We offer support for nutritional health for children with ASD, as well as the whole family. Our parents and caregivers are some of the most overworked folks who put their own well being aside. We have a nutritional consultant who can help educate and implement the autism diets. We see a marked change in children who are on the diets will do all we can to have a successful transition to eliminate any unnecessary toxins from their diets.

In addition to recommending ABA and other educational therapies for helping these children, the biomedical approach emphasizes proper identification and correction of underlying metabolic dysfunctions to maximize the effectiveness  of these therapies as well as  improve the overall outcome and potential for each child.

We help pair families with practitioners who can help guide them along the path to a healthier child, by implementing the biomedical approach to treating children. We strive to help the whole family lead a healthier life.

Behavioral assessments used by employees of St. Gerard include both indirect and direct measures.  The following is a sample list of assessments offered:

Needs Assessment:  Often the first step in the planning process of intervention.  It involves questionnaires, interviews, and direct observations of behavior(s) of concern. Individuals, family members, and teachers are included in the accumulation of accurate information needed to determine appropriate recommendations for skill deficits and interfering behaviors exhibited by the person of interest.

Ecological Assessment:  A protocol of assessment that examines the complex interrelationships between an individual’s behavior and his many environments.  It involves the collection of data and assessing behavior of the person of interest across multiple settings and people (e.g., home, school, community).

Functional Behavior Assessment: A systematic assessment system that obtains information for the explanation (function) of why a person demonstrates problematic behavior.  Results of the assessment are used to guide the design of the intervention used for decreasing problematic behaviors and increasing appropriate replacement behaviors.

Formal Behavioral Assessments: Criterion-referenced behavior assessments such as the ABLLS (Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills) and the VB-MAPP (Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program) are used to identify areas targeted in individual intervention programs and to guide IEP/ IFSP goals.  In addition, various social skills inventories are available to specifically identify social skill deficits that should be targeted for treatment.

In addition to the following list. We can consult on autism diets and nutrition, as well as keep you up to date on the latest biomedical research.

• On-site Guided Practice in ABA: Providing on-site training in ABA to parents, teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, speech language pathologists, occupational and physical therapists, and any other staff participating in treatment.  Also involves working directly with staff in their classrooms, to model, guide, and provide feedback on specific procedures based on ABA.
• Training on the Use of Behavioral Assessments: These trainings teach staff to utilize behavioral assessments (e.g., VB-MAPP, ABLLS) to guide individual goals and curriculum.
• Tiered Trainings on the Application of Behavior Analysis: Various level workshops, meant to be cumulative, will be provided at St. Gerard House to teach scientifically based procedures and techniques of ABA.   As well, other workshops will teach more specifically detailed procedures used in an ABA program (e.g., behavioral cusps, verbal behavior, natural environment teaching vs. discrete trials, social skills training).
• Parent Trainings: Trainings will be offered to family members on how to implement behavioral strategies in the home environment.  As well, parent support groups will accompany trainings in order to collaborate and offer support for parents experiencing similar issues.
• Professional Trainings: Workshops based on the use of ABA in specific settings (e.g., school, day care, workplace) will be offered at St. Gerard House in order to provide problem-solving ideas that are individualized to the location.
• Social Skills Training: Trainings will be provided at St. Gerard House, for individuals with special needs, to learn appropriate social, language, and play skills.  Different levels of course work will be offered based on current social skill competencies.  Educators will make use of  supports such as social stories, video modeling, role-playing, self-monitoring, checklists, and games to teach relevant social information.