Social skills group coordinator Aaron Weintraub has seen too many children on the autism spectrum and their families sent across the Connecticut River to pursue the therapies and care that they need.
So in an effort to guide locals to services that already exist in the area, Weintraub and a group of diverse business owners and professionals are supporting the formation of a Spectrum Services Cooperative, an informal network of providers available for those on the spectrum in Tolland County.
"We're laying the ground work to make Tolland County a place known for its quality services," Weintraub said.
Weintraub, who runs the Kids Cooperate social skills groups, has been reaching out to local school districts and doctors offices to let the community know that a network of support is nearby.
"We all care about the family and kids getting the services they need," he said.
And there are already a number of great services established in the area. Some of the providers who are also part of the cooperative include:
- Kimmie Borovicka, MT-BC, who runs Musical Pathways in Ellington. She provides musical therapy in schools, homes and in the community for those with special needs.
- New Beginnings LLC - Amy Eisner, MA, is a former special education teacher and a special education advocate
The cooperative is also working to widen its provider network through partnerships with organizations like Success SEPTO, a special education advocacy organization and the ASRC, which provides recreational activities for children and young adults on the autism spectrum.
Weintraub said members of the cooperative offer recommendations to their clients based off of each family's needs. For example, if a child responds to musical activities in Weintraub's social skill groups, he will let the parents know about Musical Pathways to further their child's development.
At present, Weintraub said that the group will remain an informal network of businesses.
For more information on the Spectrum Services Cooperative, visit the Kids Cooperate website.
Parents may be overwhelmed by advice from the internet, family, friends, and others. I believe that parents must be informed which therapies have proven most effective in improving skills and independence in peer-reviewed research. To date only early intensive ABA therapy has met that criteria.This is exciting reading by peer-reviewed journal standards, but rarely provides the photogenic media opportunities that more colorful therapies may produce. Studies comparing the effectiveness of various approaches show that some other therapies are promising, but none yet have matched the effectiveness of ABA. My daughter was diagnosed with autism in 1987. Seminal research about ABA for children with autism was published that year. I wasn't told about ABA until 2 years later, despite many visits to doctors and other professionals. Research shows that intervention provided early (even 18 months) gives the best chance for the best results. We were luckily able to provide the ABA my daughter needed to achieve best-outcome status, even at 4 years old and severely delayed. Parents need all the information to make an informed choice. Audrey Gifford, BCBA