A new opportunity for support and treatment of autism has opened here in the form of a branch of Autism Care Partners’. They will hold a grand opening ceremony November 2 from 4-6 p.m. at 1210 Pontiac Ave.

Tours of the facility will be offered throughout the day. The celebration begins at 9 a.m. and concludes at 3:30 p.m. The official ribbon cutting will be performed by Mayor Ken Hopkins at 4:15 p.m.

This will be Autism Care Partners fourth location in Rhode Island. Since beginning their first program 14 years ago the company has expanded into 7 states to provide treatment and support to those with autism and their families. Though in center treatment focuses on younger children, they do offer programs for children and adults up to the age of 22.

“The Cranston Office will be the fourth office in Rhode Island, which is amazing to be able to expand the offices so much,” said Community Outreach and Engagement Officer Elaine Crosby. “We offer services to children as young as two years old all the way through 22 years old, and we provide interdisciplinary services; which is ‘ABA’ (applied behavioral analysis), speech language pathology and occupational therapy.”

Crosby went on to explain that the company also offers diagnostic services, though they are run through their Warwick location, at 300 Toll Gate Rd. While each location provides slightly different services, the head of the Cranston Center, Managing Board Certified Behavioral Analyst (BCBA) Jason Zeigler, is more than happy with the services the new facility will bring to the area.

“I’m the man on the ground here in Cranston,” Zeigler laughed. “It’s exciting to get to know this area, and I’ve gotten to know it pretty well over the last couple months. We’re putting together all of the stuff to be able to get the kids in and the families. We’re getting ready to kind of support the community.”

Zeigler said he’s been preparing for the new center’s work by spending time in the field. Having been a BCBA since 2011, Zeigler said he has been a field worker for almost 20 years all together and has specialized in kids with autism that display all different kinds of needs.

He did much of his training when he joined the company at its Warwick location and since then he has met a “ton” of Cranston families that have been in need of Autism Care Partners’ services

“What makes our supports in Rhode Island special is how we’re able to provide wrap-around services to families whether they need a diagnosis yet or not,” said Chief of Regional Service Delivery Andrea Lavigne PhD. “We can provide evidence-based early intensive care like ABA, speech, occupational therapy or social work. But, we can also meet families where they are even when they don’t have that diagnosis yet.”

Lavigne said she feels it’s a really special thing that the facilities can do for Rhode Island families by taking a complicated time in their lives and supporting them through it.

“That’s the great thing,” Zeigler added. “In addition to the ABA services and the direct work with the kids with autism, we also provide the speech and language, occupational therapy and social work services. Those aren’t quite up and running in Cranston yet, but our Warwick one is fully functional with all those ancillary services. So, it’s really a one-stop shop. Sometimes parents really struggle and have to choose what therapies they can bring their kids to.”

There may be times a parent has to bring their child to one therapy appointment that is towns away and travel alone makes it impossible to also take them to another therapy appointment across the state, Zeigler explained. By putting all of the services for children with autism under one roof, he said that they are able to give parents a chance to provide better for their children’s health and therapy needs. 

“We work directly with the kids, and everything is individualized,” said Zeigler proudly. “What would happen is we would start with an assessment for the child, and based on that assessment we would come up with the different programs they need.”

Whether a child needs work on social skills, communications or safety lessons, Zeigler said that the center will tailor each child’s program directly to their individual needs. He explained that was one of the things that set their organization apart.

“We don’t fit them into a curriculum,” he said proudly. “We fit the curriculum to them. That’s how we make the most impact with our kids.”

Those hoping to stop in on the day of the grand opening, whether for a tour of the facility or to see the ribbon cutting, can reserve a place at the event or schedule their tour by contacting the team at cranstoncenter@austismcarepartners.com or scanning the QR code.