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Bryan is 3 years old and has a vocabulary of three words. His parents say that he doesn’t seem to pay attention to other people. He attends preschool three days a week and his teachers say he is well behaved. However, he rarely plays with others and prefers flipping the pages of his favorite book. He was evaluated by a psychologist who diagnosed him with autism. She recommended early intervention using applied behavior analysis, what she called an ABA home program.It is difficult to receive news of a diagnosis of autism and fully understanding the professional recommendations can be overwhelming. This blog will provide a brief overview of autism, early intervention, applied behavior analysis (ABA) along with supplying additional resources for families. Autism, a developmental disorder, includes symptoms in three areas: difficulty with social interactions, delays in language and communication development, and restricted or repetitive behaviors. Symptoms are seen before the age...

Social and EmotionalBegins to smile at peopleCan briefly calm himself (may bring hands to mouth)Tries to look at parent Language / CommunicationCoos, Makes Gurgling SoundsTurns Heads Towards Sounds Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving) Pays Attention to FacesBegins to follow things with eyes and recognize people at a distanceBegins to act bored (cries, fussy) if activity does not changeMovement/Physical DevelopmentCan hold head up and begins to push up when lying on tummyMakes smoother movements with arms and legsRed Flags For 2 Month Old Babies Does Not Respond to loud soundsDoesn't watch things as they moveDoesn't smile at peopleDoesn't bring hands to mouthCan't hold head up when pushing up when on tummyHave a question? Want to learn more? Leave a comment at the bottom of this blog or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will do our best to follow up with you. About Achieve Beyond: Achieve Beyond is an agency founded by Dr. Trudy Font-Padron in 1995 and remains...

Social and EmotionalKnows Familiar faces and begins to know if someone is a strangerLikes to play with others, especially parentsResponds to other people's emotions and often seems happyLikes to look at self in mirrorLanguage/CommunicationResponds to sounds by making soundsString vowels together when babbling ("ah", "eh" , "oh") and likes taking turns with parent while making sounds.Responds to own nameMakes sounds to show joy and displeasureBegins to say consonant sounds (jabbering with "m", "b")Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)Looks around at things nearbyBrings things to mouthShows curiosity about things and tries to get things that are out of reachBegins to pass things from one hand to the otherMovement/Physical DevelopmentRolls over in both directions (front to back, back to front)Begins to sit without proper supportWhen standing, supports weight on legs and might bounceRocks back and forth, sometimes crawling backward before moving forwardRed Flags For 6 Month Old BabiesDoesn't try to get things that are in...

Social and EmotionalMay be afraid of strangersMay be clingy with familiar adultsHas favorite toysLanguage / CommunicationUnderstands "no"Makes a lot of different sounds like "mamamama" and "bababababa"Copies sounds and gestures of othersUses fingers to point at thingsCognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)Looks around for things he sees you hidePlays peek a booPuts things in her mouthPicks up things between thumb and index fingerMovement/Physical DevelopmentStands holding onCan get into sitting positionSits without supportPulls to standCrawlsRed Flags For 9 Month Old BabiesDoesn'tbeat weight on legs with supportDoesn't seem to recognize familiar peopleDoesn't sit with helpDoesn't look where you pointDoesn't babble ("mama", "dada", "baba")Doesn't transfer toys from one hand to anotherDoesn't play any games involving back and forth playDoesn't respond to own nameHave a question? Want to learn more? Leave a comment at the bottom of this blog or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will do our best to follow up with you. About Achieve Beyond: Achieve Beyond is an...

Social and EmotionalLikes to hand things to others as playMay have temper tantrumsMay be afraid of strangersShows affection to familiar peopleMay cling to caregivers in new situationsPoints to show others something interestingExplores alone but with parents close byLanguage / CommunicationSays several single wordsSays and shakes head "no"Points to show someone what he wantsCognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)Knows what ordinary things are for; for example telephone, brush, spoonPoints to get the attention of othersShows interest in a doll or stuffed animal by pretending to feedPoints to one body partScribbles on his ownCan follow 1-step verbal commands without any gestures; for example, sites when you say "sit down"Movement/Physical DevelopmentWalk aloneMay walk up steps and runPulls toys while walkingCan help undress herselfDrinks from a cupEats with a spoonRed Flags For 18 Month Old BabiesDoesn't point to show things to othersDoesn't gain new wordsCan't walkDoesn't have at least 6 wordsDoesn't know what familiar things are forDoesn't...

Social and EmotionalCopies others, especially adults and older childrenGets excited when with other childrenShows more and more independenceShows defiant behavior (doing what he has been told not to)Plays mainly beside other children but is beginning to include other children, such as in chase gamesLanguage/CommunicationSays sentences with 2 to 4 wordsRepeats words overheard in conversationKnows names of familiar people and body partsFollows two-step instructions such as "Pick up your shoes and put them in the closet"Points to things in a bookCognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)Finds things even when hidden under two or three coversBeings to sort shapes and colorsCompletes sentences and rhymes in familiar booksPlays simple make-believe gamesBuilds towers of 4 or more blocksNames items in a picture book such as cat, bird or dogMovement/Physical DevelopmentStands on tiptoeKicks a ballBegins to runClimbs onto and down from furniture without helpWalks up and down stairs holding onMakes or copies straight lines and circlesRed Flags For...

Social and EmotionalEnjoys doing new thingsPlays "Mom" and "Dad"Is more and more creative with make believe playWould rather play with other children than by himselfCooperates with other childrenOften can't tell what's real and what's make-believeTalks about what she likes and what she is interested inLanguage/CommunicationKnows some basic rules of grammar, such as correctly using "he and "she"Sings a song or says a poem from memory like the "Itsy Bitsy Spider" or the "Wheels on the Bus"Tells storiesCan say first and last nameCognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)Names some colors and some numbersUnderstands the idea of countingStarts to understand timeRemembers parts of a storyUnderstands the idea of "same" and "different"Draws a person with 2 to 4 body partsUses scissorsStarts to copy some capital lettersPlays board or card gamesTells you what he thinks is going to happen next in a bookMovement/Physical DevelopmentHops and stands on one foot up to 2 secondsCatches a bounced ball most...