ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) – A new program is expanding in Georgia for parents who have autistic children and different resources they have access to. In Dougherty County, there is still a shortage of Special Education teachers.
School officials share how they can best connect parents to resources outside the classroom.
“My son got diagnosed when he was around two and a half, about to be three. And from there it was kind of like a journey, a really hard journey making sure you got adequate resources and what was best. I knew from the beginning that ABA would be the best thing for him,” Dajza Thomas, mother of an autistic child, said.
Individuals diagnosed with autism might experience challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. Autism advocates say one in 36 people in the United States have this disorder, but what options do parents have?
“And giving parents an outlet to be able to find support. So having them be able to transfer what we are teaching at the school level to applying it at home,” Gordina B. Porter, Director of the Exceptional Students Program for Dougherty County School System, said.
Currently, the Dougherty County School System partners with a therapist on hand who can assist the child’s needs.
The most common form of therapy is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) which focuses on increased social skills, communication, and behavioral management.
“How many hours will be beneficial, and what EBA is doing is it’s going to take those specific skills your child specifically struggles with and create goals,” Rosie Neustedt, BCBA, Clinical Director for Circle Care Services, said.
“All the information you gather is overwhelming. But just keep going, I promise there is light at the end of the tunnel, it will all make sense at the end,” Thomas said.
Currently, the Dougherty County School District has a broad range of partnerships that support the district from behavior/mental health, our Wrap Around Center, and parent facilitators with community support. The department works closely with Albany Area Primary Healthcare and ABA Therapy companies that provide support for students and families.
To find out more information about Circle Care Services, click here.
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