What is Autism?

Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder, refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication, as well as by unique strengths and differences. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates autism’s prevalence as 1 in 36 children in the United States.

Symptoms

Since Autism is a spectrum disorder, symptoms will vary from person to person. Common symptoms include, but are not limited to; poor eye contact, meltdowns, sensory sensitivity, limited or delayed communication, preference to play alone, stereotypic play, self- stimulatory behaviors, aggressive behavior, and self-injurious behaviors.

Autism can present symptoms in a variety of ways and The Growing Place is here to help families make sense of this perplexing disorder.

our latest on autism

Featured

Understanding Sensory Processing in Autism: A Parent's Guide to Supporting Your Child

Sounds, textures, and lights that seem normal to you might overwhelm your child. That's sensory processing, and it's a core part of how many kids with autism experience the world. At The Growing Place, we build sensory support into every part of the therapy day.

Celebrating the Small Wins: Why Every Step Forward Matters in Your Child's Journey

Big milestones get all the attention, but the real progress in ABA therapy often shows up in smaller moments: an extra second of eye contact, a new food tried without a fight, a request for help instead of a meltdown. At The Growing Place, we believe those small wins deserve just as much recognition as the big ones, because they're the building blocks your child's whole journey is made of.

ABA Therapy

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is considered an evidence-based best practice treatment for ASD. The Surgeon General recommends ABA therapy to treat symptoms of ASD and considers ABA the gold standard of treatment. The cost of ABA therapy is covered through most insurance companies since it is considered a medical treatment for autism.

Our ABA therapy services include:

Intensive interventions based around increasing communication skills
Social skills and interacting with peers
Daily living skills
Decreasing maladaptive behaviors

Speech Therapy

Speech therapy at The Growing Place is delivered in a 1:1 setting and addresses a wide variety of areas to help improve your child’s communication. Our therapy addresses:

Speech and language delays
Articulation and phonological disorders; Receptive and expressive language disorders; Social/pragmatic disorders, and voice disorders
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
Literacy, reading comprehension, and written communication
Auditory comprehension
Aural habilitation/rehabilitation
Fluency and feeding therapy

How We Can Help

The Growing Place, a Central Indiana S-Corp, provides comprehensive and focused ABA therapy for children and adolescents ages 2-20, delivered across clinic, educational, and community settings. Treatment intensity, programming, and level of support needs vary by individual, with services organized across multiple facilities by age group to support developmentally appropriate care and peer grouping. All services are delivered under the overall clinical oversight of Owner Emily Fisher, BCBA, LBA, with three facilities individually led by Clinic Directors Taylor Smock, BCBA, LBA; Adrienne Shaw, BCBA, LBA; and Meghan Mares, BCBA, LBA. Services are consistent with the seven dimensions of applied behavior analysis (Baer, Wolf & Risley, 1968) — applied, behavioral, analytic, technological, conceptually systematic, effective, and generalizable.

Play & Social Skills

Communication
Eye Contact
Following Directions
Imaginary Play
Improved Leisure Skills
Increased Attending Skills
Establish Joint Attention
Move Sharing and Turn Taking

Daily Living Skills

Washing Hands, Cleaning up Toys, Making a Snack, Bathing, Dressing
Toileting
Daily Household Chores
Paying for Goods While in the Community
Shopping for Household Items

Coping Skills

Reduce Meltdowns/Tantrums and Aggression
Reduce Self-injuries
Toleration Training for Haircuts
Dentist/Doctor Visits
Hygiene Tasks
Self-Soothing Skills
Improved Waiting Skills
Decreasing Sensory Sensitivity