425    0

The old saying goes that if you meet one person with autism, you have met one person with autism. This alludes to the fact that people with autism have such a varying set of preferences, interests, strengths, and needs that no two are alike. As a result, the supports people need varies greatly with...

Prevention of Abuse and Neglect: Melmark’s Organizational Approach

• By: Shawn P. Quigley, PhD, BCBA-D Jennifer Ruane, MS, BCBA, LPC, CDE Mary Odira, MS Mary Jane Weiss, PhD, BCBA-D Rita M. Gardner, MPH, LABA, BCBA, CDE® Frank L. Bird, MEd, BCBA, LABA Melmark
• September 23rd, 2021
• abuse, Fall 2021 Issue, individual rights, investigation, neglect, oversight, prevention, protection, safety, staff training, supervision, transparency
• 1647    1

There is always concern among both family members and providers that abuse and neglect of vulnerable populations can occur. Horror stories of such treatment have been chronicled in history, and there are still current reports of such atrocities (e.g., Bailey & Burch, 2016). As an organization,...

Maintaining Best Outcomes for Students in a Congregate Care Setting Amidst a Pandemic

• By: Rita M. Gardner, MPH, LABA, BCBA, CDE® Helena L. Maguire, MS, LABA, BCBA Jennifer Labowitz, MS, NCSP, BCBA Silva Orchanian, MEd, BCBA, LABA Mary Jane Weiss, PhD, BCBA-D Melmark
• July 1st, 2020
• congregate care, COVID-19, home instruction, individualized plans, motivation, staff, students, summer 2020 issue, technology, telehealth, virtual instruction
• 1665    0

COVID-19 posed immediate and unprecedented challenges to organizations providing intensive behavioral services in a congregate care setting to children and adolescents diagnosed with autism and intellectual/developmental disabilities. The evolving discoveries about the novel virus and how to combat...

Applied Behavior Analysis as an Intervention for Individuals with Autism: Reflections on 35 years of Evolution

• By: Rita M. Gardner, MPH, LABA, BCBA, CDE® Mary Jane Weiss, PhD, BCBA-D Frank L. Bird, MEd, BCBA, LABA Melmark
• January 1st, 2016
• ABA, applied behavior analysis, assessment, behavior modification, diagnosis, intervention, staff training, treatment
• 1534    0

It is difficult to find the words that best describe the evolution of autism treatment over the past 35 years. The science of applied behavior analysis (ABA) has changed substantially over the last 35 years. In 1980, autism was considered to be a low incidence disorder that was not as well...