Small Business Saturday: Madison Behavior Therapy

Being the parent of an autistic child can be downright lonely at times. It can be hard to find support, and even harder to find good resources to help. Parents oftentimes find themselves without an advocate.

That was one of the reasons Lindsay Chapman, director of Madison Behavior Therapy, recently opened a clinic on Hughes Road in Madison. After providing ABA therapy in homes and preschools all over Madison County for a year, she saw the need for a bricks-and-mortar location that focused on offering these services in an intensive and positive environment.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the study of learning and behavior patterns. Research methods and best practices are applied in the clinical setting to teach both skill acquisition and behavior reduction to children with autism.

[sws_pullquote_right]”The children that come to see us at the Clinic receive between 10 and 30 hours of therapy a week. We believe in teaching through play and making learning fun!” – Lindsay Chapman, owner [/sws_pullquote_right]

Rocket City Mom was able to learn more about Madison Behavior Therapy from Lindsay, and what her program can provide to families with kids on the autism spectrum.

Who Can Benefit?

Madison Behavior Therapy’s mission is to provide the highest quality, effective programming in Applied Behavior Analysis to individuals with autism and related disorders, as well as other behavioral diagnoses. They work with each family to develop individualized training and behavioral supports in the home, community, and school settings, which allow for children to achieve the greatest levels of success. The clinicians implement the most current research methods in Applied Behavior Analysis, ensuring that clients will accomplish the greatest possible level of independence and quality of life.

How They Help

Applied Behavior Analysis has been cited as the most common treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorders, with over 30 years of research supporting its effectiveness. It is the only scientifically proven, research-based method that effectively treats Autism Spectrum Disorders and PDD-NOS. However, it can also be used in many other settings, and with other individuals. At Madison Behavior Therapy, they also work with children who have been diagnosed with ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, as well as typically developing children engaging in problem behaviors.

Treatment procedures include the manipulation of rewards and consequences in a structured way to increase appropriate or replacement behaviors and decrease unwanted “problem” behaviors. By breaking skills down into small steps, children have more opportunities to be successful, earn rewards, and increase the rate of learning.

Upcoming Programs & Events

MBT will be starting Social Skills Groups at Kidventure in September. There will be 2 classes: A Tuesday/Thursday class for kids ages 3-5 years old and a class on Wednesday afternoons for ages 6-10 years old.

Lindsay is excited about the new program:
“We are very excited because these the only social skills group in the area that will be lead by both a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst and a Certified Special Education Teacher. We just know the kids will have a blast at KidVenture while working on social topics such as Making eye contact, greeting friends, having a conversation, following group instructions, transitioning between activities, identifying social cues, dealing with frustration and many many other great skills!”

Advice for Other Local Small Businesses

As both a mom and an entrepreneur, we wanted to know about Lindsay’s experience balancing parenting and career.

What is your favorite thing about owning your business?
“I adore our Therapy Team at Madison Behavior Therapy. I am so excited to come to the Clinic everyday and work with such knowledgeable and talented individuals. Everyone is there to help the kids and educate the parents about ABA techniques.  Our staff is so compassionate and dedicated and I realize that I am very lucky to have an amazing team behind me.”

What is your entrepreneurial advice to other small business owners?
“We follow a servant leadership model at Madison Behavior Therapy. To us, this means “People over Profit”. This does not mean that services are free (We wish everything was free too!). We all have to make a living and support our own families. It does mean that we each give back in whatever ways we are able. Personally, I provide about $1500 a month in pro bono services. Our company also sponsors The 30 Under Thirty Campaign, which provides business scholarships to young professionals with autism. When you pay for services at Madison Behavior Therapy, you know that a portion of that money is going to help others in the community. My staff’s needs come before mine and our clients needs come first. My goal as the owner is to develop and mold my therapists into the strongest clinicians both intellectually and emotionally. As a leader and a business owner, my goal is not to have a high profit company. An entrepreneur’s goal is to inspire and educate more leaders to create something that changes the community around them for the better.

Details

Madison Behavior Therapy
www.madisonaba.com
Phone & Email: (256) 701-5027 | [email protected]
Facebook Page

Need Help?

Rocket City Mom readers who mention this article at Madison Behavior Therapy will receive a Free In-Home or Clinic Consultation.