Kaufman Instructional DVD Set

The KCC's intensive, center-based ABA program is for young children on the autism spectrum or who are experiencing other significant language and learning challenges.  Children attend for half days (3 hours) or full days (7 hours) depending on individual assessment and identified needs.

Our ABA therapists utilize the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA), the most evidence-based intervention to address the learning needs of young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The program includes both natural environment teaching (NET) and discrete trial teaching (DTT).

The goal of ABA is to jump start each child’s communication, play, and social skills by creating individualized intervention programs that can be followed by families and support/educational staff.  Daily supervision by a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) ensures that all teaching programs are monitored closely.

Our staff of dedicated ABA technicians receive intensive classroom instruction and hands on training before delivering ABA treatment. In addition, they are required to attain registered behavior technician (RBT) certification within the first six months of employment.

The KCC boasts a variety of beautiful, child-friendly spaces in which to learn and play.  We offer large classrooms for several children, many small, shared therapy suites for those who need a quieter place in which to learn, sensory-motor gyms, smaller, thematic playrooms, and outdoor patio spaces. Parents are able to observe many therapy sessions in observation rooms or via cameras in each therapy area.

Crainosacral therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands-on method of evaluating and enhancing the functioning of a physiological body system called the craniosacral system – membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord, extending from the bones of the skull, face and mouth (which make up the cranium) down to the tailbone area (or sacrum). The role of the craniosacral system is to maintain the environment in which the central nervous system functions. An imbalance or dysfunction in this system can cause sensory, motor, and/or neurological disabilities. Crainosacral therapy works by helping the body’s natural healing mechanisms release the negative effects of stress on the central nervous system.

Like the pulse of the cardiovascular system, the craniosacral system has a rhythm that can be felt throughout the body. Performed on a fully-clothed body, and using a touch generally no heavier than the weight of a nickel, skilled practitioners can monitor this rhythm at key body points to locate the source of an obstruction or stress. Once a source has been determined, the therapist uses delicate manual techniques to assist the natural movement of the fluid and related soft tissue to help the body self-correct, releasing problem areas and relieving undue pressure on the brain and spinal cord. When properly applied, crainosacral therapy is essentially risk-free.

Children who may benefit from CST include those with brain dysfunctions, central nervous system problems, self-regulatory and modulation difficulties, traumatic birth processes, and developmental delays, as well as various sensory disorders, including eye-motor coordination problems, autism, dyslexia, loss of taste or smell, tinnitus, vertigo (dizziness) and neuralgias (nerve pain) such as sciatica (hip & leg pain) & tic douloureux (sudden, sharp pain in the face).

CST sessions for children can last from 15-60 minutes, depending on the child’s tolerance and need. The optimal result of crainosacral therapy is a central nervous system free of restrictions and a body that is able to return to its greatest levels of performance.

The goal of Handwriting Without Tears® (HWT) is to make legible and fluent handwriting an automatic and natural skill for children of all ability levels. This program uses fun, entertaining, and educationally-sound instructional methods to teach handwriting to all students: preschool through cursive. HWT is unique in that it is developmentally-based, works for children of all abilities, uses multi-sensory teaching aids and methods, and is easy to teach and fun to learn.

If a child is having trouble with handwriting, an evaluation can be conducted (regardless of what handwriting methods may be being used at school) to assess upper case, lower case, number skills, spacing, and size. This will allow us to determine a child’s strengths and difficulties, and we can then develop a customized remediation plan that will specifically address each area of challenge.

This program features:

• Engaging techniques and activities help improve a child’s early self-confidence, pencil grip, and body awareness skills.
• Multisensory techniques and consistent habits for letter formation to help all children learn.
• Unique strategies to teach good letter formation, spacing, neatness, and cursive connections.

Children enjoy HWT because it makes handwriting easy and fun to learn. This program can be completed in 6-8 weeks (depending on the child & home programming) and includes a weekly 45-60 minute session at our center, as well as weekly home programs.

Therapeutic Listening® (TL) is an expansion of sensory integration. It is an auditory intervention program that uses the organized sound patterns inherent in music (using specially-modulated and filtered sounds) to impact all levels of the nervous system, by providing direct input to both the vestibular and auditory portions of the vestibular-cochlear continuum. TL can impact sensory modulation, attention, speech/language difficulties, postural organization, and behavior. This program utilizes numerous CDs that vary in musical style, types of filtering, and complexity. The music on Therapeutic Listening CDs is electronically altered to elicit the orienting response which prepares the body for sustained attention and active listening.

Therapeutic Listening® is an evidence-backed protocol that combines a sound-based intervention with sensory integrative activities to create a comprehensive program that is effective for diverse populations with sensory challenges. The use of modulated and filtered music in conjunction with other sensory integrative techniques seems to increase the effectiveness of both treatment modalities.

When incorporated into a sensory integrative treatment approach, children of all ages can benefit from Therapeutic Listening® in a variety of areas, including: attention; organization of behavior; self regulation; development, refinement, and mastery of postural and motor skills; bilateral motor patterns; fine motor skills; articulation; praxis skills; arousal; modulation; motor execution; and auditory, visual, and vestibular integration.

Communication changes consistent with the use of TL include: spontaneous vocalizations, longer sentences or word utterances, increased timing of verbal and social expressions, improved turn-taking skills, heightened emotional awareness, and changes in vocal intonation. Discrimination of dimensionality, directionality, or spatial concepts (such as high/low/big/small) is frequently seen in participants.

Integrated listening programs can be carried out at home, school or in a clinic with ongoing support from a therapist who is trained in their use. A typical program may be in place for two to six months for initial gains. However, many individuals continue past this time frame or find several of the compact discs useful as part of an ongoing sensory diet.