This is a video of the Halloween Costume contest that the pediatric therapy and autism services company Bilinguals Inc. / Achieve Beyond hosted in it's corporate NYC office.  (http://www.achievebeyondusa.com). We provide children ages 0-5 with physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy and autism / ABA services for children in need throughout New York, Illinois, California, Virginia, Maryland and Connecticut in home, clinic or community settings. Bilinguals Inc. / Achieve Beyond also offers parent and clinical workshops throughout the year.For more information on our company visit http://www.achievebeyondusa.com

The national pediatric therapy and autism services company Bilinguals Inc. / Achieve Beyond is hosting two CEU Workshops in their NYC office this October. The early intervention health care company will be hosting these workshops at a reasonable fee and encourages all ABA therapists, speech language pathologists, speech therapists, autism service providers and pediatric focused therapists to attend. 

The first workshop is a BCBA CEU Workshop and will be held on October 15th, 2011. This unique workshop highlights the work of 3 scientist practitioners. Each of our presenters is a certified special educator, Board Certified Behavior Analyst,staff trainer, family trainer and mentor to many teachers, teaching assistants and graduate students. Each is equally trained in enhancing the lives of the people they work with as they are in conducting empirical research about these procedures. Our
presentations will focus on teaching others the importance of using behavior analysis to teach better. Each of these topics is based on evidence based procedures that have significance for the students each of our presenters works with. You can register and find out more exact CEU information for this BCBA Workshop here

The second CEU workshop is a Speech Evaluations workshop. This workshop will cover the NYS Early Intervention Multidisciplinary Evaluation Process, Standards and Procedures for Speech and Language Evaluations. The main focus of the workshop would be to guide professionals conducting Early Intervention evaluations in NY state, and will cover Developmental Delay, Developmental Milestones; NYS Early Intervention Eligibility Criteria; Administration of speech assessment and components of a comprehensive evaluation report.To find out more workshop information, ASHA CEU specifics, to register online and read the presenter bios click here 

We hope all pediatric therapy professionals and child care providers attend these excellent trainings. You can see more of the Bilinguals Inc. / Achieve Beyond  workshops being held nationwide at our Achieve Beyond Workshops website

This is a video photo slideshow of the pediatric therapy company, Bilinguals Inc./
Achieve Beyond, hosting their 2011 Summer Picnic in Central Park, New York City.
The annual summer picnic featured lots of food, face painters, magicians, laughs
and the annual inter-office softball tournament. If you know a child who may need
pediatric therapy services including physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational
therapy and or autism services. Have them visit our homepage http://www.achievebeyondusa.com
We hope you enjoy the pictures and please feel free to comment and share this
blog posting.

This is the nationwide pediatric therapy and autism services company, Achieve Beyond,
being interviewed on the business connection television show on channel 17 Naperville
Community Television for the Illinois branches in Oswego and Crest Hill, Illinois. We hope
you  enjoy this video and please don't forget to share this video with others and comment
below this blog posting as well.

This article, written by Bilinguals Inc. / Achieve Beyond Pediatric Therapist Rosario Elejalde, MS, CCC- SLP, BE TSHH, goes in depth on behaviors, symptoms, actions and warning signs that may be exhibited by a child that has autism. It is a great read for special needs parents, speech language pathologists, special educators and early intervention professionals.

As Speech Language Pathologists we need to be aware of some behavior/signs that children on the Autism Spectrum might have. It does not mean that every child with Autism will present these behavior/signs, but most of them will prompt us to make an accurate observation on the child's responses to make the proper referral for an evaluation which can lead to an appropriate diagnosis.

As Linda Watson, Ed.D.,CCC-SLP Associate Professor from the Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC wrote in different articles familiarity with the literature about the early development of children of Autism will improve the ability of professionals to appropriately diagnose and intervene young children who may have a form of autism.

In her article "Toddlers with Autism, Developmental Perspectives", she presented the development of young children with Autism by discussing the developmental domains of affective development, sensory processing and attention, praxis and imitation, communication, play and motor features, and stereotyped behaviors.

- Affective development: fewer facial expressions are seen in toddlers with Autism, and fewer are directed to other people. These children are more likely to show ambiguous facial expressions. Retrospective video research has indicated lack of social smiling in infants with Autism.

- Sensory processing, attention and self regulation: Many symptoms, reflective of sensory processing and / or attention disturbances are present among children on the spectrum. Among these symptoms are hypersensitivities to sound, aversion to social touch, avoidance of certain food textures, lack of response to pain, poor orientation to visual stimuli, and over focused attention with sensory features of objects (e.g. spinning objects, licking objects).

- Praxis and imitation: Imitation deficits are evident in the youngest children with confirmed diagnoses of Autism, and those skills impact the gesturing development of every child as a precursor of verbal language.

- Communication: Comprehension problems impede the child's progress in social interaction and expressive communication. Eye contact, which is reduced in young children with Autism, will affect in regulating their communication as demonstrated by reduced babbling in early development. Another behavior which points to a diagnosis of Autism is when a child manipulates another person's body (eg. placing another person's hand to obtain an object). A lack of pointing is one of the key items for 18 month old children who are at risk for Autism. Limitations in the ability of young children to engage in joint attention have proven to by highly reliable in helping to distinguish the children who may have Autism.

- Play: Play skills in children within the spectrum are characterized by less proximity to peers, reduced level of social initiations, fewer social responses, lack of pretend play and isolated play. Difficulties in social skills and joint attention may reduce levels of engagement in social play.

- Motor features and stereotyped/ repetitive behaviors: There is evidence that some children with Autism without cognitive delays may exhibit unusual postures, clumsiness, and motor planning problems. Two of the hallmark features of Autism among others are repetitive/ stereotyped behaviors (e.g. arm/ hand flapping, toe walking) and ritualistic behaviors (e.g. lining up objects).

In the article "The first year inventory: Retrospective parent responses to a questionnaire designed to identify one year-olds at risk for autism" by Linda R. Watson and others from the Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences at the University of North Carolina-2007, establish the need to identify one year old children in the general population who are at risk for atypical development and additionally, to highlight children whose risk patterns seem most suggestive of eventual Autism. This screening instrument is not ready for clinical use yet and is limited to research use at this time.

We as Speech Language Pathologists can observe the children's behaviors among the following domains to make an evaluation referral which might suggest the risk of Autism1. Social orienting and receptive communication: looks when named is called, seems to have trouble hearing, turns to look at pointed out objects, looks at people when they talk, looks up from play when shown new toy, seems interested in other babies, responds to where is, looks up from playing with a favorite toy by showing a different toy, by moving or shaking the new toy or by removing current toy, turns to parent when calling by name once or several times or when name is loud or other sound is used.

2. Social affective engagement: excited when knows what will happen next, looks at parent face for comfort, easy to understand baby's expressions, smiles when looking at you, tries to get your attention to show things, for interactive games, to obtain toy, for physical games.

3. Imitation: imitates mouth sounds, body movements, activities with objects, responds to a new game by joining immediately, with a little help or with a lot of help, smiles and laughs in response to smile and laugh, smiles when touched or tickled, smiles when swung or bounced, when imitating a sound done by the baby he/she does not notice that sound is being imitated, notices sound but does not imitate it or notices sound and imitates it.

4. Expressive communication: tries to get attention by sound and gaze, babbles, uses communicative gestures, uses finger to point at things.

5. Sensory processing: overly sensitive to touch, avoids looking at parents, spits our certain textures of food, presses against things (people or furniture), body feels loose or floppy, keeps a toy or object in his/her mouth ( never, sometimes, often).

6. Regulatory patterns: sleeping and walking patterns regularity, regular feeding patterns, how many hours per night is the child sleeping ( more than 12, between 10-11, 8-9, less than 7 hours), times per night does the baby wake up (none, 1-2 times, 3 or more times).

7. Reactivity: upset when switching activities, difficult to calm when upset, number of times the baby gets upset during a typical day ( never, between 1-3 times per day, 4-6 or more than 6 times per day).

8. Repetitive behavior: plays alone for an hour or more, rocks body back and forth over and over, repeats simple activity over and over, enjoys staring at bright lights, gets stuck on playing with a part of a toy, enjoys rubbing or scratching objects, body gets stuck in positions or postures, enjoys making objects spin over and over, enjoys kicking feet over and over, stares at fingers when wiggling them, number of toys is the child interested in a regular day ( play with 1-2 special toys per day, 3-5 toys, with a large number of toys).

Observe the children behaviors, document those behaviors and make the proper referral for an evaluation. An adequate diagnosis of autism might turn into an early treatment.

Research indicates that children who receive early intervention before three years of age are more likely to demonstrate greater gains in language and communication development. From a clinical perspective, evidence suggests that early treatment lead to better outcomes for the child.

References:

L. R. Watson; G. T. Baranek; P. C. DiLavore. (2003) Toddlers with Autism: Development perspectives
Infants and young children Vol. 16 No. 3, pp 201-214

L. R. Watson - E.R.Crais; G. T. Baranek; J.Steven Reznick; S. Reavis. ( 2006)
A Parent - Report instrument for Identifying One - year - Olds at risk for an eventual diagnosis of autism: The First Year Inventory
Springer Science+ Business Media, LLC 2006

L. R. Watson - E.R.Crais; G. T. Baranek; J.Steven Reznick; S. Reavis; J. Dykstra; T. Perryman ( 2006)
The First Year Inventory: Retrospective Parent Responses to a questionnaire designed to identify one- year- olds at risk for autism. Springer Science+ Business Media, LLC 2006

These is a video of some in-field therapy pictures from the pediatric therapy and autism services company Bilinguals Inc. / Achieve Beyond (http://www.achievebeyondusa.com). We provide 0-5 years of age physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy and autism / ABA services for children in need throughout New York, Illinois, California, Virginia, Maryland and Connecticut in home, clinic or community settings. Bilinguals Inc. / Achieve Beyond also offers parent and clinical workshops throughout the year.For more information and child pictures visit http://www.achievebeyondusa.com

The pediatric therapy and educational services company, Achieve Beyond, is recruiting experienced BCBA therapists to provide Applied Behavior Analysis based autism services to children in need nationwide.

In response to the increasing number diagnosis of children with autism across the country over the last decade, Achieve Beyond is offering more Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) services for children and families nationwide and is looking to hire more qualified BCBA therapists to implement these new programs.

Achieve Beyond is actively recruiting experienced professionals in autism services to provide for children with special needs in Texas, California, Virginia, Illinois, Connecticut and New York. The professionals the company is specifically targeting include program supervisors, line therapists and board certified behavior analysts (BCBAs). These professionals will be developing individualized BCBA supervised programs for each child to teach communication, social/play skills, independence, appropriate behavior and pre academic skills. Beginning with a detailed assessment, a program centered on the specific needs of the child and family will be created. Using a comprehensive instructional approach and teaching in natural settings, the therapists will draw on a child’s interests to make learning enjoyable. Based on initial and ongoing assessment, specific teaching strategies are implemented to meet the child’s goals by Achieve Beyond. The evidence-based practices follow the science of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) including natural environment training, incidental teaching, discrete trial instruction, pivotal response training, and chaining, with a focus on a verbal behavior classification system.

 
Achieve Beyond is a nationally recognized health care provider that specializes in pediatric therapy and educational services for children in need nationwide. Their family centered approach allows them to work in partnership with families to meet each child’s developmental needs in a nurturing and supportive environment.

As a strong supporter of the Early Intervention (EI) Program in NYS, Achieve Beyond opposes changes proposed in Gov. Cuomo’s 2011 budget that will threaten the future of the EI Program. Many of the cuts will be severely damaging to the services that NY State’s developmentally delayed children ages 0 to 3 receive. We support some of the proposed changes that will save significant costs without hindering the services that these children need.

Bad Idea: Another 10% Rate Cut (For A Grand Total 20% Rate Cut Within 12 Months!)

A 10% rate reduction for EI Services is proposed by Gov. Cuomo. This is above and beyond the 10% rate cut that was ALREADY IMPLEMENTED in April 2010 for home and community-based services, resulting in a 20% rate cut! No other state funded program has been cut to this extent. Gov. Cuomo is expecting this essential program to absorb an additional 10% cut this year as well. These cuts impact all aspects of services that delayed children continue to need.

Bad Idea: Medicaid Billing Mandate

Early Intervention providers, like ourselves, would be required to directly seek reimbursement from Medicaid and private insurance companies prior to seeking payment from municipalities. This would severely choke cash flow and add administrative expense at a time when rates have already been cut 10% and may be cut ANOTHER 10%. This change will significantly impact the accessibility and availability to deliver services that delayed children require from qualified therapists.

Good Ideas:
(1) Commercial Insurance Mandate
(2) Transportation Overpayment Recovery from Counties

These are sound proposals that would increase funding without adding additional costs to NYS or negatively affecting the delivery of services to children. It is important that the burden of billing insurance companies is not shifted to providers.

Need more information about:
(1) Capitated Payments for Service Coordination
(2) Billing Early Intervention Services in 15 Minute Increments
(3) Wage Equalization and Transportation Factors

The Governor’s budget proposal offers too little information to make a sound decision on the impact that these proposals may have on the delivery of services to children. These proposals may in reality end up being rate cuts disguised in a different form. As a savings is being assumed by these changes, they appear to be predetermined to be another rate cut.

These proposals would have a devastating effect on the type and quality of services to children with special needs.  Leaving these children inadequately treated will cost NYS a sizeable amount of money in the future.  A cost- benefit study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that for every $1 invested $7.10 was returned to society in the form of decreased future special education costs and less grade retention. Similar studies were published by the Rand Corp. and the Education Commission of the US. A recent federally funded study in NYS found that parents were highly satisfied with EI service outcomes. Clearly, EI is an investment in children and their futures, not an expense.

Please vote to support Early Intervention and send a quick email the politicians here. We appreciate everyone's support.
 

Achieve Beyond is happy to announce that we’ve partnered with CaringBridge, a charitable nonprofit that provides free, private websites that connect family and friends during any type of serious health event, such as cancer, premature birth and serious injury.

Founded in 1997, the CaringBridge mission is to bring together a global community of care powered by the love of family and friends in an easy, accessible and private way. More than 20 million families are a part of a CaringBridge experience each year and it is one of the top 1,000 most visited websites on the Internet.

A CaringBridge website eases the burden of updating family and friends for both the patient and his or her family as well as for healthcare professionals. It also connects a patient’s entire community, creating a network of support for everyone involved.

The websites are easy to use. Authors add health updates and photos to share their story while visitors leave messages of love and support in the guestbook. Patients can go to www.CaringBridge.org to get connected.

CaringBridge® is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit offering free personalized websites that allow people to stay in touch with family and friends during a health crisis, treatment and recovery. The goal of the service is to ease the burden of keeping friends and family updated, while also providing a way for them to send their love, support and encouragement.

 
With a few keystrokes, CaringBridge authors quickly and easily create private and personalized websites that display personal journal entries and photographs. Family and friends visit the site to read updates and leave messages of support in the guestbook.

The CaringBridge experience is unique for both authors and visitors in its immediacy, intimacy and wide-reaching impact. The organization uses the Internet to make profound human connections, using Compassion Technology™ to serve a higher purpose in a powerful way

New and exciting workshops are being offered by Achieve Beyond. They have added many new workshops in our New York City, Long Island and Westchester locations. The Illinois branch will also be holding at least one new workshop a month for parents and therapists to attend. All of these rewarding workshops have been added to their workshops webpage. The workshops are listed for each location with full descriptions, flyers, CEU availability and registration links as well. If there are any questions, comments or concerns please feel free to contact their Training and Supervision Coordinator for further assistance here This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Some of these new workshops can be accessed by simply clicking on the links below for more information, dates, times and registration. All of the branch specific workshop pages will be updated often, so please keep checking back for further updates on workshops offered in each of our offices nationwide including New York CIty, Long Island, Illinois, Virginia, California and Connecticut.

Working Together To Promote Outcomes In Children With Autism (CEUs Offered) (New York City)

Evidence Based Practice in Autism (CEUs Offered) (Long Island)

Introduction to Applied Behavioral Analysis & 4-in-1 Training (Westchester)