The Center for Autism and Related Disorders Launches Skills 4 America Grant to Meet Critical Developmental Disability Needs in Schools

LOS ANGELES, CA, March 30, 2011 (Press-News.org) The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD), today the launch of Skills 4 America . Skills 4 America is a nationwide grant program that provides one-year scholarships for Skills, a breakthrough web-based program for assessing and designing treatment curricula for students with autism and other developmental disorders.

In its first phase, schools can apply for the Skills 4 America grant by registering online at http://www.skills4america.com to attend a free, 30-minute Skills webinar. Webinars will be held on March 30 and April 7 at 3:30pm (EST). Following each webinar, attendees will receive a code and link to apply for the Skills 4 America grant.

"This new grant program enhances our long-standing efforts to encourage and support educators and fellow practitioners who are working to help children with autism and related disorders reach their full potential," said Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh, PhD, BCBA-D, founder and executive director of CARD and co-creator of Skills. "My initial intent in developing Skills was to empower both parents and educators. I wanted to provide the highest quality training, the most accurate assessment, and the most comprehensive curriculum for students with autism. Skills provides all of that and more. Skills 4 America goes one step further by placing autism before profits. We believe that the future of a child with autism should not be dictated by whether or not their parents can afford the necessary tools the child needs to reach their full potential."

"Skills provides users with developmental milestones, prerequisites, and activity guides," says Skills co-creator Adel Najdowski, PhD, BCBA-D. "Each lesson comes with supplemental worksheets and handouts to ensure that what the student learns applies to real life. In addition, teachers can use Skills as an effective management tool. The online program can evaluate treatment progress one student at a time. And while the system will automate a program for users, it allows them the flexibility to tailor the program to the student's unique needs."

Skills features:

• BCBA mentorship from BCBA clinical support staff (additional fees apply)

• Access to the most comprehensive assessment and curriculum in the world for students with autism

• Extras such as lesson plans, teaching guides, visual aids, worksheets, tracking forms, IEP goals and benchmarks, and access to online support

• The ability for teachers to track skill acquisition, at the operant and activity level, as well as the effects of challenging behavior and alternative treatments on each student's progress

• Tracking of known and newly mastered skills, as well as progress-tracking charts

The Skills 4 America grant is administered through ACT Today! (Autism Care and Treatment Today!), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, whose mission is to raise awareness as well as provide treatment services and support to help children with autism achieve their full potential. For more information about ACT Today!, visit http://www.act-today.org.

"Autism is an urgent matter that requires our attention," says Nancy Alspaugh-Jackson, executive director of ACT Today!. "According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 110 children in America is diagnosed with autism. We can do something about it. We are proud to offer Skills 4 America in partnership with the world's largest organization that is effectively treating children with autism."


About the Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD):
The Center for Autism and Related Disorders is among the world's largest and most experienced organizations effectively treating children with autism and related disorders. CARD operates 20 satellite offices throughout the United States and abroad and has treated tens of thousands of children around the world.

CARD is committed to scientific research as the most objective and reliable approach to evaluating treatment for autism. Our mission is to conduct empirical research on the assessment and treatment of autism and to disseminate our research findings and derived technology through publication and education of professionals and the public. While the primary focus of our research is ABA-based methods of assessment and treatment, our overall approach to research includes any topic that may yield information that could potentially improve the lives of individuals with autism. For more information about the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, visit: http://www.centerforautism.com.