Ellen Karalis

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is an empirically validated treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities. We address skill acquisition while simultaneously targeting challenging behavior. Each child’s individualized programming is developed based on his/her developmental level so that a solid foundation of prerequisite skills, such as imitation and matching, builds to a more complex repertoire of skills, such as social and pre-academic skills. Each skill is broken down and defined objectively, and data are taken on every target so that programming decisions are outcome-based. A comprehensive curriculum is designed for each individual child. Skills target all areas of development and may include: Language development Verbal communication Socialization skills Daily living skills Safety in the home and community Pre-academic skills Toilet training Feeding therapy Sleep consultation Play skills Visual-perceptual skills We are skilled at addressing any and all types of difficult behavior, including: Aggression (hitting, kicking, spitting, biting, etc.) Property destruction (throwing, breaking objects, etc.) Refusal (running away from caregivers, flopping to the floor, etc.) Self-Injury (head-banging, self-hitting, etc.)