Southeastern Pennsylvania Autism Resource Center

SPARC'S MISSION IS TO OFFER EMPIRACALLY VALIDATED BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT PROGRAMS TO AID FAMILIES IN THEIR JOURNEY THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES MAZE, SO THAT BOTH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES RECEIVE STATE OF THE ART THERAPEUTIC SERVICES THAT WILL HELP THEM IN ALL FACETS OF THEIR LIVES. SPARC STRIVES TO OFFER COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES THAT WILL FACILITATE ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, AND PERSONAL GROWTH.

PEDIATRIC FEEDING DISORDERS PROGRAM: THE PEDIATRIC FEEDING DISORDERS PROGRAM IS THE ONLY PROGRAM IN THIS REGION THAT OFFERS INTENSIVE CLINIC BASED BEHAVIORAL FEEDING SERVICES AS WELL AS COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES. THIS OFFERS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO FAMILIES TO ADDRESS THE COMPLEXITY OF THEIR CHILD'S FEEDING DISORDER IN THE STRUCTURED SETTING OF A CLINIC WHILE ALSO ADDRESSING THE REALITIES OF EATING AT HOME, SCHOOL, AND THE COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAM IS COMPRISED OF TWO PARTS: (1) AN INTENSIVE ADMISSION COMPRISED OF THREE WEEKS OF DAILY SESSIONS AND (2) OUTPATIENT FOLLOW UP LASTING APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS. THE PROGRAM IS OPEN TO INDIVIDUALS AGED 6 MONTHS - 21 YEARS OF AGE. ONLY EMPIRICALLY VALIDATED, BEHAVIOR ANALYTIC PROCEDURES ARE USED TO INCREASE PROPER EATING AND DECREASE RELATED REFUSAL BEHAVIORS.

SOCIAL SKILLS PROGRAM: SPARC OFFERS INDIVIDUALIZED SOCIAL SKILLS GROUPS FOR CHILDREN AGED 4-12. GROUPS ARE DESIGNED TO TEACH INDIVIDUAL GOALS IN A SMALL GROUP SETTING AND GENERALIZE MASTERED SKILLS WITH TYPICALLY DEVELOPING PEERS. OUR SOCIAL SKILLS GROUPS ARE ORGANIZED SO CHILDREN ARE MATCHED WITH 2-3 OTHER CHILDREN DEMONSTRATING SIMILAR SKILL LEVELS. IN A SMALL SETTING THE CHILDREN LEARN AND PRACTICE NEW SKILLS. PROGRAMMING FOR SKILLS CONSISTS OF DIRECT TEACHING, CONTINGENT REINFORCEMENT PROCEDURES, PLAN FOR GENERALIZATION, SYSTEMATIC PROMPT FADING, AND STRATEGIES WITH MINIMAL ADULT-MEDIATED PROMPTS. SPARC DETERMINES INITIAL GOALS, DEVELOPS LESSON PLANS TO TEACH THE SKILL, AND COLLECTS DATA DURING EACH SESSION TO MONITOR PROGRESS AND MODIFY LESSONS AS NEEDED.

PRESCHOOL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES: THE SPARCLERS PROGRAM IS GEARED FOR CHILDREN AGED 2-5. THE AIM OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO INTRODUCE CHILDREN TO A STRUCTURED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, FOCUSED ON TEACHING BOTH THE BEHAVIORAL AND PRE-ACADEMIC SKILLS REQUIRED FOR SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM. BEHAVIORAL EXCESSES AND DEFICITS ARE ADDRESSED. CHILDREN ARE WORKED WITH IN BOTH SMALL GROUP SETTINGS (E.G., CIRCLE TIME, SNACK TIME, FREE PLAY) AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALLY. INDIVIDUAL GOALS ARE DEVELOPED AND WORKED ON FOR EACH CHILD. THE SCIENCE OF APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS IS USED TO BUILD SKILLS AND MONITOR PROGRESS. CHILDREN IN THIS PROGRAM HAVE THE OPTION OF ENROLLING EITHER 2 OR 4 DAYS PER WEEK.

DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES: ACCURATE AND THOROUGH ASSESSMENTS ARE PARAMOUNT IN RECOMMENDING AND DESIGNING EFFECTIVE AND APPROPRIATE TREATMENT SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM. IN ORDER TO ACCURATELY ASSESS AN INDIVIDUAL'S STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, AND NEEDS, THE ASSESSMENT MUST OCCUR IN AS MANY OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S "NATURAL" ENVIRONMENTS AS POSSIBLE. AS SUCH, SPARC'S DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES SPAN SEVERAL APPOINTMENTS ACROSS MULTIPLE SETTINGS. THE GOAL OF OUR ASSESSMENT PROCESS IS NOT JUST TO DIAGNOSE (OR NOT DIAGNOSE) A CHILD WITH AN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER, BUT TO HELP A FAMILY UNDERSTAND THEIR CHILD'S SPECIFIC STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES. THE DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION CULMINATES IN A FAMILY FEEDBACK SESSION IN WHICH THE FAMILY WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A DETAILED WRITTEN REPORT CONTAINING ASSESSMENT RESULTS, INTERPRETATION, AND SUMMARY, AS WELL AS COMPREHENSIVE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THERAPEUTIC SERVICES. THIS PROGRAM GENERATED REVENUES OF 14,355 AND EXPENSES OF 15,943 CONSULTATION SERVICES: SPARC OFFERS A VARIETY OF CONSULTATIVE BEHAVIORAL SERVICES TO FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, AND THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS. COMMON AREAS OF CONCERN INCLUDE: AGGRESSIVE, SELF-INJURIOUS, AND STEREOTYPED BEHAVIORS; SELF-HELP AND DAILY LIVING SKILLS SUCH AS DRESSING, SLEEPING, AND TOILETING; FUNCTIONAL COMMUNICATION; INCREASED MOTIVATION; PRE-ACADEMIC SKILLS; AND PLAY SKILLS. FOR ALL BEHAVIOR REDUCTION PROCEDURES, AN ALTERNATIVE, APPROPRIATE RESPONSE WILL BE IDENTIFIED AND TAUGHT. SPARC'S NEWEST PROGRAM, SOAR, FOCUSES ON WORKING BOTH INDIVIDUALLY, AND IN GROUPS, WITH YOUNG ADULTS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM IN ALL AREAS OF DAILY LIVING. SPARC'S TREATMENT PROCEDURES UTILIZE STRICT ADHERENCE TO DILIGENT DATA COLLECTION AND OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF TREATMENT GAINS TO INSURE MAXIMUM BENEFIT TO OUR CLIENTS. PARENT TRAINING IS A KEY ELEMENT TO ALL TREATMENT PROGRAMS AT SPARC. THIS PROGRAM GENERATED REVENUES OF 98,262 AND EXPENSES OF 109,136.