The centers also provide in-home treatment for children who live in the surrounding areas, and can serve children in their school, day care program or other community sites. Treatment is based on applied behavior analysis — considered the gold standard of care for autism.
“Many children in the Greater Philadelphia region are in need of diagnostic evaluations, treatment or both, and many remain on waiting lists. The sooner they receive these services, the better for the children’s development and their families’ overall quality of life,” said Kathleen Stengel, CEO of NeurAbilities Healthcare.
The new sites will reflect NeurAbilities’ thoughtful approach to treatment, including special features and child-friendly themes. Designed for children with autism, primarily from the ages of 14 months to 15 years, they will include:
Special lighting that addresses sensory sensitivities;
An indoor play area to help children learn a wide range of skills, including communication and socialization;
Individual and group treatment rooms;
COVID-19 safety protocols, including masks required for all staff and parents, and sanitization of equipment between patients.
Free open houses are scheduled for April 21 in Hatboro and April 28 in Northeast Philadelphia, with advance registration required. A Center City event will be scheduled for summer.
NeurAbilities also offers a key advantage over other area providers. It is the only organization in the region that provides a full range of autism services — including medical diagnostic and neuropsychological evaluations, counseling and ABA treatment — from one source.
As further endorsement of its approach, NeurAbilities recently earned three-year accreditation — the highest recognition — from the Behavioral Health Center of Excellence. Only 15% of BHCOE-accredited organizations receive this highest level of approval, Stengel noted.
