McNeese Autism Program Provides Services and Training

April is National Autism Awareness Month. Did you know that one in 59 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder?

For 10 years, McNeese State University’s Autism Program has been first choice in providing applied behavior analysis (ABA) and related therapies that can be effective in helping children on the autism spectrum adjust to school, regulate their behaviors and participate in family and community life,” says Dr.  Toby Osburn, McNeese Autism Program (MAP) director.

“MAP is one of the longest operating ABA providers here in the Lake Area,” says Osburn, “and is dedicated to improving the lives of young children with autism or other developmental disorders and their families.”

Osburn also points out that McNeese is one of only 21 universities in the world – and the only university in Louisiana – to offer a graduate degree program in psychology with an ABA concentration that is accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis International.

“Our ABA program trains and graduates dozens of individuals each year who become board certified behavior analysts and licensed to practice in Louisiana, Texas and numerous other states,” says Osburn. “MAP offers hands-on experience and supervised training needed for graduate interns in the ABA program to sit for national certification.”

In 2018, MAP provided over 20,000 hours of services through unique programs, including a feeding clinic designed to improve nutrition and healthy growth and development, BRIDGES, an intensive day-camp style program for older adolescents and young adults, problem behavior assessments/interventions and a Super School program aimed at helping children with school readiness, group social skills and appropriate classroom behavior.

To highlight this month, the McNeese president’s house on Ryan Street has gone blue to promote autism awareness, and Autism Awareness Night will be held at the Cowboys vs. Louisiana Tech baseball game at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, at Joe Miller Ball Park.

For more information about the ABA program or McNeese Autism Program, call 337-562-4246 or visit www.mcneese.edu/autism.

Registration for the 2019 summer session and 2019 fall semester at McNeese is currently underway.