Tag: ABA

Launchpad Learning Program: Bridging the Gap Between ABA and School

Updated On

FEATURED POSTS

College Accommodations for Autistic Students: What Actually Works
March 31, 2026
5 Sensory-Friendly Places in Ontario, California 
March 27, 2026
What is the ABAI Conference?
March 27, 2026
Beloit WI
New Autism Learning Center Now Open in Beloit, WI
March 24, 2026

Introducing Launchpad: Guiding Young Learners Towards Group Success!

Our Launchpad program is an exciting opportunity for children with autism ages 2-6 who have made remarkable progress and skill development in a 1:1 environment and are ready to take the next leap toward thriving in a group setting.

Our program offers a balanced blend of supportive group interaction and one-to-one instruction. We understand the importance of a smooth and successful transition from early intervention and comprehensive 1:1 ABA services to group settings and have designed our program to bridge that gap.

Reach out to your local ABA provider to learn more about the Launchpad program.

Wisconsin Early Autism Project Opens New Learning Center in Sun Prairie, WI

Updated On

We’re excited to announce we have expanded our reach in Wisconsin with the opening of a new Wisconsin Early Autism Project (WEAP) Learning Center in Sun Prairie this past April. This center represents our commitment to providing children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) the resources and support they need to develop essential life skills in a nurturing, group environment. Our mission is to find success for every child with autism in our care by providing compassionate, contemporary applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy to help them reach their potential.

The WEAP Learning Center in Sun Prairie offers a learning-rich environment that supports the unique needs of each child. Our center-based services are complemented by home and community-based services as well as social skills programming. We understand that every child has unique needs and interests, and we’re committed to providing tailored treatment that respects the varied needs, values, and cultures of every family we serve.

To celebrate the opening of our new Learning Center, we hosted an open house where the public and families were invited to tour our bright and airy new facility, speak with our leadership team, and participate in a range of fun, summer-themed activities. It was a festive occasion that brought the autism community in Sun Prairie and throughout Wisconsin together. The event was topped off with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony, which was organized in collaboration with the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce.

We’re proud to have served children with autism for over 25 years and our dedication to serving the autism community is steadfast. Our commitment to the welfare of our clients has allowed us to be one of the leading providers of ABA therapy in Wisconsin and the country. We take enormous pride in providing positive outcomes for children and families and are committed to continuing to provide exceptional care to all those we serve.

If you’re interested in learning more about our services or finding a WEAP location near you, please visit our website. We look forward to serving the autism community in Sun Prairie and throughout Wisconsin in the years ahead.

“We are excited to offer center-based learning on the east side of Madison in Sun Prairie and the surrounding communities. Our new location has reduced the commute time for some families traveling to the west side center and created an opportunity for new families to access services.

Our staff and families love our fresh, new, bright center, which features large clinical spaces and group learning areas. Plus, kids can get lots of physical activity in our gym and outside at our playground. Many families have already taken advantage of our Saturday Squad program for weekend fun for their children. I encourage interested families to reach out to schedule a tour.” – Christine Laurent, Clinical Director

Autism Spectrum Therapies (AST) Opens 5 New Learning Centers

Updated On

With over 20 years of experience providing compassionate, contemporary ABA therapy to children with autism, we’re delighted to share that we opened five new AST Learning Centers this past summer and fall in Fresno and San Marcos, California; Goodyear, Arizona; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Clackamas, Oregon. Each new center held an open house that included an official ribbon-cutting with their local Chamber of Commerce and opportunities for families to tour the facility, speak with the leadership team, and participate in fun activities. These new locations offer a supportive, learning-rich environment where children with autism can work on individual skills in a group setting.  

We couldn’t be more excited to support more families in the communities we serve. To learn more about where our services are located, find a location.  

Best Autism & ASD Podcasts + Autism Podcasts for Parents

Updated On

In a year when the pandemic kept many families at home and on their screens, many Americans turned to podcasts to fill their downtime. At LEARN Behavioral, we’re no exception.

We recently reached our 100th podcast milestone on All Autism Talk, where we’re connecting the autism community one podcast at a time. In celebration of today—International Podcast Day—we’re launching a new podcast with Temple Grandin discussing her latest book, Navigating Autism: 9 Mindsets for Helping Kids on the Spectrum. We’re also bringing you 10 of our highly popular episodes:

1. Temple Grandin – Parenting Kids with Autism

In one of our most-listened-to podcasts, Temple Grandin, PhD, an American scientist and animal behaviorist who has been a trailblazer for people with autism, shares advice for parents raising kids on the spectrum. Drawing from her experiences growing up with ASD, she talks about everything from sensory overload and excessive screen time to the need for more 1950s-style “old-fashioned methods of parenting” full of “teachable moments.”

2. Female Life on the Spectrum – Insights from Jennifer Cook O’Toole

Jennifer Cook O’Toole was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome at age 35 and is raising three children on the spectrum. She’s the author of seven award-winning books, including Autism in Heels: The Untold Story of a Female Life on the Spectrum. In this engaging and, at times, humorous podcast, she explains why diagnosis has been widely missed in girls and women.

3. Addressing the Cultural Needs of Families with Autism

Corina Jimenez-Gomez, PhD, a behavioral scientist at Auburn University, and Lauren Beaulieu, PhD, a behavior analyst for Newton Public Schools in Massachusetts, team up on this podcast to talk about cultural competency and the importance of cultural responsiveness in ABA. They bring personal experience to the conversation, with Corina sharing stories of her experience as a mom and Venezuelan native, now living in Alabama, and Lauren discussing her marriage to an Italian immigrant. Both say relationship-building is an important part of navigating what can sometimes feel like a clash of cultures.

4. Early Identification of Developmental Delays in Children – Dr. Sharief Taraman

Dr. Sharief Taraman is a neurologist at Children’s Health of Orange County (CHOC). In this episode, he discusses how diagnostic screening can help identify developmental delays in children. Early identification and diagnosis, he says, can help families get the right treatment right away.

5. What to Expect from ABA Service Providers – with Dr. Hanna Rue

Hanna Rue, PhD, Chief Clinical Officer at LEARN Behavioral, eases parents’ minds in this conversation about what they can expect when it comes to applied behavior analysis (ABA) providers. How do providers apply our understanding of how behavior works to real situations? How do they help increase behaviors that are helpful and decrease those that are harmful for learning? Listen in to learn more.

6. The Role of Genetics in Autism, Explained

Wendy Chung, MD, PhD, director of clinical research at the Simons Foundation Autism Research Foundation, works as a molecular geneticist and physician and is something of a genetic detective who traces an individual’s symptoms to a particular genetic anomaly. In this podcast, she breaks down what we know about the causes of autism.

7. Autism Resource Mom – Autism Support and Information from the Best Expert, a Mom

A mother’s intuition and drive to advocate for her kids can make her the best expert when it comes to her child’s care. That’s something Debora Smith understands to the core. She’s raising a son on the autism spectrum, and she founded Autism Resource Mom, a nonprofit organization that helps families navigate the complex world of autism. Listen in to find out how she’s turned her passion into helping others.

8. Autism, Aggression, and Self Injury – Exploring a Mother’s Journey with ECT

More than a decade ago, Amy Lutz and her husband, Andy, struggled with a predicament no parents want to face: how could they safely keep their autistic 10-year-old son living at home any longer, considering his violent rages? Amy, a founding board member of the National Council on Severe Autism, discusses their exploration of the controversial procedure of electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT.

9. Making Social Skills (and Minecraft) More Accessible for Kids with Autism

As a single father, Stuart Duncan has been all about his kids. His oldest son has autism, and Stuart noticed that kids on the spectrum need a space online where they can play games without getting bullied. So, the Canadian dad quit his job to create Autcraft, a Minecraft server for kids with autism. His virtual community has given people on the autism spectrum the self-confidence to socialize on a safe gaming platform.

10. Medical Insurance for Autism Treatment – Understanding the Changing Landscape

Will your health insurance cover your child’s autism treatment? In this podcast, Amy Weinstock, Director of the Autism Insurance Resource Center at the University of Massachusetts, breaks down tools that can help families find out whether they are covered.

Find dozens of more episodes from All Autism Talk wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or on LEARN Behavioral’s website at www.learnbehavioral.com/allautismtalk. 

Reducing Behavior Technician Burn Out

Updated On

Melissa Furman, a Clinical Director for Total Spectrum- Michigan West joins us to discuss the importance of staff retention in the field of ABA and to share her recent research that is looking to improve staff satisfaction and reduce turnover. We explore the importance of consistency for families utilizing services as well as the factors leading to burnout in the field. Melissa shared how her recent work is helping both these goals, “Implementing an incentive plan to increase positive descriptive feedback during field supervision creates a happier environment, fuels good work, and provides a space where BT’s want to come to work.”

All autism talk (allautismtalk.com) is sponsored by LEARN Behavioral (learnbehavioral.com).

The Advances and Challenges of DEI Initiatives in ABA

Updated On

Brandon Whitfield, Sr. Clinical Director for AST, part of LEARN Behavioral has presented at several conferences including BABA’s (Black Applied Behavior Analysts) inaugural conference to share ways ABA agencies can bring more equity to the field of ABA. In this conversation, Brandon discusses his role in helping to create The Black Master’s cohort and mentorship program as well as the ongoing need to prioritize DEI advancement in ABA. 

For more information: 

https://learnbehavioral.com/culture

https://learnbehavioral.com/culture/dei

Autism: Symptoms and Signs

Updated On

Dr. Genevieve Marshall, BCBA, breaks down myths about autism, the early signs of autism, and what you can do to keep yourself informed on best practices. To learn more about ABA therapy and services available to you, visit https://learnbehavioral.com/services/find-a-location