A recent study by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that roughly one in 40 children in the United States has autism, an increase from the previous estimate of one in 59 children.
To meet the needs of the growing population, Gersh Applied Behavior Analysis Services is opening five ABA centers in Nassau and Suffolk counties, including one in West Hempstead, which opened in November. ABA is a systematic approach that focuses on improving behavioral skills for people on the spectrum.
“There’s nothing like this on Long Island right now,” said Joseph Laudadio, regional operations manager at Gersh ABA Services. “The numbers from that study are quite astonishing, so this is something that’s desperately needed for our families.”
The new centers will feature clinic-based facilities where Gersh professionals will provide opportunities for people on the spectrum to socialize, gain independence and improve life skills. In addition, the program will provide a combination of one-on-one therapy and social groups to improve peer interaction and social relationships.
The centers will also offer access to structured breaks to reduce boredom, which Laudadio said occurs often in a home setting. “Motivation is the key for autism,” said Laudadio, who joined The Gersh Organization in September. “One of the missing pieces that often occur in a home is that you don’t have a lot of children around you,” he said. “You don’t have that ability to generalize skills that we’re teaching at our facilities. We have that opportunity now to do that in a center-based facility where they can go out on a playground, go through the hallways.”