Children Making Strides is an organization that was begun by the mother of an autistic child. In her efforts to help her child she discovered that there was a tremendous need for services and information for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and their parents. At Children Making Strides we believe that there is hope for all of our children, and that each child deserves the opportuni
ty to reach his or her full potential, and that potential should have no limits. We also believe that parents need support, information, and encouragement in their efforts to help their child. Children Making Strides has been designated as a "specialty service provider" by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Early Intervention Program. As an appointed specialty services provider, Children Making Strides works in partnership with your local Early Intervention Program to provide intensive, ABA centered services to young children (birth to age three). Our services are available to those families that wish to use this type of therapeutic approach in providing treatment for their children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Children Making Strides delivers its services in conjunction with EI programs in the southeastern part of the state of Massachusetts. Our catchment area encompasses the following towns: Acushnet, Attleboro, Assonet, Barnstable, Berkley, Bourne, Bridgewater, Carver, Dartmouth, Dighton, Duxbury, Fairhaven, Fall River, Falmouth, Freetown, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Kingston, Lakeville, Marion, Mattapoisett, Marshfield, Mashpee, Middleborough, New Bedford, Norton, Norwell, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Raynham, Rehobeth, Rochester, Sandwich, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea, Taunton, Wareham and Westport. The foundation of the educational program at CMS is one that is based upon the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). ABA is a method where skills are task analyzed (broken down into sequential steps) to make the tasks easier and more attainable for the child. Skills and behaviors are initially taught in one-to-one teaching sessions. Children can thus acquire a large amount of information much quicker than in normal, everyday interactions. New skills are then generalized to a variety of situations and environments. These skills are not considered mastered until the child can demonstrate them under natural conditions with a wide variety of people found in those environments. ABA is often though to be extremely rigid and inflexible, but this is not approach that is used in CMS's program. The manner in which the CMS therapists use these ABA procedures, takes in to account the needs of young children. Sessions are designed to include intensive, adult - directed instruction with frequent opportunities for child directed activities. In very broad terms, we tend to refer to our program as "a kinder, gentler, ABA". In addition to using ABA, CMS also incorporates other techniques such as incidental teaching methods, interactive floor play, sensory integration, and natural teaching environments as part of its program strategies. If requested our staff can also provide information on nutritional and dietary interventions, parent advocacy, school transitions and special education (Chapter 766) services. Our approach to treatment includes looking at the entire child. In keeping with this goal our staff is will work with in conjunction with other service providers for co-treatments with specialists such as occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, physical therapists and home health services.
