Easter Seals North Texas expands autism services with $1.25M grant
Saturday, July 26, 2008
By RACHEL LAMONICA / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
A $1.25 million grant from the Texas Department of Assistive and
Rehabilitative Services has allowed Easter Seals North Texas to expand
and remodel treatment rooms for autistic children at the society’s
pediatric centers in Carrollton and Oak Cliff.
The money was given to DARS from the governor’s office and the
Legislative Budget Board with a specific emphasis on applied behavior
programs for children ages 3 to 8, said Marc Mullins, the autism
specialist and contract manager for DARS in Austin.
The funding has brought members of the Easter Seals Autism Advisory
Board and doctors from the University of North Texas together to study
applied behavior in autism and to assist children admitted to the
program.
“We believe that every child is unique with his or her own strengths
and challenges,” said Jennifer Friesen, Easter Seals vice president of
clinical services. “We have made our treatment areas as much like
typical preschool rooms as possible so can learn to talk, play
and socialize in realistic conditions.”
In a first-time collaboration with Easter Seals, doctors from UNT’s
Department of Behavior Analysis, Department of Anthropology and
Department of Educational Psychology assisted with the remodeling of
treatment rooms, including a physical therapy gym to address motor
skills, a sensory gym to work on responses to touch, sounds and visual
cues, in addition to an art room, snack room and other treatment
areas.
“UNT has such a positive relationship with Easter Seals North Texas,
and we have so much passion behind this project,” said Indi Jones,
Easter Seals executive vice president of business development.
Easter Seals North Texas, a nonprofit organization, offers services
to children and adults with autism and other disabilities.
The services include occupational therapy, physical therapy and
speech-language therapy.
“Our primary goal for the Autism Treatment Program is to provide a
comprehensive and culturally responsive program,” said Ms. Friesen.
“We hope to have a diverse program and work with individuals from a
variety of cultures, languages, ethnicities, school districts and
socioeconomic backgrounds.”
TOUR THE CENTERS
When: Last Wednesday of each month, 4 to 5 p.m.
What: See life through the eyes of an individual living with a
disability.
How: Register online at http://www.easterseals.com
. Registration required.
Trinity Center: 4443 N. Josey Lane, Suite 100. Office hours
8 a.m to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday
Oak Cliff Center: 4201 Brook Spring Drive, Bldg. B, Dallas. Office
hours 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday to Thursday
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