In honor of World Autism Month, check out this special interview with Behavioral Innovations co-founder, Lori Russo, and Boulder Center Clinical Director, Haley Stuart. They were featured on Great Day Colorado on FOX 31 Morning News (KDVR) discussing the importance of the month and the crucial work that we do to provide essential ABA therapy services to children with autism. Watch now to learn more about their insights and experiences.
Speaker 1: For the past 20 years, there’s only one place that’s dedicated to transforming the lives of children, their families, and community by providing science-based and family-focused ABA therapy.
Speaker 2: This place is absolutely amazing. We’re talking about Behavioral Innovations, its services are truly changing the kids in our community their lives it’s amazing as I keep saying April is Autism Awareness Month and I had the chance to visit its Boulder facility and learn more about the importance of this topic and the role they are playing and kids and families lives across the state of Colorado, check it out.
Speaker 2: Today, we are at a really special place, we are at Behavioral Innovations in Boulder, Colorado. I’m sitting next to Lori Russo and Haley Stewart. These are two people who make this place go round. We’re talking about an important topic, too; it is Autism Awareness Month right now in April, and you guys are going to speak to that. If you could tell me more about the month and what you guys are doing for it.
Carla Edwards: Sure, sure, so Research indicates that the symptoms of autism often appear between 12 to 18 months and some of the typical signs are lack of eye contact or limited plan social skills and in fact the CDC just came out with a report that one in 36 children are diagnosed with autism and so that makes it the fastest growing developmental disability so early intervention and early diagnosis are key so that’s why this month we really focus on bringing awareness to autism and also celebrating the differences of people affected by it.
Speaker 2: So what you’re trying to say here is that the earlier a child gets diagnosed, gets those services at a place just like this, the more successful they’re going to be in the end game that outcome.
Haley Stewart: Yes, research shows that the earlier a child can begin treatment, the sooner we can really get in there and start addressing some of those delays that we’re seeing and teach some of those skills that are really going to help them be successful in the next environment. If you think about it, the longer you practice the behavior, the harder it is to change, so the earlier we can begin teaching some of those skills, the better the outcome
Speaker 2: Absolutely, and right here at Behavioral Innovations, what makes you guys so unique? Tell me a little bit more about the services that you provide.
Carla Edwards: Sure, so we provide Applied Behavior Analysis or what people typically say is ABA Therapy and it’s founded in the science of behavior, but what it really does is it teaches us how people learn and then it allows us to be able to teach them to develop the skills that are necessary and one thing that we’ve always pride ourselves on is to provide compassionate and quality early intervention and so to do that we partner with family, the park parents, or the caregivers to ensure that they’re supported and engage throughout their entire treatment journey and that they have the tools necessary to be successful once intervention has ceased.
Speaker 2: So we know that you guys are located right here in Boulder, Colorado but tell me more about the space and where people can find you.
Haley Stewart: Yeah, so we currently have eight locations in the Denver and Boulder areas there are many options when you’re looking at finding a different environment for ABA therapy we specialize at Behavioral Innovations in the center-based services so in-center-based Services we really feel like we can cultivate a great environment to work on social skills classroom and group routines really whatever is going to help that child be successful in that next environment in the center we also have a great team of staff so rbts therapists and behavior analysts that are really all there to support one another so we do have that extra layer that we really feel like helps the kids progress
Speaker 2: Amazing, and if you had one message to our community about what you guys do here about Autism Awareness Month and how special it really is, what would that message be to everybody?
Haley Stewart: Yeah, I think that the field is just absolutely so rewarding I mean I love my job I know Lori loves her job it’s just really great to work with a team that really takes pride in what they do every single day it’s not always easy but it’s really rewarding when you hear a seven-year-old say their first word or a child say I love you to their father for the first time I mean it’s moments like that that really keep us going so that’s amazing.
Speaker 2: Yeah, but at the same time, it really is, it truly is amazing the work that you guys are doing here. Thank you so much for welcoming our team into your space today. We really appreciate it.
Carla Edwards: Thank you for having us.
Speaker 2: Absolutely.
Speaker 2: Now Behavioral Innovations has eight locations across Colorado. They’re located in Arvada, Boulder, Centennial, Parker, Commerce City, Highlands Ranch, Littleton, and Longmont. They offer a fast and easy enrollment process, which means you don’t have to worry about waiting long periods of time before your child can begin the necessary therapy that they need.
Learn more online at startaba.com or give them a call, that number is right there on your screen 720-784-4268. We want to say thank you again to Behavioral Innovations for sponsoring this segment.