Our History and Mission

The McNeese Autism Program (MAP) was founded by the McNeese State University Department of Psychology and Counseling to provide behavioral intervention services to persons with developmental delays and to provide a university-based site for graduate level students to gain applied experience and conduct research in the field of behavior analysis. MAP opened its doors and began providing services June 2, 2008. In the fall of 2008, the Behavior Analyst Certification Board approved the applied behavior analysis (ABA) concentration course sequence taken by graduate students. The scope and number of our services continues to broaden and grow, and we are committed to continuing to meet the needs of persons in Southwest Louisiana needing individualized behavioral services as well as providing an exemplary training site for future behavior analysts.

The McNeese Autism Program is dedicated to improving the lives of young children with autism and their families through intensive education and individualized interventions using evidence-based practices of applied behavior analysis. The McNeese Autism Program follows a scientist-practitioner model and serves as a training site for students in the Master of Arts, Applied Behavior Analysis and Master of Science, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Programs. The McNeese Autism Program also supports faculty research designed to extend the knowledge base of behavioral science. Whether training, research or both, the focus is always on child and family, emphasizing the progressive development and refinement of meaningful skills and abilities.