Mountainside ABA

05/04/2026

Here's a great article detailing pointers for helping kids calm down and regulate their bodies and nervous sytems.

Learn how to help kids calm down before frustration, fear or anger builds into explosive behavior. Emotional regulation is a skill some kids need to be taught.

05/01/2026

This week at our Elkins center, our kids explored "I" as the "Letter of the Week" with a fun and sensory-friendly activity -- painting with ice cubes!

Using ice to paint is a fun way to build fine motor skills, explore new textures, and support creativity while reinforcing early learning concepts like letter recognition.

At Mountainside ABA, we love finding simple, engaging ways to helps kids learn through play and art.

05/01/2026

As summer inches closer, we thought it would be a great time to check out accessible recreation opportunities across the Mountain State. Check out these resources from theCenter for Excellence in Disabilities at WVU

Spring has sprung!

It's a great time to share the Guide to Accessible Recreation created by the West Virginia Assistive Technology System (WVATS). Use this guide to check out accessible recreation locations in each WV county, find links to directions, WV welcome center locations, and more.

West Virginia has so much to offer for outdoor activities. Don't forget to check out the WVATS virtual loan library if you need to borrow any assistive technology like adaptive fishing reels!

Guide:https://wvats.cedwvu.org/media/3757/accessible-rec-guide2019.pdf

Loan library: https://vll.cedwvu.org/

West Virginia Assistive Technology - WVATS

05/01/2026

Check out the new 'Community Events' tab on our website. That's where you can find info about any and all upcoming events and fundraisers!

More updates to come, but here it is so far: https://www.mountainsideaba.com/community-events

04/30/2026

From our friends at WV WE Develop ABA:

Meet Megan Sheets, a BCaBA at Developmental Advantage in West Virginia, and one of the people doing the kind of work that quietly changes families' lives.

In a state where autism resources can be hard to come by, Megan and her team show up every day for the kids and families who need them — not just to teach skills, but to help every child be seen, supported, and celebrated for exactly who they are.

04/30/2026

Disability Rights of West Virginia is looking for input!

Complete our survey and help us learn what issues are important to people with disabilities in West Virginia. To access the survey, scan the QR code or visit the link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/D252NJC

As the federally mandated protection and advocacy system for people with disabilities in WV, Disability Rights of West Virginia (DRWV) will use your input for determining our fiscal year 2027 priorities and objectives.

04/30/2026

Recently, the kids at our Mountainside ABA Fairmont center had a blast doing some tie-dying! This activity allowed them to practice waiting, collaboration, fine motor skills -- and it's also a fun sensory activity!

Tie-dying is a tradition the Fairmont center engages in every April for Autism Acceptance Month as a way to "rep the spectrum, and it enables the kids to celebrate the diversity of all of their friends.

04/29/2026

✏️🖍️🎉Join us for our 2nd Annual Mountainside Elkins ABA Back-to-School Craft Fair Fundraiser!

Come shop local vendors, support a great cause, and help us prep for the upcoming school year.

All proceeds will go toward sensory toys and adaptive needs items for the children we serve.

WHEN: August 22nd, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
WHERE: 315 Railroad Avenue in Elkins, WV

LIMITED VENDOR SPOTS AVAILABLE!!!
Email Katie at katiekuba@mountainsideaba.com or Leila at leila@mountainsideaba.com for more information.

We can't wait to see you there!

04/29/2026

It's Wednesday, y'all, so we're halfway there!

We've missed a couple of weeks due to out-of-office events and general busyness -- but we're back with an post! Today, we're taking a dive into Stimulus Fading.

Stimulus Fading means we gradually step back supports so kids can succeed on their own, without becoming dependent on prompts. We start with support, then fade it slowly, so children can build true independence.

04/28/2026

Welcome back to another edition of !🔨🔧

Today's tool is the Wait Mat -- aka a visual waiting spot.
Waiting can be tough, especially when it's sometimes unclear what "wait" actually means. But a "wait mat" gives kids a clear, visual way to understand expectations, including where to be, what their body should be doing, and how to stay calm during short wait times.

By turning "wait" into something more concrete, we can reduce frustration and build independence during everyday moments like getting ready, cooking, and transitions.

Pro tip: Start with short periods and build up over time.