About ABC, Inc.
Applied Behaviour Consultants was founded in 1987 by Dr. Joseph E. Morrow, Ph.D., and Ms.Brenda J. Terzich M.A. to provide Applied Behaviour Analysis services for persons with special needs. They began by providing in-home behavioural services to the developmentally disabled population throughout Northern and Central California. This included Group parent training and behaviour consultation to Community Care facilities. ABC, Inc. have provided behavioural services fro over 3000 clients. Along with the continuation of these services, ABC opened its first classroom for children diagnosed on the Autistic Spectrum in 1994. Currently, they provide services for 8 Regional Centres, over 50 School districts and 30 Community Care Facilities. Present Autism services include intensive behavioural treatment in-home programmes and over 100 students in their two schools.
After 18 years in ABA Intervention, ABC, Inc. now has an ABA school for learners with Autistic Spectrum Disorder in Sacramento, another school in Los Angeles, and has opened a further four schools in China, all for learners with Autistic Spectrum Disorder, and all running under the principle of early and intensive Applied Behaviour Analysis. ABC, Inc. have run training conferences in ABA therapy in Russia, China, the Philippines, and will be coming to Durban, South Africa, in June 2006, to run practical- based ABA Conference here, together with TRIAD.
TRIAD has always worked closely in following the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis, a highly researched and deeply effective method of behaviour modification. Due to the fact that no formal training in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is available in South Africa, TRIAD took it upon themselves to begin to access resources, training and information worldwide from early 2004 through countless letters and e-mails sent all over the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and Australia. TRIAD began extensive web searches and textbook research, and finally managed to connect with Applied Behaviour Consultants, Inc. in Sacramento, California, USA.
ABC, Inc. have become instrumental in helping TRIAD to source information regarding the theory and application of, as well as training in, Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA). Eventually, in November 2005, TRIAD was able to fly over to Sacramento for a month, where we engaged in an intensive training in Applied Behavioural Analysis. TRIAD also experienced numerous opportunities to observe the practise of ABA in the classroom situation at ABC School, an Applied Behavioural Analysis school for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. This was a rare opportunity, and the potential it afforded us with regards to acquiring the necessary skills, techniques and resources to continue, enrich and expand our work back home is immense.
ABC, Inc. have since expressed a deep interest in working closely with TRIAD in helping us to set up timely and appropriate early intervention ABA resources and facilities in KwaZulu-Natal. They have offered to continue to expand our training, as well as to send their own qualified members of staff across to Durban, South Africa, at various intervals to assist TRIAD in setting up a facility offering early and intensive Applied Behaviour Analysis services to children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. This is a spectacular opportunity to truly enable our children with autism to gain access to the therapy and resources they so desperately need.