Autism Services at HMEA
Our Autism Services provide lifelong support to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Learn more about our services and then learn about Our Clinicians.
Our Supports
At the time of diagnosis, the first stop should be the Autism Resource Central. The Center will guide you to the resources and services that will support every member of your family, including family events & activities where you will become a member of the most active community in the region.
If your child is under 3 years of age, Early Intervention Services are available through our Children’s Services Division.
Children whose needs require a specialized educational program and whose local system recognizes the need for an out-of-district placement can be considered for HMEA’s The Darnell School. We draw upon the best practices within education, special education, behavior analysis, positive behavioral supports, vocational preparation, and community inclusion in planning for each student.
If your family or child encounters a crisis period and needs emergency assistance, HMEA works with the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to provide Intensive Flexible Family Supports to help get you through.
Other HMEA services supported via DDS include home-based support provided through the Autism Waiver Program, and home- and community-based supports provided through the DESE/DDS Prevention Program.
Once your child nears transition age (teen years and young adulthood), Children’s Services offers The Transitional and Community Services (TRACS) Program, providing evaluation, training, and consultation services to ensure students with special needs aged 14 to 22 years can comfortably and successfully transition into the community after they leave high school.
Throughout an individual’s adult life, HMEA is there to provide a vast array of supports designed to enhance the life of each person by assisting them in reaching for their greatest level of independence. These include:
- Adult Family Care or Adult Foster Care
- Shared Living
- Group Residential Living
- Day Habilitation
- Employment Services
- Clinical & Medical Supports
HMEA Clinicians
HMEA has an extraordinary team of Masters-level clinicians who have been formally trained in the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and who are dispersed across Children’s and Adult Services. Most are BCBA’s (Board Certified Behavior Analysts). Each clinician has extensive experience in teaching individuals with autism and/or developmental disabilities in a variety of settings (home, school, community, work, etc.) to become as independent as possible.
Our clinicians are also skilled in providing services to people who present with significant behavioral challenges. All treatment is individualized and starts with an attempt to better understand why individuals behave as they do (functional assessment). The primary goal of treatment is to improve socially significant behaviors that are important to families, the individuals themselves, or significant others in their life.
Clinical supports offered typically include:
- Assessment
- Design of instructional programs
- Behavior Support Plan development
- Consultation
- Training for staff and families
- Crisis response
Contact
For more information about the clinicians for Children’s Services, contact Michele Mayer, Ed.S., BCBA, at mmayer@hmea.org.
For more information about the clinicians for Adult Services, contact William Geary, Ed.S., BCBA, at bgeary@hmea.org.
