World Autism Awareness Day will take place on April 2, 2023.

April is World Autism Month, and we’re inviting friends and neighbors around the world to come together to pledge to #GoBlue to increase global understanding and acceptance of individuals with autism.

We hope you will join us by pledging your support for a more inclusive world and staying involved all month long!

Celebrate World Autism Awareness at Essex Market and The Market Line at Essex Crossing on Saturday, April 1st with our friends at Culikid!

All ages and abilities are welcome to attend.

This event is a drop-in style event. You are welcome to stop by any time between 12pm and 3pm and can stay as long as you'd like. The event will take place at The Market Line, which is located at 115 Delancey St, New York, NY, below the Essex Market. There are stairs at both ends of the market and the elevator is located on the south side of the building near the 220 Broome St entrance.

This event will feature activities by Culikid, Powered by Inclusion, and Punkin Futz as well as:

• self-guided scavenger hunt of the market

• Inclusive vendors including Luv Michael and Popcorn for the People

• discounts at participating Market Line vendors

Grab lunch for a discount at these participating Market Line and Essex Market vendors :

• Que Chevere

• Pickle Guys

You must register to get discounts at the above vendors.

By registering you also gain access to 50%+ off movie tickets for a sensory-friendly screening of "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" the following Saturday, 4/8 at 9:50am at Regal Essex Crossing thanks to Regal Cinemas. You must attend World Autism Day Celebration on 4/1 to pick up your movie tickets.

Sponsored by Que Chevere. Co-hosted with Culikid.

Follow @quechevereles and @culikid for updates!

Accessibility and accommodations:

Please note that the Market Line and Essex Market will be open the public during the time of the event. The markets are large and often loud space with many guests shopping, lounging, and eating. There will be a space available for sensory breaks. The building has an elevator. The closest subway station does not have an elevator.

If you have specific access needs, please email Kristie at kristie@culikid.org with your requests 7 days before the event. We will try our best to support your access needs.

Join us for our Ballet for All Kids Holiday Workshop!

The Ballet for All Kids programs offers a very special technique to foster each child’s unique abilities in order to learn new skills and the classic techniques of ballet. This special workshop will have a fun holiday twist. This workshop is FREE, but registration is required.

The art of ballet therapy can help individuals gain self-confidence, friendships, self-discipline, and the joy of movement. This workshop will be hosted in a safe setting which will include passionate volunteers.

The clinic will take place in Midtown Manhattan at Pearl Studios. This program serves children ages 4-15 years old.

Join us for our Ballet for All Kids Halloween Workshop!

The Ballet for All Kids programs offers a very special technique to foster each child’s unique abilities in order to learn new skills and the classic techniques of ballet. This special workshop will have a fun Halloween twist. This class is FREE, but registration is required.

The art of ballet therapy can help individuals gain self-confidence, friendships, self-discipline, and the joy of movement. This workshop will be hosted in a safe setting which will include passionate volunteers.

The workshop will take place in Midtown Manhattan at Pearl Studios. This program serves children ages 4-15 years old.

Join us for our Saddle Up for Autism Spring Clinic!

The Saddle Up for Autism program uses the pleasures and skills of horseback riding to build necessary skills for children with autism spectrum disorder. Saddle Up for Autism also gives children the opportunity to interact with other farm animals at the ranch and engage in games and activities with the other children such as arts and crafts.

The clinic will take place at El Paso Ranch on Friday May 13, 2022 from 4:30-6:00pm. The cost is $15 per participant, ages 4+ welcome.

If you are interested in volunteering with the American Autism Association in Miami for our Saddle Up for Autism Program, please register at the link below. 18+ only.

Join the American Autism Association and Feed Your Family Tonight for an interactive workshop about feeding your family when life is crazy on February 24th at 2:00pm EST. Are you tired of hearing "what's for dinner?" Getting dinner on the table day in and day out can be a challenge, especially with picky eaters or dietary restrictions, but there are a few simple things you can do to save yourself time, and energy every day!

A Q&A session will follow the panel. We recommend submitting your questions in advance when you register. You will also have the opportunity to submit questions throughout the webinar. If you’re unable to attend, register anyway and we’ll send you a link to the recording.

Our Presenters

Marie Fiebach, Director of Program Services

The emotional burden of feeding your family is real, but there is a way to make weeknight dinner a little easier in your home. Marie Fiebach is a married mother of four active teens aged 14-19. In 2017 she founded Feed Your Family Tonight to help busy families eat dinner together at home and recapture a little calm in the crazy. She is a business owner, podcaster, and has a weekly cooking segment on her local ABC affiliate. Marie knows how hard it is to get dinner on the table especially if your child has special needs. She has dealt with picky eaters, food allergies, and busy schedules but still manages to feed her family a home-cooked meal almost every night. She wants to help you do the same.

HOSTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:

Feed Your Family Tonight

Feed Your Family Tonight is on a mission to build stronger families one dinner at a time! Simple recipes, meal planning strategy, and encouragement for busy and overwhelmed parents is how we help you gather your family around the dinner table. You can find us at FeedYourFamilyTonight.com. Check out the Feed Your Family Tonight Podcast, or follow us on Facebook or Instagram @feedyourfamilytonight.

Join the American Autism Association and Anderson Center for Autism and Anderson Center Consulting for an interactive workshop about understanding options for adults with autism on October 25th at 11am EST.

During this workshop, we provide participants with a basic overview of adult services options and knowledge about the process to access services

A Q&A session will follow the panel. We recommend submitting your questions in advance when you register. You will also have the opportunity to submit questions throughout the webinar. If you’re unable to attend, register anyway and we’ll send you a link to the recording.

Our Presenters

Kathleen Marshall, Director of Program Services

Kathleen currently serves as Director of Program Services, working closely with Anderson’s Consulting Services.  Kathleen develops trainings as part of Consultation’s Autism Supportive Programs and trains professionals, parents/caregivers and community members via in-person and online formats.  Trainings typically focus on increasing understanding of autism and other neurodiversities as well as utilizing behavior analytic interventions in school, home and community settings.  During her twenty-two year tenure with ACA, she has served as Education Specialist, Principal, Director of Education, Director of Children’s Services and Division Director of Program Services.

Kathleen is a Certified School Administrator from the College of St. Rose and holds a Master’s degree in Special Education from SUNY New Paltz. Additionally, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in both elementary and special education from Marymount College. 

Kathleen is a member of Dutchess County’s Think Differently and Think Jobs committees and has worked closely with the Village of Rhinebeck’s Autism Supportive Community Committee.

Kathleen is an active fund-raising volunteer for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Tracy Schober, MPA, Senior Admissions Administrator

Tracy currently serves as the Senior Admissions Administrator. She leads the admissions department and organizes local and national outreach efforts, connecting with parents and professionals. During her ten year tenure as an ACA team member, she has served as an Admissions Administrator, Supervisor of Medicaid Service Coordination, and Senior Admissions Administrator. Tracy has developed and implemented trainings at local and national levels.

Tracy is pursuing her Doctor of Public Administration degree at Capella University, she holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Marist College, a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from SUNY College at Brockport, and an Associate’s degree in Recreation Leadership from Erie Community College. She recently received a certificate as A Social Change Ambassador and induction into the National Society of Leadership and Success.

Tracy represents ACA on the Accessible Residential Opportunities Committee of the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities regional offices. She is also a member of the Association of Directors of Development, Admissions, and Marketing, the Association of American University Women, the American Society for Public Administration, the National Society of Leadership and Success, and the student chapter of the International/City Managers Association.

HOSTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:

Anderson Center for Autism and Anderson Center Consulting

Anderson Center for Autism’s educational/residential program model is based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA); our treatment approach focuses on behavior analytic teaching interventions to teach individuals the skills they need to strive for independence and reach their full potential. Our professional team administers programs and supports that comprehensively address each individual's educational, emotional, and social needs in a proactive, positive manner.

Learn more about Anderson Center for Autism and Anderson Center Consulting on their website.

Join the American Autism Association and Planning Across the Spectrum for an interactive workshop about understanding government benefits and ABLE accounts on October 19th at 11am EST.

During this workshop, we will describe how to best use an ABLE account and how it interacts with the different benefit programs an child or adult may be qualified to receive. We will go beyond some of the basics and touch on the why of having this type of account.

A Q&A session will follow the panel. We recommend submitting your questions in advance when you register. You will also have the opportunity to submit questions throughout the webinar. If you’re unable to attend, register anyway and we’ll send you a link to the recording.

Our Presenter

Elizabeth Yoder, CFP

Liz is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and is serving as Planning Across the Spectrum’s Director of Financial Planning. Liz moved into a L’Arche home after graduating college, where she was a caregiver and community member with four adults with Intellectual and Development Disabilities (IDD) and four other caregivers. Liz spent her time in the community building relationships and discerning how to make the IDD community her life’s focus. As a fly on the wall at national ARC and NDSS conferences, Liz became determined to work for families and individuals who were often scared to save too much or earn too much to disqualify them for government benefits. Not enough professionals were able to empower the families and individuals to live up to their full potential. Liz’s focus turned to financial planning.

HOSTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:

Planning Across the Spectrum

Planning Across the Spectrum specializes in helping any individual, family, or employer of those with autism and other disabilities to pursue financial independence. We are striving to enhance their quality of lives and their future. We do that through individual financial planning, investment management, personal coaching, resource sharing, benefits support for individuals and employers, and more.

Learn more about Planning Across the Spectrum on their website.

Join the American Autism Association and Inclusive Education Project for an interactive workshop about the “nuts and bolts” of special education on August 26th at 2pm EST.

During this workshop, we will be discussing general aspects of special education law: the IDEA, parent's rights, assessments, eligibility categories, resolving disputes, school/college transitions, and more. We will also dive into all things Individualized Education Plan (IEP): what is an IEP, how to get an IEP, and what should be in an IEP. The goal of this presentation is for our attendees to leave with a better understanding of special education law and how to advocate for their child.

A Q&A session will follow the panel. We recommend submitting your questions in advance when you register. You will also have the opportunity to submit questions throughout the webinar. If you’re unable to attend, register anyway and we’ll send you a link to the recording.

Our Presenters

Amanda Selogie, ESQ

Amanda has received a degree in Child and Adolescent Development with a concentration in Education from California State University, along with a Juris Doctorate from Whittier Law School. She has been actively protecting children’s rights since she attended Whittier and continues to do so through various positions, such as serving on the Orange County Child Care and Development Planning Council. Amanda advocates for those who cannot advocate for themselves, and believes children should be recognized by their abilities rather than their disabilities.

Vickie Brett, ESQ

Vickie has received a degree in Political Science with a minor in Philosophy from UC Riverside and attended Whittier Law School as well. She fights for the rights of children and often represents the Spanish speaking community of Southern California as she is bilingual. Vickie serves to educate families about the rights of their children with disabilities and show how low income families can receive pro-bono legal aid.

HOSTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:

Inclusive Education Project

The Inclusive Education Project (IEP) is a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting families in California to pro-bono legal aid. Their mission is to educate and empower their community to ensure families are aware of their children’s rights through parenting workshops and seminars. They provide legal advocacy and education to families of children with disabilities and fight for equal opportunities. IEP also has a podcast where the team discusses disability rights, education, and activism.

Learn more about Inclusive Education Project on their website.

Join us for our Ballet for All Kids Summer Clinic!

The Ballet for All Kids programs offers a very special technique to foster each child’s unique abilities in order to learn new skills and the classic techniques of ballet.

The art of ballet therapy can help individuals gain self-confidence, friendships, self-discipline, and the joy of movement. This clinic will be hosted in a safe setting which will include a trained, passionate volunteers that have all been fully vaccinated for COVID-19.

The clinic will take place in Midtown Manhattan at Next Gen Studios on Saturday, July 31, 2021 from 10:00-12:00pm. This program serves children ages 4-15 years old.

Next Gen Studios COVID-19 Protocol
For the safety of our staff and guests, Nex Gen Studios has implemented the following Covid-19 protocol:

• Our staff is fully vaccinated pursuant to CDC guidelines.

• MERV 13 equivalent filters have been installed on our AC units.

• Fresh air continuously flows into each studio.

• Our air exchange rate exceeds 7 times an hour in all studios and common areas.

• The studios are disinfected daily using EPA N cleaning products. Bathrooms and frequently touched surfaces are disinfected throughout the day.

• Face coverings must be worn and social distancing will be required for guests moving through our hallways and common areas.

• Waiting or congregating in the lobby and hallways is not permitted.

• Upon arrival each guest ages 12 and up will need to present one of three options for entry: proof of a negative antigen COVID-19 test, or negative PCR COVID-19 test or full COVID-19 vaccination, with an appropriate ID matching the name on their documentation.

• Hand sanitizer is available and we encourage frequent washing of hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

• Our general manager is a Covid Compliance Officer, trained and certified by Health Education Services.

For questions, please contact our team at programs@myautism.org.

Join the American Autism Association and Achieve Beyond for an interactive information session about daily living skills.

During this workshop, we will be discussing the impact of motivation on behavior. Attendees will learn three different motivational techniques for young learners as well as older learners. The strategies will be suggested for various different settings and behaviors, such as completing daily living skills, doing homework, and answering questions during conversations, These motivational strategies can be used to increase independence at home, and to have a more successful therapy session too. This workshop will be interactive, showing video samples of each of the strategies so that you will feel more confident in using these strategies at home and in sessions.

A Q&A session will follow the panel. We recommend submitting your questions in advance when you register. You will also have the opportunity to submit questions throughout the webinar. If you’re unable to attend, register anyway and we’ll send you a link to the recording.

Our Presenters

Kristin Fayad, BCBA, LBA

Kristin has worked for Achieve Beyond for the past year and is a Clinical Supervisor of our Manhattan and Brooklyn programs where she supervises clients ranging from 3 to 26 years of age. She also provides individualized supervision and mentorship to aspiring BCBAs. Kristin has a M. Ed and MA. Kristin is also a BCBA and LBA in New York state. When she’s not working, Kristin enjoys cooking up new recipes, doing yoga, biking, reading, and enjoying sunny days at the beach.

HOSTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:

Achieve Beyond

Achieve Beyond was founded in 1995 to meet the needs of developmentally delayed and disabled children and their families, particularly children with bilingual needs. Achieve Beyond had a modest beginning in a small office in Long Island. Two years later, the company expanded its presence to the five boroughs of New York City. The first New York office consisted of a small room in a medical office building. Within one month, the staff outgrew the office space. They now provide pediatric therapy and educational services to children, students and families throughout the United States.

They provide Early Intervention (EI), Preschool (CPSE), and School-age Services (CSE) such as service coordination, evaluations, speech, occupational, physical, and special education services. Their ABA through insurance program allows for children with Autism to receive high-quality ABA therapy at home, in the community, and/or in their clinic through medical insurance. They ensure that Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) create individualized treatment plans and supervise our talented and caring ABA therapists. BCBAs provide supervision and family meetings to guarantee a team approach to assisting your child reach their potential.

Learn more about Achieve Beyond on their website.

Join the American Autism Association and Pacific Autism Center for Education (PACE) for a webinar that will cover what independent play skills are, what kinds are best for your child, how to teach them, and how to use them to your advantage.

A Q&A session will follow the panel. We recommend submitting your questions in advance when you register. You will also have the opportunity to submit questions throughout the webinar. If you’re unable to attend, register anyway and we’ll send you a link to the recording.

OUR PRESENTERS

Amelia Lalley, BCBA

Amelia Lalley has been working in the field of ABA for over ten years and loves it! She strives to provide high-quality experiences for staff and clients alike by perpetuating a collaborative environment. She started on the east coast where she worked as a therapist on a staff intensive residential unit. Afterward, she worked as a therapist and consultant to public schools. She has been with Faces since 2016 and received her BCBA in 2018.

HOSTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:

Pacific Autism Center for Education

Pacific Autism Center for Education (PACE) is a 501c3 nonprofit based in Santa Clara, CA that provides pertinent school, early intervention, behavioral therapy, and housing services for children and adults with moderate-to-severe autism. Founded in 1989, they remain steadfast in their mission to enhance the lives of people impacted by autism, through innovation, exceptional education, and compassionate care.

Learn more about PACE on their website.

Join the American Autism Association and Acuity Behavior Solutions for an interactive information session about ways to help you and your child cope with and conquer change in an emotionally sensitive manner.

A Q&A session will follow the panel. We recommend submitting your questions in advance when you register. You will also have the opportunity to submit questions throughout the webinar. If you’re unable to attend, register anyway and we’ll send you a link to the recording.

OUR SPEAKER

Lindsay Nguyen, MA, BCBA

Ms. Lindsay Nguyen is the founder, owner, and Executive Director of Acuity Behavior Solutions, and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Ms. Nguyen has completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Social Behavior, as well as her Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis, and her Master’s degree in Organizational Psychology. This has given her a strong background in behavior management for many populations from adults to children. She was a wide range of expertise including, behavior reduction for problem behaviors, functional communication training, skill acquisition programming, teaching non-verbal children, teaching executive functioning and self-management goals, parent training, competency-based staff training, and Organizational Behavior Management (OBM). With over 17 years of experience in Applied Behavior Analysis with children with Autism and with children in need of behavior consultation, Ms. Nguyen has worked with children and their families across a variety of settings including in the school, community, and home. Her experience includes children from 12 months old through adulthood. Ms. Nguyen’s passion is creating high-level, pivotal, and sustainable change for clients with the goal of maximizing success.

HOSTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:

Acuity Behavior Solutions

Acuity Behavior Solutions is committed to the enrichment of lives – including the children we work with and the parents who entrust us with their loved ones. Our goal is to provide individualized ABA services to promote permanent change and growth.  Our mission is to provide quality, research-based interventions to our clients and their families. We do this by providing individualized programs for each child, informational and hands on caregiver training, and a variety of resources for the families we serve.  

Each program is a collaborative effort between the client, client’s family, and Acuity Behavior Solutions.  Throughout the treatment, we will be working closely with parents, caregivers, and the child. We are committed to working collaboratively with our families and treatment teams. We encourage open discussion about any concerns or questions.  

Join the American Autism Association and Child Mind Institute for a webinar that will teach you all about behavior, social skills and learning during the pandemic for parents of children with autism.

In this time of COVID-19 and associated uncertainties, parents often experience challenges in preparing their children for the upcoming school year. Some schools may open for traditional instruction while many will continue with remote learning or a hybrid model. Children with autism spectrum disorder frequently have difficulty adjusting to distance learning and disruption of their routine and environment. Cynthia Martin, PsyD, Clinical Psychologist in the Child Mind Institute’s Autism Center, will explore strategies for parents to prepare children with ASD for success in the upcoming school year.

A Q&A session will follow the panel. We recommend submitting your questions in advance when you register. You will also have the opportunity to submit questions throughout the webinar. If you’re unable to attend, register anyway and we’ll send you a link to the recording.

OUR PRESENTERS

Cynthia Martin, PsyD

Cynthia Martin, PsyD specializes in the evaluation, treatment and consultation of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and neurodevelopmental disabilities. She has expertise in ASD, as well as genetic and medical conditions that affect development and behavior, including Down syndrome, Fragile-X syndrome, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC), Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS), and DiGeorge Syndrome. Additionally, she provides developmental consultation and file review to pre-adoptive families who are adopting children with special needs.

Dr. Martin has 15 years’ experience working in research and clinical settings. She has published in academic journals, authored book chapters and presented regionally, nationally and internationally. Dr. Martin received her master’s and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology with an emphasis in child and adolescent psychology. She completed her clinical internship in pediatric psychology at Franciscan Hospital for Children in Boston, Massachusetts and a postdoctoral fellowship with Harvard Medical School in the Developmental Medicine Center at Boston Children’s Hospital. 

HOSTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:

Child Mind Institute

The Child Mind Institute is an independent, national nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders. Our teams work every day to deliver the highest standards of care, advance the science of the developing brain and empower parents, professionals and policymakers to support children when and where they need it most.

Learn more about Child Mind Institute here.

Join the American Autism Association and Culikid for a virtual cooking class for you and your children. We will be making an audience favorite: English Muffin Pizzas.

Culikid's virtual cooking classes are paced and structured to be accessible for children with special needs but all ages and abilities are welcome. Our guests will cook hands-on in their own kitchens, led by Culikid instructors who answer questions, demo multiple methods, and make cooking fun and accessible for everyone.

Guests will receive an ingredient and supply list upon registration. A recording of the class and a full recipe will be sent to all registrants following the class.

For any questions, please contact us at programs@myautism.org.

Hosted in Partnership with:

Culikid
Culikid is a nonprofit that helps individuals of all abilities, including those with special needs, strengthen their social, independent-living, and fine motor skills through culinary experiences, while learning to eat healthier. To learn more about Culikid, please visit their website.

Join the American Autism Association and New York Center for Infants and Toddlers, Inc. for a webinar about understanding challenging behaviors in children with autism.

A Q&A session will follow the panel. We recommend submitting your questions in advance when you register. You will also have the opportunity to submit questions throughout the webinar. If you’re unable to attend, register anyway and we’ll send you a link to the recording.

Our Presenters

 Nadine Maher, M.Ed., BCBA 

Clinical Supervisor/Trainer of Home and Community-Based Services & Behavior Specialist 

Nadine is a NYS Certified General and Special Education Teacher and Behavior Analyst with extensive experience working with young children with special needs and their families. She has worked in many school and home-based settings as a provider of direct instruction and training caregivers and teachers on behavior management strategies. Nadine has also consulted in many daycare and preschool settings, supporting teachers in the design and implementation of effective strategies to prevent behavior challenges. 

Nadine received her Master of Education degree from Teachers College, Columbia University and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) through Pennsylvania State University. Her personal experience as the sibling of a person with special needs been a driving force behind her passion, dedication, and continuous commitment to helping children and their families lead a healthy and more fulfilling life. 

Cheryl Gelber, M.A. 
Director of Strategic Clinical Initiative 

Cheryl is a NYS Certified Early Childhood Special Education Teacher with close to 20 years of experience working with young children with special needs and their families in both home and community settings.

With a specialization in the education of young children with developmental delays, behavior challenges, learning disorders, and Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cheryl designs and leads trainings in content and pedagogical knowledge for community-based therapists, preschools, social service agencies, family child care providers, colleges/universities, and families. She has extensive experience with assessment, curriculum development, instruction, support strategies, and supervision of service providers and extensive training in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Her clinical service approach is thoughtful, practical, and supportive.

Cheryl received a Masters of Art Degree in Early Childhood Special Education from New York University. In her current role she partners with teams to expand partnerships and spearhead clinical initiatives to help increase the scope and scale of services provided to children and families. 

Hosted in Partnership with: New York Center for Infants and Toddlers, Inc.

New York Center for Infants and Toddlers, Inc. (NYCIT) is a leading expert in New York City for providing therapeutic and educational services for young children with special needs. For over 20 years NYCIT has helped to make a meaningful difference in the lives of young children with special needs and their families. NYCIT offers cutting-edge treatments and interventions for young children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Backed by research, in partnership with UCLA, conducted within our own Early Intervention program, we offer proven better outcomes in the development of language, social communication, and play skills for young children diagnosed with Autism. NYCIT provides services for young children with Autism in their homes, community locations, and our specialized school-based settings. 

Learn more about New York Center for Infants and Toddlers, Inc. here.

Join the American Autism Association and True Changes Behavior Therapy Inc. for a webinar about potty training for parents of children with autism.

In this webinar, we will cover evidence-based potty training for children diagnosed with autism. Please note this is not to be tried without the guidance of a BCBA We will be covering in general how to do it, but each child is unique and different and therefore, each child needs their own BCBA to fully analyze the situation to make it work at it's best and without traumatizing the child.

A Q&A session will follow the panel. We recommend submitting your questions in advance when you register. You will also have the opportunity to submit questions throughout the webinar. If you’re unable to attend, register anyway and we’ll send you a link to the recording.

Our Presenters

Maryvonne Cardell 
Mary graduated from Rutgers with a BA in Psychology in 1995 and graduated from Arizona State University with a M.Ed in Applied Behavior Analysis in 2014. Prior to becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Mary worked 1:1 for many years with a wide range of patients on the spectrum. Mary has been successfully applying Applied Behavior Analysis in treatments for people diagnosed with autism since 2007. With over 13 years of ABA experience, Mary delivers high quality treatments for every unique individual diagnosed with autism and their families. Mary founded True Changes in 2017 with the vision of providing the best ABA treatment in New York City. 

Hosted in Partnership with:

True Changes Behavior Therapy LBA, LLC 
True Changes is an innovative ABA agency, founded in 2017. We work in Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn, providing in-home ABA therapy to people diagnosed with autism from ages two and up. We have the best technicians, best system, and best technology. Our technicians are experienced, educated, and are motivating for the people they serve. We deliver high quality ABA Treatment. Our system is the best. Every aspect of our model was well thought out and compared to other agencies to ensure cutting edge services which are a high quality and deliver the desired results for all involved. The children get all the tools and materials they need to succeed. Our technology is the finest, it is cutting edge. Our BCBAs can track data remotely in real time on beautifully made graphs. At True Changes, We Do ABA All The Way! ℠ 

Learn more about True Changes here.

Join the American Autism Association and Achieve Beyond for a virtual parenting workshop on teaching social skills. This workshop will discuss the types of developmental play and strategies for teaching appropriate skills to children and adolescents.

A Q&A session will follow the panel. We recommend submitting your questions in advance when you register. You will also have the opportunity to submit questions throughout the webinar. If you’re unable to attend, register anyway and we’ll send you a link to the recording.

Our presenter:

Tara Karen, M.S. Ed, BCBA, LBA, Regional Clinical and Operations Director
Tara Karen is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst (CT, MA, MD, NY, TN) who has worked in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis and Special Education since 2009. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from SUNY Stony Brook, a Master’s degree in Childhood education from Dowling College and completed her BCBA coursework at SUNY Stony Brook. Tara is a New York State certified teacher, holding multiple certificates in children with special needs. Before joining Achieve Beyond, Tara worked in public and private schools, as well as performing home-based instruction and ABA therapy. Tara began at Achieve Beyond in 2013 as a BCBA, becoming a clinical supervisor, clinical director, and operations director. Tara’s passion for learning and teaching has guided her journey at Achieve Beyond, and she utilizes ABA principles with her, clinical, and administrative staff to encourage each individual to perform at their best. Tara believes in creating a supportive, motivating, and caring environment to ensure that all services provided are of the highest quality and benefit each and every child and family

Hosted in collaboration with:

Achieve Beyond

Achieve Beyond was founded in 1995 to meet the needs of developmentally delayed and disabled children and their families, particularly children with bilingual needs. Achieve Beyond had a modest beginning in a small office in Long Island. Two years later, the company expanded its presence to the five boroughs of New York City. The first New York office consisted of a small room in a medical office building. Within one month, the staff outgrew the office space. We now provide pediatric therapy and educational services to children, students and families throughout the United States including the greater Los Angeles & San Francisco, California (CA) area, Virginia (VA) / Maryland (MD) / DC area, Delaware (DE), Connecticut (CT), New Jersey (NJ), Nashville (TN), West Palm Beach Florida (FL), Long Island, Hudson Valley, Albany and the entire New York (NY) metropolitan area.

We provide Early Intervention (EI), Preschool (CPSE), and School-age Services (CSE) such as service coordination, evaluations, speech, occupational, physical, and special education services. Our ABA through insurance program allows for children with Autism to receive high-quality ABA therapy at home, in the community, and/or in our clinic (slated to open in Melville Sept 2020) through medical insurance. We ensure that Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) create individualized treatment plans and supervise our talented and caring ABA therapists. BCBAs provide supervision and family meetings to guarantee a team approach to assisting your child reach their potential.

Learn more about Achieve Beyond on their website.

On June 18 every year, organizations like the American Autism Association around the world celebrate Autistic Pride Day. This holiday was created for individuals on the spectrum to be autistic and proud - celebrating who they are.

Autistic Pride Day was first celebrated in 2005 by Aspies for Freedom (AFF), and it quickly became a global event which is still celebrated widely online. Since our founding in 2010, the American Autism Association has marked this day on an annual basis and took to celebrating the unique individuals in our community.

We’re asking you to join us this year and celebrate Autistic Pride Day with the American Autism Association. There are a number of ways you can get involved listed here. Don’t forget to tag us in your festivities with #MyAutism on social media!

We can’t wait to celebrate all the colors of your rainbow!

World Autism Awareness Day will take place on April 2, 2020.

April is World Autism Month, and we’re inviting friends and neighbors around the world to come together to pledge to #GoBlue to increase global understanding and acceptance of individuals with autism.

We hope you will join us by pledging your support for a more inclusive world and staying involved all month long!

Join us for our 5-session of Ballet for All Kids autumn program!

The Ballet for All Kids programs offers a very special technique to foster each child’s unique abilities in order to learn new skills and the classic techniques of ballet.

These classes and the special setting including a trained, passionate volunteers combined with the art of ballet therapy can help individuals gain self-confidence, friendships, self-discipline, and the joy of movement.

Classes will take place in Midtown Manhattan for 5 consecutive Saturdays from 9:30-11:00am, beginning on March 14, 2020 and concluding on April 11, 2020.

This program serves children ages 4-15 years old.

To volunteer, please register here.