By Pamela Sleezer
psleezer@americanpress.com
Milestones Behavioral Services will be wrapping up the month of autism awareness today with its 2nd annual ABA & Autism Awareness event, which will combine familyfriendly fun with accessible connections to Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) providers.
Rain or shine from 10 a.m. to noon, Milestones will be set up at Drew Park at 416 Dr. Michael Debakey Drive to provide families with games and entertainment, as well as drinks and snacks, alongside informational offerings that can help families of children who may be on the autism spectrum connect with local ABA providers.
A form of therapy based on the science of learning and behavior, recent studies have shown that ABA therapy can increase language and communication skills while decreasing problem behavior in people and children with autism.
According to Milestones founder Melissa Raymond, the number of local ABA providers has increased dramatically in recent years, and she said the important task at hand now is to educate the community on the many services that are available to them.
“We hope to not only spread awareness about the services that are available, but to also host an event where individuals can come and enjoy a good time,” Raymond said.
Toby Osburn, the executive director of McNeese University’s autism program, said Southwest Louisiana families are able to take advantage of a unique, high concentration of organizations that serve individuals and families touched by autism.
“We have a large number of ABA providers who cater to children and adolescents, nonprofit organizations that help adults, and grass-roots advocacy groups that are laser-focused on this issue for individuals and families,” Osburn said.
According to Osburn, McNeese is one of only 21 universities in the world that offers a master’s degree level of training to work as a licensed, board-certified behavior analyst. It is also one of only a handful of university-based training-treatment clinics in the nation.
“That’s an amazing distinction for our university, community and region,” Osburn said.
Autism awareness events such as today’s strive to keep inclusion at the forefront of society’s consciousness, and Osburn said he believes those events can be attributed to the rise in acceptance of persons with autism in multiple areas. With more employers now willing to give people with autism a chance at employment, and faith communities willing to accommodate the needs of persons with autism and their families, Osburn said he believes autism awareness continues to be spread and accepted by the local community with open arms.
“Actions, not just events or words or goodwill, actually make our community more inclusive,” Osburn said.
Today’s event is free and open to the public.