As part of Verbal Beginnings’ new Telehealth suite of services, our New Beginnings diagnostic service has launched a virtual option as well! Here to share more about this program is licensed psychologist and head of our New Beginnings program, Allison Maletsky, Psy.D! How is a virtual diagnostic session different than an in-person session? A…
In this edition of ABA Behind the Scenes, Jami Hardy, MS, BCBA, LGPC, will be examining positive and negative punishment regarding your child’s behavior. In everyday conversation when the word punishment is used, more often punitive actions are being described. In ABA, punishment means the chances of a behavior happening again have decreased as a…
If you’re a parent with a very picky eater at home, meals can easily become a dreaded time of day for both you and your child. Over the years, many parents have reported to me that the dinner table transforms into a battleground when green veggies are present or if the pasta is elbow shaped…
People from all around the world recognize April as the “month of blue,” specifically, Autism Awareness Month. It’s a vital time to raise general public knowledge about autism, rally the community for positive change, and inform some pre-held beliefs about autism that may not be true. To close out this special month of awareness and…
When it comes to working with children and families it’s important to pause and celebrate accomplishments of all types, whenever they happen. Here at Verbal Beginnings, we take celebration seriously… just as seriously as we take our commitment to providing top-notch care. We recently had a big reason to celebrate as we held one of…
Summer is here, the kids are out of school, and it’s time for that family road trip! But let’s not kid each other – road trips make for great memories, but can also come with stressors. Often times your family is packed into a vehicle for hours, if not days, at a time. Hotel rooms…
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), school districts are required to provide services outside of the regular school year to qualifying individuals. In order to qualify for ESY, a child must already have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) in place, and demonstrate either a regression in skills, or show evidence of emerging pivotal skills…
April is autism awareness month. Launched over two decades ago by the Autism Society, the whole month is designed to bring awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to those who may know nothing or who may be misinformed about ASD, and to increase acceptance of individuals diagnosed with ASD. A casual glance at Google trend…
Learning that your child has been diagnosed with Autism can be an overwhelming experience. You may be provided with many treatment options and little guidance on how these interventions will fit into your life and your child’s progress over time. Today, we will provide a bit more information about what you can expect from Early Intervention…
Children with autism often have food aversions and sensitivities. Behavioral issues complicate this problem and can make meal-time challenging. There is also a serious nutritional concern if the child is not taking in enough calories, vitamins, or minerals. This article will discuss some of the strategies we use at Verbal Beginnings to help kids and…
VBMAPP For parents and other caregivers, the assessment process is often your first step into the world of Applied Behavior Analysis. Your ABA professional will use a variety of assessments, both formal and informal, to help design the program that will be the most successful for your child. One of the formal assessments frequently used…
An article in a parenting magazine touts a new diet for kids on the spectrum. One of the moms at the bus stop tells you about a new method for controlling tantrums. Your uncle suggests that you “just need to be more firm” with your son. A friend tells you about another friend whose child…