BCI and Hockomock Y Partner to Benefit Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

BCI and Hockomock Y Partner to Benefit Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

As a private company of behavioral clinicians specializing in the care of children with autism, Behavioral Concepts, Inc. (BCI) often provides its services in the homes of clients. Thanks to a partnership with the Hockomock Area YMCA, families now have the option to secure services for their children at any of the Hockomock Area Y's four locations (Foxboro, Franklin, Mansfield and North Attleboro).

"The Hockomock Area YMCA is truly special. They created the Integration Initiative, a program which embraces, welcomes, and supports persons with disabilities in many of the programs offered by the Y. They discovered that many of their members with autism were unable to access the programs without specialized support. BCI provides the specialized skills training and support to assist clients with autism in participating with their peers in community settings including the Hockomock Area YMCA. Our staff is able to teach social, communication, and group participation skills in a setting using typical peer models," said BCI Founder and Director Dr. Jeff Robinson.

"The Hockomock Area YMCA adopted a policy of inclusion many years ago and we have tailored our activities so all children can participate," said Karen Friedman, Senior Director of the Integration Initiative at the Hockomock Area YMCA. "We are excited that many more members with autism will be able to more fully participate in Y activities thanks to our partnership with BCI."

For most families, insurance covers the ABA and specialty services provided by BCI. BCI currently has no wait list in this new geographic area; staff will review insurance coverage for ABA Services with families during the intake process. Programming in this area also includes home services and parent training. Social skills groups and afterschool programming are also in development, and will be held in the Hockomock Area Y locations. BCI programs are tailored to address the clinical needs of each individual client.

Hockomock Area YMCA locations are as follows: North Attleboro Branch, 300 Elmwood Street, North Attleboro; Bernon Family Branch, 45 Forge Hill Road, Franklin, MA; Invensys Foxboro Branch, 67 Mechanic Street, Foxboro; and Mansfield Arts & Education Center, 40 Balcom Street, Mansfield, MA. To learn more, visit hockymca.org.

Based in Worcester, Mass. BCI provides much needed services to children with autism and their families. BCI instructional programs are delivered using discrete trial training, task analysis, and systematic prompting procedures implemented by ABA therapists who have successfully completed pre-service training and ongoing training and evaluations by their clinical supervisors.

Instruction is provided across a variety of domains, included but not limited to: Activities of daily living, functional and augmentative communication, functional academics, community outings and safety awareness. A heavy emphasis is placed on generalization and maintenance of skills, in addition to family training, so that families may implement the supports and carry-over skills in the home.

For questions about programs offered by BCI, please visit www.bciaba.org or call 508-363-0200. For information about Hockomock YMCA programs, visit www.hockymca.org.

About Behavioral Concepts, Inc. (BCI)

Founded in 2002, BCI provides educational, behavioral, consultative, and assessment services to children with autism and their families. These services are based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and are tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients. It's BCI's goal to maximize individual potential, increase independence and enhance our clients' quality of life within their home, school and community.

BCI provides center and home-based services through health insurance and is an approved provider of Specialty ABA Services for Early Intervention in Central Massachusetts. BCI's main care center, located at 345A Greenwood Street in Worcester, Massachusetts, offers intensive treatment for young children aged 3 to 6 years of age, an after-school program for all school aged children and a weekend social skills program. BCI also provides in-home services within a one-hour radius of Worcester.

BCI's Corporate Offices are located in Mansfield, Mass. For complete information, visit http://bciaba.com or to arrange a consultation with a BCI clinician, please call (508) 363-0200.

About the Hockomock Area YMCA

Where Cause Meets Community. At the Hockomock Area YMCA, strengthening community is our cause. The Hockomock Area YMCA is an organization of men, women, and children sharing a commitment to nurture the potential of kids, promote healthy living, and foster a sense of social responsibility.

The Hockomock Area YMCA is committed to partnering and collaborating with others to create and deliver lasting personal and social change in the 15 communities they are privileged to serve. The Hockomock Area YMCA is a not-for-profit charitable cause-driven organization with facilities in North Attleboro, Foxboro, Franklin, and Mansfield. For more information visit http://www.hockymca.org.