Integrated Behavior Services, LLC

12/15/2025

HAPPY NATIONAL CUPCAKE DAY!

What a fun day! Here are some ideas to help your child celebrate National Cupcake Day (or any celebration that calls for cupcakes!) and helps them be a part of the decorating!

USE A VISUAL SCHEDULE with pictures to show activities and their timing:
1. Cupcake
2. Frosting
3. Sprinkles
4. Enjoy

CHOOSE SENSORY FRIENDLY THEMES like "Crunchy versus Smooth" that take into account sensory & dietary considerations. Offer crunchy (granola, pretzel pieces) and smooth (yogurt, frosting) options. Use natural food dyes or stick to plain, preferred colors

SET UP DECORATING STATIONS with different textures: sprinkles, colored sugar, small candies like marshmallows

ENJOY the day and a special treat with your child!

12/13/2025

We’re grateful for the opportunity to support local organizations making a difference!

Brennen Gardzinski, right, representing Integrated Behavior Services of Covington, delivers gifts for the Bath Christmas Mother Trish Foutz this week. “I am overwhelmed by the generosity of folks in our county and the surrounding areas for the families of Bath County this Christmas,” Foutz sa....

12/02/2025

Being aware of the sensory needs of autistic children can mean the difference between a peaceful Christmas celebration and one that is difficult for your autistic loved one to enjoy.

Here are some ideas for gift giving and stocking stuffers that will take those needs into account and bring joy to the recipient as well as your heart!

1. The Original Tangle: This is the original toy that started a best selling product line. This large size version has different colors and textures making it one of the ultimate sensory play toys. Kids love watching the smooth and fluid motions and cannot get enough of this one. The large size helps older students that need an engaging two hand activity, but it’s great for younger ones as well!

2. Pencil Grips: The ergonomic design helps guide your child’s fingers into the proper position. With a comfy and ergonomic design, this is a must have for students this year.

3. Deluxe Jellyfish Lamp: This amazing gift will give you all of the wonder and relaxing feelings of a saltwater aquarium without the upkeep or maintenance. Watch as the two Jellyfish glide through the water while the LED lights let them change colors. This is a best selling gift and one that everyone will love!

4. 3″ Time Timer: Great for students who need help understanding the passage of time. The 3″ time timer is the perfect accessory to take back to school. The highly visual design will help make understanding the abstract theory of time much easier.

5. The Laser Stars Projector: When your child or the lucky recipient turns the laser stars on at night, they’ll lay back in bed and watch as a gorgeous galaxy of stars lights up their ceiling with the occasional shooting star flying by. With both holographic and laser technology, this light show is one that your child will never get tired of.

6. Spiky Gloves: Although the glove may look scary, your kids will love the soft and stretchy spiky glove. Your child will love wearing it, especially when combined with handwriting for increased proprioceptive input and deep pressure.

7. Ooey Gooey Octopus: This is the ideal gift for kids over 3 years old. It’s stretchy fun to help with fine motors manipulation and tactile exploration. Great as a stocking stuffer or as a gift on it’s own.

8. The Blunders Game: Your kids will have fun while learning about social skills. Watch as they act out social situations, answer questions (both true/false and multiple choice) while learning about table and telephone manners, school etiquette and more.

9. Finger Paint Sensations/Playdough: Complete with ten tactile textures to add to the colors, the finger paint sensations kit is a great way to have fun while exploring new textures and creating art.

10. Reverse Charades: In this fun game your child will work with their team to act out as many words as possible while one child tries to guess what they are. This is a ton of fun that never gets old and a great spin on a classic game.

11. Stretchy Fidget Strings: fun shape and streeeetches for fun and relaxation. Similar to a stress ball but strings!

Check out the Amazon list to find these ideas! What is a favorite of your loved one?? Comment below!

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/DCQS86QXULM6?ref_=wl_share

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving!

Turkey Day may mean changes in schedules, traveling, loud noises, unfamiliar people, different foods and not just a little chaos! Here are some tips that you can try and to share with others that may help your child enjoy the day and help others understand their needs:

(1) Share with your child what to expect. Consider a picture schedule, a written schedule or a conversation that can help your child understand what sights, sounds and smells might be involved in the holiday.

(2) Anticipate what might create anxiety or meltdown and take a break before the child becomes overwhelmed. Don't force engagements or expectations and let them know it's okay if they need to be in a quiet place rather than with guests. Allow play in a preferred activity or with a favorite toy.

(3) Have a favorite holiday food available. Let them eat what and where they are comfortable, even if it may not be with the rest of the family.

(3) Let your guests know about sensory needs: that a lack of communication or affection is not personal but that your child has limits for them to be comfortable.

Creating a Thanksgiving environment for autistic children isn't about achieving perfection--it's about offering understanding, flexibility and genuine care. Gratitude is shown not only in words but in how we make space for one another.

We can create a Thanksgiving celebration where autistic children feel safe, supported and truly at home.

11/21/2025

💙 New Virginia Law Helps Healthcare Providers Better Understand Autistic Children

A new Virginia law focuses on making healthcare visits easier and more supportive for autistic kids.

Here’s what it means in simple terms:

👉 Healthcare licensing boards in Virginia must now recommend special training for doctors, nurses, therapists, and other health professionals who work with children.

👉 The recommended training teaches providers:
• How to recognize autism-related behaviors
• How to communicate more effectively with autistic children
• How to respond calmly and safely during challenging moments

💡 Why this matters for our kids

✔ Fewer stressful appointments
When providers understand autistic behaviors, visits feel smoother and less overwhelming.

✔ Better communication
Doctors and nurses get guidance on how to talk to autistic children in ways that support their needs.

✔ More informed, compassionate care
Providers gain tools to handle sensory overload, emotional regulation struggles, and behavioral challenges with patience and understanding.

🧡 The bottom line

This law helps Virginia move toward more consistent, autism-friendly healthcare — so our kids feel safer, calmer, and more supported during medical visits.

11/17/2025

If you’re raising a child on the spectrum, you already know how big feelings can appear fast and sometimes without warning. Having a toolkit of calming strategies can make those tough moments feel a little more manageable — for both of you. 💛

Here are some gentle ways to use the calming strategies in the chart when your child starts feeling overwhelmed:

🫁 Take deep breaths
Try modeling slow breathing or use a visual (like blowing bubbles or a pinwheel). Many kids respond better when they can see the breath.

📚 Read a book
Keep a favorite sensory-friendly book nearby. Familiar stories can bring comfort and predictability in moments of stress.

🎶 Listen to music
Soft, rhythmic music or their favorite calming songs can help regulate emotions. Some kiddos love noise-canceling headphones too.

🥤 Get a drink
Cold water or a warm drink can be grounding. Sipping gives the body something repetitive and soothing to do.

🔢 Count to 10
Counting can feel structured and safe. Try counting together or using visual number charts.

🧘 Do some yoga
Simple movements or stretches can release tension. Even one or two gentle poses can help reset their body.

🧘‍♀️ Meditate / Calm corner time
A quiet corner with soft items, visuals, or a sensory tool can become their safe space when things feel too big.

😊 Think happy thoughts
Prompt them with something they love: “Remember how fun the park was?” or “Think about your favorite character.” This helps shift focus.

🧸 Hug a stuffed animal
Deep pressure can be incredibly calming. A favorite stuffed friend or weighted plushie works wonders.

💛 When to use these:
• When you see early signs of overwhelm (fidgeting, pacing, covering ears)
• Moving from one activity to the next or after lots of noise or activities in loud, crowded spaces
• During meltdowns — not to stop the feelings, but to support regulation
• As part of a daily routine to build coping skills before stress even starts

You’re doing an amazing job, even on the days it doesn't feel like it. 💕
If you’ve found a calming strategy that works especially well for your child, share it in the comments — we learn so much from each other. 💬🤗

11/12/2025

❤ To the mom who feels overwhelmed--we see you.

Between appointments, milestones, therapies, and daily life, it can feel like the weight of the world rests on your shoulders. You want the very best for your child and that's exactly where our Registered Behavior Technicians step in. ABA isn't just about helping children grow. Its about giving you support, reassurance, and a team you can lean on.

❤ Our RBTs:
*Work one-on-one with your child through play and positive reinforcement
*Communicate progress in a way that makes sense
*Celebrate the victories big and small right alongside you
*Help bring peace, structure, and hope to your home

❤ You don't have to do this alone. If your heart is tired, if your mind is overwhelmed, or if you're just looking for support, we're here.

❤ Call 540-962-0051 or message us to learn more.

11/11/2025

Thank you for your service, Veterans!!

11/04/2025

Every Milestone Matters 💙

Watching your child grow — learning a new word, sharing a smile, mastering a new skill — fills every parent’s heart with pride. For families of children with autism, progress can feel uncertain or hard to measure. At our Applied Behavior Analysis center, we understand that every child learns at their own pace, and every small step forward deserves celebration.

Our board-certified behavior analyst designs individualized therapy plans that track growth in communication, social, and daily living skills — so you can see the progress your child is making in real time.

From the first session with our Behavior Therapists, the focus is on meaningful progress — the kind that builds confidence and independence for your child and peace of mind for you. Through compassionate, evidence-based care, we turn goals into milestones and milestones into moments of joy.

At Integrated Behavior Services, LLC, we believe progress isn’t just about charts or data — it’s about helping your child shine in their own unique way. 🌟

11/02/2025

Please share...

🍲❤️Would you or your business partner with us to create blessing bags of food for our children and families?

Integrated Behavior Services, LLC along with Connections ChildCare and Learning Center would like to partner with local businesses and individuals to create blessing bags for our children and their families.

These would be bags filled with nonpreishable food items.

We would need approximately 50 bags to send one home with each family and would be distributed the week of November 17.

Would you or your business be willing to partner with us donate nonperishable food items?

Matthew 25:40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

11/01/2025

One thing that makes our ABA clinic in Covington Virginia unique is that at Integrated Behavior Services, LLC is located in the same buidling as Connections ChildCare.

We are able to provide unique social experiences for our clinic clients.

Does your child have Autism or a developmental delay? We would love an opportunity to tell you about our clinic and how each child gets an individual plan to meet their needs.

Contact us today for more information! Most Medicaid and insurance plans accepted.

Admin@ibxs.org

10/31/2025

Integrated Behavior Services Clinic team in Covington (located inside Connections) wanted to have a healthy Halloween Costume competition with the School based team. Both teams dressed as characters from the Inside Out Movie.

As ABA professionals, behavior is what we do! That often includes teaching coping skills to deal with big and small emotions!

We think BOTH groups rocked it!!