About us

 

The Business

ABC of NC is a private, not-for-profit, research-based provider of educational services for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). We are a licensed non-public school located in Winston Salem, NC. ABC of NC uses a variety of quality educational techniques within a caring environment to help children develop their full potential. ABC of NC teaches children with autism through such methods as: Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), applied behavior analysis (ABA), verbal behavior (VB), discrete trial teaching (DTT), natural environment teaching (NET)/play therapy, social skills groups/social stories, and fluency teaching. Our curriculum is based on the Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills (The ABLLS), an assessment, curriculum guide, and skills tracking system for children with language delays developed by Dr. Jim Partington and Dr. Mark Sundberg.

History

Since the late 1980s, a growing number of North Carolina and South Carolina parents have pursued services for their children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In 1992, a parent group, Autism Treatment Options (ATO), held a conference featuring speakers on new and alternative treatment methods for their children. Dr. Ivar Lovaas, the director of the Young Autism Project at the University of California, Los Angeles, was the featured speaker. The proceeds from the event allowed the organization to help set up a replication site to serve families in North Carolina and South Carolina.

The replication site, Autism Research Center (ARC), served children with ASD throughout the southeast with workshop mode, home-based programsGeneral Info

The Business: ABC of NC is a private, not-for-profit, research-based provider of educational and behavioral services for young children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The center uses a curriculum and teaching techniques derived from the principles of behavioral psychology. The application of this science is called applied behavior analysis (ABA).

In 2000, a group founded Families for Early Autism Treatment of North Carolina, a not-for-profit organization of parents and professionals with a mission to help families with children with ASD. Their objectives were to promote the use of applied behavior analysis (ABA) as a proven, effective treatment for autism, to increase the number of children using ABA and to educate medical, educational, political and lay communities about autism and ABA. In addition, a group of individuals in Winston-Salem, NC created a fund to help create a program that provides ABA services for families who could not otherwise afford them.

In 2002, the organizations combined efforts to create ABC of NC, an organization offering center-based 1:1 instruction, small group instruction, parent education services, and professional seminars.

ABC of NC combines a variety of effective teaching strategies such as discrete trial training, verbal behavior, natural environment training, Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) and fluency training. All teaching methods are science-based (i.e. proven effective) and individually tailored to the needs of the children.The center has been funded by a variety of sources—endowment, tuition, grants, public funding and monies obtained through fundraisers.

Core Values of ABC of NC

We set high standards for teaching and learning because we believe that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have immense abilities and skills.We recognize the dignity of all persons, irrespective of their life circumstances.We will create an atmosphere where learning will be a fun and rewarding experience for both students and the staff.We are proactive, not just reactive.We will recognize that there is no one “right” way to teach, and that we must modify our approaches to respond to the individual needs of each client.We will stay abreast of current research and teaching techniques being developed to help children with ASD, and will try new methodologies when appropriate.We will apply effective teaching techniques in order to make learning more successful and teaching more effective.We look for, hire and train the best qualified people.We provide effective and ongoing supervision and training for our staff.We will strive to achieve excellence in all that we do at all times.

 

ABC of NC

3904 Old Vineyard Road

Winston Salem, NC 27104

336.251.1180 (o)

336.251.1181 (f)

www.abcofnc.org