The Orchid Way

The owner of Orchid, Dr. Autumn Flick, has been helping children for nearly two decades and is dedicated to developing a team who provides therapeutic services through holistic child-centered approaches. Since establishing Orchid in 2017, we have developed a plan that creates the most lasting improvements in the lives of children in the shortest amount of time through intensive programming. Here is our 5-step approach:

Step 1: Achieve peace of mind 
You do not have to worry anymore! The Orchid team will help your child grow and thrive within weeks of starting the Intensive Day Program. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Teacher will work closely with you to develop goals and put a plan in place to change the trajectory of your child’s life! ​

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 Step 2: Watch your child grow 
Get ready to hold back tears the first time your child says, “I love you,” uses the toilet, or reads. At Orchid, we cherish that moment when your family will recognize the incredible transformation happening in your child. In the Core Intensive Day Program our  team focuses on learning readiness such as how to work at a desk or sit crisscross, toilet training, pre-academics, communication, and beginning social skills. ​

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Step 3: Add to your toolbox
We believe that you are the expert of your child and it’s our job to share what we know about autism related strengths and struggles with your family. Once we have learned what tools work best with your child, we will begin parent coaching sessions to share the key elements of our program that are responsible for the transformation you are witnessing in your child.
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Step 4: See your child become independent 
Once your child and you have graduated to our Intermediate Intensive Day Program, we will focus on increasing independence in individual, small, and large group settings in preparation for school and community environments. Additional emphasis is placed on social skills and academics. We will also work on ensuring your child has a variety of interests which can be developed into hobbies and future job skills. ​

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Step 5: Prepare to graduate! 
Our team is excited for the day that your child meets their final treatment plan goals indicating they are ready for independence in a private or public-school setting. We will work with your child after school to help with the transition, providing supplemental support in social skills, executive functioning, academics, and hobby development. to edit.

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Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) = A TOOLBOX

We like to think of ABA as a toolbox. At Orchid, we have extensive experience knowing what tools to use and when. The great news is that many parents and skilled teachers are already using ABA strategies! You may have used an ABA straggly if you:

• Ever told a child to do something before earning a reward
• Waited for a child say "please" before giving them what they wanted
• Writing out a schedule for your child's morning routine

At Orchid, we have a team of experts ready to help you and your child achieve greatness through our strategic programs. We will work together to: 

1. Set GOALS
2. Track progress daily
3. Celebrate victories
4. Quickly move on to the next goals!
5. ​Teach parents all about our tools and strategies!
   

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What makes us different? 

While many ABA service providers focus on behavior, we do more! We believe in focusing on all behaviors such as, literacy, communication, fine motor, math, and social skills. We have seen how academic goals lead to improvements in problem behavior as children can better engage in school and community settings. ​We believe in blending the most researched-based strategies and curriculum to improve outcomes for all of our students.

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Literacy

Traditional literacy approaches are often linear, moving from letter identification to letter sounds, etc. We believe in exposing all of our clients to many aspects of literacy, from letters to phonemic awareness to beginning level books. 

We have found that each child accesses literacy differently, and we support and work hard to build upon their interests. We have had clients with severe problem behavior make huge gains once they were able to read. ​

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Communication

The key to preventing problem behavior is to give children the ability to communicate! We use a mix of Picture Exchange Communicate System (PECS) and an iPad program called Proloqo2Go to promote communication skills. 

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Fine Motor

As someone who has supported teachers, I recall often being called into classrooms to observe problem behavior in typically developing children. Teachers would often say that math was the child's "trigger." Upon observation, I always found that it wasn't the math that caused the problem, but when the students were asked to write out how they came to a solution, then the behavior erupted. 

Writing is challenging for children with autism who often have low muscle tone. Therefore, we prioritize helping children develop fine motor skills that allow them to zip their coat, correctly grasp a writing utensil, and so much more!

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Math

We are always pushing children to develop math skills, as many of our clients enjoy math, and it's an area where they can feel successful. 

For example, while not exactly math, telling time is critical to preventing problem behavior. We teach children as young as three to tell time because then they have a better understanding of when work is done, and play begins. Children with autism (and typically developing children) do well with schedules and routines, so we give them the keys to the kingdom when they can tell time! ​ 

Is ABA for you? 

What might an ABA session look like?
A Board Certified Behavior Analyst, who has gone through extensive behavioral education, training, and testing will meet with your family, and evaluate your child's strengths and areas for growth. They will then collaborate with you and other providers to write a behavior plan that increases your child’s adaptability in their current environments as well as teach skills that will allow them to function in less-restrictive environments. A Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) will work with your child throughout the week in teaching skills while receiving supervision from the Behavior Analyst.

ABA will look different for every family based on specific needs, the child’s age, and the setting in which services are provided. Your therapist may work with your child at home, at school, or in the community. Therapists may work at a table or on the floor, teach age-appropriate chores around the home, provide academic support at school, or accompany you to community outings in which difficult behavior occurs.
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How to know if ABA may be a good choice for your family:

• Do you ever avoid going to places or events because you're worried it might be too difficult?
• Is your child falling behind developmentally in the areas of communication, social and/ or emotional, adaptive, or academic skills?
• Are you experiencing difficulty in your family life due to your child’s behaviors?
• Is your child’s behavior impacting their ability to learn at school?
• Are you ready to work with an amazing team, expanding your toolbox and skillset?