Higher Aspirations Behavior Services, LLC
Resources
The Arc of Florida Dental Program- Application may be accessed by contacting the dental services program at 1-855-322-6735 or via email at dental@arcflorida.org
ABLE United was created to make a better life experience for individuals with disabilities. ABLE accounts allow individuals to live, work, and save like never before. Get more information at ableunited.com
Special Needs Scholarship http://homeschool-helpdesk.com/plsa-step-up-for-students/
Agency for Persons with Disabilities www.apdcares.org
Children's Board www.childrensboard.org.
Florida Tech applied behavior analysis programs http://www.fit.edu/programs/8148/ms-aba-and-obm
USF ABA Program http://aba.cbcs.usf.edu
Florida Association for Behavior Analysis Fabaworld.org
Association for Behavior Analysis-International Abainternational.org
The Behavior Analyst Certification Board http://www.bacb.com/
Tuck Sleep Foundation https://www.tuck.com/autism-spectrum-disorder-and-sleep/
What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental
disability that is caused by differences in how the brain functions. People with ASD may communicate, interact, behave, and learn in different ways. Signs of ASD begin during early childhood and usually last throughout a person’s life.
Previously, the term “ASD” collectively referred
to the following three conditions that were diagnosed separately: autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), and Asperger disorder. ASD now encompasses a single diagnosis of “autism spectrum disorder”. The term “spectrum” in ASD means that each person can be affected in different ways, and symptoms can range from mild to severe. People with ASD share some similar symptoms, such as difficulties with social interaction, difficulties with communication, and highly focused interests and/or repetitive activities. How the symptoms affect a person’s functioning depends on the severity and combination of those symptoms.
Taken from the CDC website
What Is Mental Helath?
The term mental health is commonly used in reference to mental illness. However, knowledge in the field has progressed to a level that appropriately differentiates the two. Although mental health and mental illness are related, they represent different psychological states.
Mental health is “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.”1 It is estimated that only about 17% of U.S adults are considered to be in a state of optimal mental health.2 There is emerging evidence that positive mental health is associated with improved health outcomes.
Mental illness is defined as “collectively all diagnosable mental disorders” or “health conditions that are characterized by alterations in thinking, mood, or behavior (or some combination thereof) associated with distress and/or impaired functioning.”2 Depression is the most common type of mental illness, affecting more than 26% of the U.S. adult population.3 It has been estimated that by the year 2020, depression will be the second leading cause of disability throughout the world, trailing only ischemic heart disease.
Evidence has shown that mental disorders, especially depressive disorders, are strongly related to the occurrence, successful treatment, and course of many chronic diseases including diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and obesity5 and many risk behaviors for chronic disease; such as, physical inactivity, smoking, excessive drinking, and insufficient sleep.
http://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/
Taken from the CDC website
Who is APD?
In October 2004, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) became an agency separate from the Department of Children and Families, specifically tasked with serving the needs of Floridians with developmental disabilities. Prior to that time, it existed as the Developmental Disabilities Program.
The APD works in partnership with local communities and private providers to assist people who have developmental disabilities and their families. APD also provides assistance in identifying the needs of people with developmental disabilities for supports and services.
Taken from the APD website
