The transition to adulthood can be both exciting and overwhelming. For young adults with Autism, this stage often comes with unique challenges and opportunities. At Behavior Therapy Associates, our goal is to walk alongside individuals and their families during this time, helping them to navigate new responsibilities and build independence, while learning to harness their…
Rebecca K. Schulman, Psy.D., BCBA-D | Behavior Therapy Associates | Somerset, New Jersey What Is Stereotypy? Restricted and repetitive patterns of motor or vocal behavior, often referred to as stereotypy, are one of the core diagnostic categories for autism spectrum disorder (ASD; American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Stereotypy or “stimming” is not inherently problematic and may…
Independent Evaluations: What Are They and When Do You Need Them? 4 of 4 Written by Dr. Rory Panter, Licensed Psychologist If you are an adult with a developmental disability or the parent of an adult child with a disability, there are services that you may be eligible for, which may require an evaluation by…
Independent Evaluations: What Are They and When Do You Need Them? 3 of 4 Written by Dr. Rory Panter, Licensed Psychologist Sometimes, parents/guardians and/or school personnel are unsure if a student is receiving the appropriate services/programming in school to meet their needs. Questions, such as “Is the school providing the adequate accommodations/modifications?”, “Does the student…
Behavior Therapy Associates is pleased to announced we will be presenting at this year’s Autism NJ Conference in Atlantic City, NJ on October 18th & 19th. If you will be attending the conference this year, we invite you to join our clinicians as they present on several key topics throughout the conference. In addition to…
The Autism-OCD Connection Children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have an increased risk of experiencing a number of anxiety disorders. In particular, OCD and High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder have a high comorbidity (37% or higher). Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is diagnosed by the presence of obsessions (unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images or urges) that…
As the numbers of children identified as having an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have increased in recent years, obtaining a comprehensive Autism Spectrum Disorder evaluation and accurate diagnosis has become even more critical. Embarking on the assessment process can seem overwhelming for parents of a child who is experiencing significant developmental delays, including social, behavioral,…