8 March 2013 • EP MAGAZINE/www.eparent.com

WHAT’S HAPPENINGSPECIAL LEARNING, INC. PARTNERS WITH

INTEGRATED MONTESSORI CENTERThe partneship between the organizationsis the first step in a movement toward thedevelopment and implementation of a newspecial education program that will providethousands of underserved children withthe opportunity to receive Western-basedapplied behavioral analysis therapy ser-vices for the first timethrough IntegratedMontessori Center.Special Learning, Inc., a

leading global provider ofcomprehensive solutionsand educational resourcesfor the autism community,announced today that it has partnered witha large Montessori school system,Integrated Montessori Center located in thePhilippines, to provide comprehensiveassessment services for those affected byautism spectrum disorder and other devel-opmental disabilities from February 27 –March 7 in Manila.Through the joint program, Special

Learning, a U.S.-based autism servicesprovider and training resource is sending ateam of board certified behavioral analyststo the Philippines to implement an assess-ment program designed for early detectionand proper diagnosis of autism.The assessment program is open to chil-

dren from age two to young adolescents.Special Learning is providing this service inpartnership with Step By Step, Inc., a non-profit autism treatment center located inthe United States. Clinicians will conductWestern-based assessment services inManila, where it is difficult to get access toqualified professionals and provide accu-rate diagnoses of autism.During the visit, Special Learning expects

to conduct assessments for about 50 chil-dren during the two-week clinic, accordingto Karen Chung, founder and chief execu-tive officer of Special Learning SpecialLearning and Integrated Montessori Centerare currently in the process of finalizing along-term program that will bring specialeducation classrooms to the school, as wellas one-to-one intensive behavioral inter-vention using the methods of applied

behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy.The collaboration marks Special

Learning’s first significant venture outsidethe U.S. in making quality autism solutionsavailable around the globe, especially inareas of the world where services areinsufficient or lacking.

There are more than 21million students in thePhilippines and an estimat-ed 13 percent of those havespecial needs. Out of theseindividuals only about500,000 are properly diag-nosed, and many are left

not knowing what their real disorders are,let alone what treatment options are avail-able.In recognizing this deficiency, Integrated

Montessori Center and Special Learningwere prompted to establish this short-termprogram to deliver assessment services forASD, from which they will develop a com-prehensive treatment program to supportthe diagnosis. Assessments are 90 to 120minutes and will include evaluations of:• Autistic symptoms• Adaptive behavior• Early development• Medical status• Academic and problem solving skills• Problematic behaviors• Language skillsSpecial Learning is a leading global

provider of autism and Applied BehaviorAnalysis (ABA) solutions. The companydesigns mobile applications and educa-tional resources based on clinical evi-dence-based research to ensure that everyperson diagnosed with Autism SpectrumDisorder (ASD) is capable of attaining anabundant and fulfilling life. Follow SpecialLearning on Facebook, http://www.face-book.com/speciallearning, and also onTwitter, https://twitter.com/speciallearning.For more information about SpecialLearning’s program, visit http://www.spe-cial-learning.com/integrated_montessori.For more about Integrated MontessoriCenter, visit http://www.integrated-montessori.edu.ph/

Organizations toProvide AssessmentServices to ChildrenAffected by Autismin the Philippines

UCP of Central FloridaCelebrates20th Annual Gala

UCP of Central Florida’s 20th Anniversary

Gala, An Evening at the Palace, will be held on

Saturday, March 2, 2013 at the Buena Vista

Palace Hotel & Spa in the Walt Disney World

Resort. Actress Cheryl Hines will be joined by

many of Central Florida’s top community and

business leaders to help raise funds for UCP, a

not-for-profit charter school providing the best

support, education, and therapy to children

with and without disabilities.

Walt Disney World Resort has been chosen

as the 2013 recipient of the Jack Holloway Star

of Gratitude Award. For the past 20 years,

Disney VoluntEARS have performed thousands

of hours of service in support of UCP events.

The participation of Disney VoluntEARS con-

tributes to our mission of making it possible

for children with disabilities to reach their full

potential. Actress Cheryl Hines is the fifth

recipient of the Jackie Bailes Legacy Award.

Hines has worked tirelessly, standing up for

the children as their advocate and benefactor.

She has served as an active member on UCP’s

National Board of Trustees and has hosted

UCP of Central Florida’s gala event for several

years.

UCP of Central Florida are experts for chil-

dren with special needs and provides support,

education, and therapy services for children,

with and without disabilities, ages birth

through 21. As a tuition-free public charter

school and provider of physical, speech and

occupational therapy, UCP offers services at

seven locations throughout Central Florida:

downtown Orlando, East Orlando near UCF,

East Orlando near Valencia College, Kissimmee,

Lake Mary, Pine Hills and Winter Garden. More

than 3,000 children and their families received

services provided by UCP last year.

For more

information

about

programs and

services, visit

www.ucpcfl.org

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