Signature Projects
ACCE Professional Training Program (PTP): Provides training for autism professionals in evidence-based interventions to elevate the quality and consistency of services for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families in Northeastern and North Central Pennsylvania. Learn More
The University of Scranton: Applied Behavioral Analysis Program: With the funding from the AllOne Foundations, the University seeks to address the growing need for highly trained and highly motivated providers and educators in autism services in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania who hold Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) credentials. Learn More
Geisinger ADMI: Developmental Navigator: ADMI is developing a screener to guide pediatric medical providers in making appropriate specialty referrals for children with suspected ASD. The developmental navigator involves a series of online questions, completed on a phone or electronic tablet by a parent, to hone in on specific areas of developmental concern.
Having access to this screener will enhance the ability of busy pediatric clinicians to target referrals to the most appropriate specialists and allow providers to more effectively identify children who should be immediately referred for evaluation of ASD. Learn More
Goodwill Industries Early Learning Advocacy Project: The Early Learning Advocacy Project will develop a curriculum for early learning educators to support the inclusion of children with ASD in early childhood education programs. Learn more
Goodwill Industries Embrace Everyday Lives: The Embracing Everyday Lives project is a training program designed in collaboration with Keystone College to support behavioral and emotional health of persons with autism and intellectual/developmental disabilities.
Curriculum for this initiative is grounded in applied behavioral analysis to train direct support staff. The goals of the project are to:
- increase behavioral access to health services
- increase wellness, self-regulation, and conflict resolution for people with ASD Learn more
Step by Step: The CATCH Clinic (Childhood Autism Team Check) currently operating out of Wyoming Valley Children’s Association, provides ASD assessment and diagnosis and helps parents connect to funding and provider agencies. Under this program, the CATCH team would prescribe the services needed and, with the family’s consent, they would be referred to Step By Step, which would provide the services at Wyoming Valley Children’s Association.
Wyoming Valley Children's Association: Reverse Inclusion Kindergarten Program and ASD Kindergarten: The WVCA's early childhood services include early intervention under 3 program, infant/toddler care, early identification (CATCH) clinic, therapeutic services, occupational and physical therapies and preschool therapies. WVCA's preschool is composed of three classrooms.
- Primarily for children with ASD rooted in Applied Behavioral Analysis.
- Children with ASD and other developmental delays.
- Reverse inclusion classrooms in which children with ASD and other delays are joined with typically developing peers.
Misericordia: Autism for Lifelong Learning (ALL): This program provides pre-vocational, vocational and community living skills to adults who have been diagnosed with a disorder on the autism spectrum, or dually diagnosed with autism and intellectual disabilities. ALL's primary objective is to enable the adults participating in the program to obtain supported or competitive employment in a fully integrated setting with at least minimum wage. Learn More
MyCIL’s Transitional Skills Center (TSC): empowers enrolled high school students (ages 14 -21) with different disabilities to reach their independent living goals. The program helps students transition from high school to living as independently and productively as possible. The state-of-the-art facility offers simulated life settings for developing practical skills. Students progress through a series of activities designed for their specific abilities and goals. The key to their success is continuously building on the skills developed. The evidence-based curriculum focuses on
- daily living skills,
- self-advocacy
- interpersonal and employment skills.
The TSC connects students to services in the community and helps them learn and sustain job competencies in a hands-on program. The TSC serve students by createing tailored experiences for each student. Students typically attend five days a week for three hours a day, and spend up to fifty percent of that time in the community.
NEPA Inclusive: The SMART Tech Resource Center will be designed as a place where people with disabilities can ‘drop in’ to seek short term socialization and assistance in a multitude of areas of support. People with disabilities can learn how SMART Technology can enhance their ability to live inclusively and independently in the community. These areas could include assistance finding and applying for jobs online, writing and updating resumes, searching for apartments and related subsidized programs, applying for food bank assistance, along with a multitude of other services. Learn more
S.A.F.E. Inc: STEPs (SAFE Targeting Education Possibilities) will help people with ASD to discover the love of learning in a post-secondary education environment. SAFE will monitor how many students go onto post-secondary education. Learn more
Fitness Program: Under University of Scranton faculty supervision, individuals with ASD aged 12 and older will have the opportunity to engage with students in our exercise science department to exercise, socialize and make new friends. Classes will resume in the fall. Register here
Regional YMCA's A-Team: Expanding social programs at regional YMCA’s creating welcoming and inclusive environments where participants and their families feel comfortable, grow stronger in mind and body and create relationships that deepen their sense of community.
Respite Services: Offered by Orchard Hill, this program will serve individuals with special needs as well as parents/caregivers. Parents can register their special needs child, ages 4 – 21, for 10 days of respite care over a 10-week period from June through August. This program will provide up to 50 individuals the opportunity for one day of respite each week, or two days of respite bi-weekly. Parents/caregivers will benefit from a reliable and consistent break. Individuals will benefit from increased activity, new challenges, and the opportunity to participate in activities alongside their typically developing peers. Learn more
S.A.F.E. Inc: Programming includes water safety, music experiences, a respite care program that will increase social skills. SAFE will also be starting a therapeutic lending library to allow people with an ASD diagnosis the ability to borrow therapeutic sensory items that may be cost prohibitive to families. This will allow the family to make an informed decision to the validity of purchasing the item. Learn more
Therapeutic Table-Top Role Playing Groups: This program, offered by Goodwill Industries, uses tabletop role playing games to help treat behavioral and mental health issues. A therapist facilitates the creation of a world with a plotline and story that the clients explore through the vestige of their characters. Through interaction with other members of the group and the collaborative story, players can be exposed to a wide variety of situations that aid in exposure to, creation and rehearsal of strategies to manage situations. Learn more
Turn to Us: They seek to give hope back to those feeling the impact of a major or chronic illness. They work to create an environment where businesses and the community come together to the betterment of the community. A Spectrum Sensory Gym located in Carbon county, is being designed to help individuals with sensory issues learn to regulate their brain’s negative reactions and develop coping skills. Once completed, it will be the area's only Sensory Gym specially designed for children with ASD and sensory processing disorders. Learn more