Enzymedica Visits the Autism Treatment Center of America
Enzymedica has long supported autism awareness. Enzymedica’s visionary founder, Tom Bohager, recognized the power of education and hope for families facing the autism diagnosis. His mission was fostered through Enzymedica’s financial support of the nationwide Autism Grass Roots Tour. Bohager’s vision was later fulfilled through the creation of the Autism Hope Alliance foundation.
A key partner of the Autism Hope Alliance is the Autism Treatment Center of America™ (ATCA). The ATCA offers five day workshops to teach parents coping skills and helpful techniques for dealing with their autistic children. The educational home of the prestigious Son-Rise Program®, the Center has for the last thirty years helped families worldwide enable their children with autism to far outstrip their original prognoses, leading in some cases to full recovery.
Recently, Tom Bohager, Enzymedica’s founder and Operating Chairman, CEO Scott Sensenbrenner and Dave Barton Enzymedica’s Director of Education were invited to visit the Center in Sheffield, Massachusetts. Over the course of a weekend they were given opportunity to sit in on group sessions and lectures that inspired hope and a sense of community among family members of autistic children.
Dave Barton
“The visit was a deeply moving experience,” shares Dave Barton, “but what really struck me was the enthusiasm presented by the instructors at the facility.”
Barton detailed his observation of an instructor working one-on-one with an eight year old who had no verbal or visual contact. “The whole week for this particular boy focused on getting him to make eye contact with the teacher. By the end of the week, the boy was not only making eye contact, but laughing as well!”
According to Dave, this experience embodies the intent of the Autism Treatment Center of America. A novel approach, the Center’s workshops enable parents to join their autistic children in their own world, rather than asking the child to enter the world of their parents. The program places parents as key teachers, therapists and directors of their own programs, and utilizes the home as the most nurturing environment in which to help their children.
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Tags: autism, Autism Grass Roots Tour, Autism Hope Alliance, Autism Treatment Center of America, Dave Barton, Scott Sensenbrenner, Tom Bohager
February 4th, 2010 at 4:59 pm
It’s here ….the second ABA vs.The Son-Rise Program video, part of a multi-video campaign intended to raise awareness of alternatives in treatment for children with autism. This one focuses on Parental Choice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRZqOro8dmo
As hoped, the first video on Joining (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6CWf9H7F8k) has playfully provoked refreshing debate, passion, and thoughtfulness about the different ways of helping children with Autism.
This next video in the series encourages parents to learn about the alternatives to traditional mainstream treatments such as ABA as the standard default program for their children. It highlights that children are unique and as such, respond to being holistically treated as individuals. Parents do have a choice that approaches children with autism as more than clinical cases.
The Son-Rise Program® is non-invasive and based on a loving and respectful treatment for children and adults challenged by Autism, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), Asperger’s Syndrome , and other developmental difficulties. The Son-Rise Program approach teaches acceptance and joyfully joining in the child’s own behaviors to stimulate true connection and thereby motivate change. It offers an exciting alternative to traditional ABA approaches.
With the video clip at the link above, based on the popular “Mac vs. PC” commercials, we have created a playful way to highlight the differences in our programs for families who are trying to decide which therapeutic approach to take for their child with Autism. The 80-second video, the second in a short series, shows that there are alternatives to the ABA method that parents may want to consider. We would be delighted if you could help us spread the word by posting the video and/or the accompanying text (both pasted below for your convenience) in your blog.
Thank you so much. It is through the love and support of our advocates that we are able to continue bringing a fresh perspective and a message of hope to the friends and families of children with Autism.
With smiles and much gratitude. ENJOY the video !!!
Adam Cresko
Communications Coordinator
The Autism Treatment Center of America
acresko@autismtreatmentcenter.org
Tel: 413-229-2100
Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRZqOro8dmo
Text to Accompany link:
Check out the playful new Son-Rise Program® video, part of a series spoofing the popular Mac vs. PC ads. The campaign is intended to raise awareness of alternatives in treatment for children with autism and autism spectrum disorders. Join the Autism Treatment channel on Youtube and feel free to leave your comments on the videos! Which are your favorites? The feedback is all very helpful.
The Son-Rise Program® is a, highly effective, loving, and unique treatment for children and adults challenged by Autism, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), Asperger’s Syndrome , and other developmental difficulties. The Son-Rise Program approach teaches acceptance and joyfully joining in the child’s own behaviors to stimulate true connection and thereby motivate change. It offers an exciting alternative to traditional ABA approaches. In very simple terms, ABA focuses on manipulating behaviors, and The Son-Rise Program focuses on creating a relationship as a means to motivate new behaviors. To learn more about The Son-Rise Program, visit http://www.autismtreatmentcenter.org .