NGAC- North Georgia Autism Center - Gordon County, GA

12/17/2022

Gordon County families and friends, we invite you to begin following our NGAC- North Georgia Autism Center page if you aren’t already! We are merging the pages to provide more consistent updates. Thank you!

11/01/2022

Halloween is a fun night of costumes and candy for kids of all ages. But for those on the autism spectrum, it can be a little intimidating. Unusual sights and sounds, people dressed up in costume, wearing an unfamiliar outfit, and going out at night can easily be overstimulating and uncomfortable. At NGAC, we put on a special Trick-Or-Treating event each year to help our kiddos desensitize to the “novel” activity it in a more comfortable setting, so they feel ready and confident to go out Halloween night and have fun!

What is desensitizing?

Desensitization means being exposed to small amounts of the aversive (or “disliked”) situation until the learner is able to be calm during the presentation of the step and receive reinforcement. So, for example, if the learner was afraid of dogs, the first step would be calmly looking at a picture of a dog, then touching a stuffed dog, then being in close proximity to a real dog, and then eventually petting the dog calmly. In the context of Halloween, we are desensitizing to the task of wearing a costume, going door-to-door, and receiving candy from unfamiliar adults while remaining calm and comfortable!

Yesterday, NGAC’s Trick-Or-Treaters practiced going door to door with their therapist, knocking, and asking for candy in whatever way is easiest to communicate for them! Our kiddos had a blast, and we always enjoy seeing their adorable costumes!

10/31/2022

10/24/2022

It's ABA Monday! Let's find out what NGAC's ABA Word of the Week is!

NGAC's Word of the Week is VB-MAPP!

If you’ve been to NGAC for any amount of time, there’s a good change you’ve heard about the VB-MAPP!

The VB-MAPP is a criterion-referenced assessment tool, curriculum guide, and skill tracking system that is designed for children with autism, and other individuals who demonstrate language delays. There are five components of the VB-MAPP, and collectively they provide a baseline level of performance, a direction for intervention, a system for tracking skill acquisition, a tool for outcome measures and other language research projects, and a framework for curriculum planning. (Summarized from: https://marksundberg.com/vb-mapp/ )

Essentially, the VB-MAPP is the assessment tool on which most ABA interventions are based on! It gives us a clear picture of the important developmental milestones our clients need to reach.

What ABA word should we do next?

10/17/2022

It's ABA Monday! Let's find out what NGAC's ABA Word of the Week is!

NGAC's Word of the Week is Intraverbal!

Intraverbals are the basis of social verbal exchange/conversation. The learner’s verbal response is controlled by the verbal responses of others. In ABA, we often refer to intraverbals as sentence fill-ins. An example of a simple intraverbal may be:

“The itsy bitsy spider…” (The learner responds, “Went up the water spout.”)

In a conversational setting, intraverbals are integral to being able to carry out a verbal exchange with someone. When greeting a familiar person, they may ask you, “How are you today?” The response requires use of an intraverbal sentence fill-in, where you may respond, “I’m doing great!”

Of course, in ABA, we start much simpler and work our way up! Intraverbals are typically first taught using something fun and natural, like song fill-ins or making animal sounds!

What ABA word should we do next?

10/10/2022

It's ABA Monday! Let's find out what NGAC's ABA Word of the Week is!

NGAC's Word of the Week is Task Analysis!

A Task Analysis is a step-by-step list of actions necessary to complete a specific behavior. The behavior is broken down into its component parts and then the learner is asked to engage in the behavior, for instance, “brush teeth”. Depending on their skill level the task analysis may be 10 steps or 40 steps. A task analysis may be in text or picture form. As the learner becomes more fluent with the task, the task analysis is shortened until the learner can perform the skill independently.

Here’s a simple example of a task analysis!

Washing Hands
Turn on water
Put hands under water
Push soap dispenser to put soap on hands
Rub hands together to lather soap
Put hands under water to rinse
Turn off water
Use a paper towel/cloth towel to dry hands

A Task Analysis for one person may look different than one for another- there’s more than one way to do most things! What’s important is that the child is able to learn to do a new skill independently!

What ABA word should we do next?

10/03/2022

It's ABA Monday! Let's find out what NGAC's ABA Word of the Week is!

NGAC's Word of the Week is Tact!

A tact is a form of verbal behavior where the speaker sees, hears, smells, tastes something and then comments about it. The tact is often associated with expressive labels.

Most essentially, a tact is a label. For example, a child is playing in the park and they see someone walking their dog. The child says, “Dog!”, therefore expressively labeling what they see. Like the description below, we can tact sights, smells, textures, tastes, emotions, people, places, things- you name it! Anything you can label- you can TACT!

What ABA word should we do next?

10/01/2022

Happy International Coffee Day!

09/30/2022

We made it to the end of September! Let’s celebrate by going back and taking a look at what has happened at North Georgia Autism Center in the past month!

Calhoun:

Holidays: NGAC celebrated Labor day at the beginning of the month! This month’s fun Fridays included make your own rainbow day, wear your favorite color day, and Community Helpers Day

Birthdays: Savannah Smith and Logan Burdette had birthdays this month. Happy Birthday!!

Annuals: Darius Washington celebrated 2 years with NGAC this month, and Nicole Rayburn and Chantel Barnette celebrated one year with NGAC!

Client graduations: NGAC Calhoun had five clients graduate this month! We wish you all the best!

Here’s to another month of learning, growing, and fun!

09/29/2022

When NGAC celebrates an anniversary, we celebrate in STYLE!

North Georgia Autism Center's Calhoun Location celebrated its two year anniversary this past month! The festivities included dressing up in themed team costumes, tie-dyeing shirts, playing fun games, taking group pictures, and the afternoon ended in a relaxing float down the river!

We are so grateful for our Calhoun team! Happy Anniversary!

09/26/2022

It's ABA Monday! Let's find out what NGAC's ABA Word of the Week is!

NGAC's Word of the Week is Mand!

“Mand” is a Verbal Behavior term. A mand is basically a "demand" or “command”. This is being able to request something that one wants or needs. Or, additionally, it may be a request to end or remove an unwanted stimulus.

Mands can look like many different things, especially for individuals with Autism. Mands can range anywhere from simply looking in the direction of a desired item, reaching toward it, pointing, making verbal approximations, using a communication device, and of course asking using words and full sentences. Manding is integral to communication, and something we work on every day with our clients at North Georgia Autism Center!

09/19/2022

It's ABA Monday! Let's find out what NGAC's ABA Word of the Week is!

NGAC's Word of the Week is Extinction Burst!

Have you ever heard the phrase, “It’s going to get worse before it gets better?” This is a fairly accurate description of what an Extinction Burst looks like.

Extinction burst is a term used to describe a fairly common phenomena in therapeutic treatment. Namely, when the therapist, program, or even individual tries to stop an unwanted behavior by no longer reinforcing it, that behavior will reassert itself for a time, and can increase in intensity before it goes away.
Extinction bursts can be frustrating. Your child is finally cleaning up their toys on their own instead of throwing them across the room! However, one day seemingly out of the blue, they begin throwing their toys again. You may ask yourself why or what you’re doing wrong- and the answer is simply, nothing! Extinction bursts are natural and happen often. The best thing to do when your child is going through an extinction burst is to consult your BCBA, and stay strong! It will get worse before it gets better, but once it’s gone, it’s less likely to come back again!

09/17/2022

Are you ready to view the documentary we've been telling you all about this week?!

Check out this link! To access the video, scroll down to the section that reads "Health", and click on the video titled "ABA Solutions".

https://www.viewpointproject.com/dennis-quaid-ptv-segments/

Let us know what you think!

09/16/2022

All this week we are introducing all of the amazing people that collaborated with us to make the Viewpoint Project documentary possible! We had the pleasure of working with some of the biggest names in the Autism field, and we can’t wait to tell you more about them!

The fourth and final person we’d like to introduce is Dr. Temple Grandin!

What?! We can’t believe it either!

Dr. Temple Grandin is an American scientist and industrial designer whose own experience with autism founded her professional work in creating systems to counter stress in certain human and animal populations.

Grandin was unable to talk at age three and exhibited many behavioral problems; she was later diagnosed with autism. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree (1970) in psychology from Franklin Pierce College (now Franklin Pierce University) in New Hampshire, she earned a master’s degree (1975) and a doctorate (1989) in animal science from Arizona State University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, respectively. From 1990 she taught animal science at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, where she also managed Grandin Livestock Systems.

Check out the clip below where Dr. Grandin stresses the importance of early intervention when it comes to Autism treatment!

Check out the documentary on TV on CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, FOX News, TLC, Travel, Discovery, and PBS between 7am-11:45am, and 6pm-11:45pm!

09/15/2022

All this week we are introducing all of the amazing people that collaborated with us to make the Viewpoint Project documentary possible! We had the pleasure of working with some of the biggest names in the Autism field, and we can’t wait to tell you more about them!

The third person we’d like to introduce is Dr. Michael Mueller!

Dr. Michael M. Mueller is the Executive Director of the International Behavior Analysis Organization, and the Co-Owner and Director of Behavioral Services for Southern Behavioral Group in Atlanta, Georgia. He is also the Co-Owner of Stimulus Publications. A Board-Certified Behavior Analyst, Dr. Mueller is the past president of Georgia Association for Behavior Analysis and of the Behavioral School Psychologist Interest Group of the National Association of School Psychology.

Dr. Mueller is also famously known in the field of ABA for publishing the Assessment of Functional Living Skills (AFLS), a seven-book assessment and teaching series to guide in the assessment and teaching of everyday, practical life skills, for learners of all ages. The AFLS is one of the most used assessments in ABA clinics around the world.

Check out the clip below where Dr. Mueller defines Applied Behavior Analysis!

Check out the documentary on TV on CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, FOX News, TLC, Travel, Discovery, and PBS between 7am-11:45am, and 6pm-11:45pm!

09/14/2022

All this week we are introducing all of the amazing people that collaborated with us to make the Viewpoint Project documentary possible! We had the pleasure of working with some of the biggest names in the Autism field, and we can’t wait to tell you more about them!

The second person we’d like to introduce is Chris Vance!

Chris Vance is a Special Education and Disability Law Attorney based in Atlanta, Georgia. She received her M.Ed. summa cm laude and taught for six years before obtaining her J.D. with honors from the Emory School of Law. She has been practicing law for 25 years and represents disabled children living throughout the State of Georgia. Mrs. Vance herself has a child with disabilities and offers not only legal and education expertise but personal knowledge regarding the provision of an appropriate education to disabled children and the obstacles parents too often face.

Check out the clip below where Chris tells her story and explains why she’s so passionate about Applied Behavior Analysis!

Check out the documentary on TV on CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, FOX News, TLC, Travel, Discovery, and PBS between 7am-11:45am, and 6pm-11:45pm!

09/13/2022

Yesterday we told you about the Viewpoint Project, NOW we want to share with you all of the amazing people that collaborated with us to make this possible! We had the pleasure of working with some of the biggest names in the Autism field, and we can’t wait to tell you more about them!

The first person we’d like to introduce is Angie Trygestad!

Angie is a local member of the Autism community in Woodstock, Georgia. She is a mother to two children on the Autism spectrum, and is an advocate for children and families within the Autism community. She’s a great resource for parents due to her work advocating for resources for her own children across multiple states.

Check out the clip below where Angie tells her story about discovering her own children were on the Autism spectrum, and how discovering ABA services changed their lives.

Check out the documentary on TV on CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, FOX News, TLC, Travel, Discovery, and PBS between 7am-11:45am, and 6pm-11:45pm!

09/12/2022

We want to let you know we’ve been keeping a very cool secret…

North Georgia Autism Center and Children’s Autism Foundation were selected to participate in The Viewpoint Project to create a documentary about all things ABA!

That means we’ll be on TV! How cool is that?!

But hang on- have you heard of the Viewpoint Project?

“The Viewpoint Project, with Dennis Quaid, is a series of educational and diverse documentaries that strives to enlighten the audience by covering a variety of issues and topics. Viewpoint Project is on the cutting edge of the television documentary industry, producing top quality programming for Public Television. Viewpoint Project is dedicated to the mission of developing and distributing social and educational programming about our neighbors, our community, and world. Each story has one thing in common – changing our lives for the better.” (Summarized from https://www.viewpointproject.com/about-us/)

Why were we selected for this project?

The Viewpoint Project was searching the country for an ABA clinic with a special certification from the Behavioral Health Center of Excellence (BHCOE), the top accrediting body in the field of ABA for quality services. NGAC has this! To gain the BHCOE accreditation, NGAC went through a rigorous application process, and at the end of it we not only became accredited for 3 years, we also achieved the highest level of accreditation- which is rare! The Viewpoint Project noticed this, and after a lengthy interview process, NGAC was selected to participate and be a part of a documentary on ABA!

But wait- we aren’t the only ones included in this documentary!

All throughout this week, we’ll be giving you a sneak peek into who all is joining us, and it’s an incredible lineup of four professionals, researchers, and advocates of Autism! We can’t wait to tell you more!

This documentary is airing LIVE on television RIGHT NOW! Here’s where you can view it:
Find it on CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, FOX News, TLC, Travel, Discovery, and PBS between 7am-11:45am, and 6pm-11:45pm!

Let us know if you see it! We’ll be linking to the video here on our page as soon as we can!