Autism Services
Any Baby Can's Autism Services Program is designed specifically for families raising a child or youth diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, to provide parent education and support through a variety of services such as parent training and education groups.
- Foundation Behavior Parent Training
- Secondary Parent Training
- Autism Safety in the Home and Community Training
- Toilet Training
- Training on Personal Hygiene and Sexuality
Select services are offered in Bexar, Comal and Kendall County locations. Please search these pages for more information on programs offered at no cost to you.
One of the most effective interventions is the use of procedures and strategies as defined in applied behavioral analysis (ABA). This intervention assists in maximizing the child's learning and development through systematic treatments used to enhance skill development and language.
Parents play a key role in their child's skill development and progress. Learning how to support their child's communication and behavioral needs is important for everyone involved with the child. Parents and family members benefit from parent training and support groups offered in the community.
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a range of complex neurodevelopmental disorders, characterized by social impairments, communication difficulties and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior that typically appear during the first three years of life. Autism Spectrum Disorder is considered to be a "spectrum disorder" because it can significantly vary with each individual in character and severity. We know that ASD occurs in all ethnic and socioeconomic groups in the United States and around the world.
Common Signs of Autism
The most obvious signs of autism include impaired social interaction and communication delay. Many parents of identified children with ASD report that they noticed their differences in their child during infancy. Many parents stated the child displayed the following behaviors:
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Unresponsive to people
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Focused on a particular item with a high level of intensity
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Withdrew from interaction and become indifferent to social engagement
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Failed to respond to their name, avoided contact and lacked empathy
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Engaged in repetitive movements such as rocking and twirling
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Obvious language and communication delay
The cause of autism is still unknown, but scientists agree that genetics and environment may be factors contributing to the onset of ASD.
Early signs which require evaluation by an expert include:
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Stereotyped, repetitive or unusual use of language
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Preoccupation with certain objects or subject matter
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Inability to make friends with peers
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Impaired ability to initiate or sustain conversation with others
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Inflexible adherence to specific routines or rituals
Signs seen at a later age include:
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No babbling by age 1
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No single words by 16 months
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No two-word phrases by age 2
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Poor eye contact
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No response to name
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Limited or loss of language
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Limited or loss of social skills
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No smiling or social responsiveness