Notes on a napkin proved prophetic for Liz Moore.
Moore sketched a drawing of what she’d like to see in a new Outpatient Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Clinic about two years ago.
That drawing is now a reality for Moore, the director of ABA services at J.D. McCarty Center for children with developmental disabilities.
“This napkin design has been put on paper and built with concrete and glass. I still think I’m in disbelief that it’s happening,” Moore said, before the grand opening of the clinic on Aug. 8.
Moore welcomed close to 200 people to see the clinic during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
She said the building represents the opportunity to serve more children with autism and their families through ABA therapy. The therapy is based on the science of learning and behavior.
“We’re really excited about what we’re going to be able to do moving forward,” Moore said.
The new clinic also expands the services that the center offers.
The J.D. McCarty Center is a pediatric rehab hospital in Norman that specializes in the care and treatment of children with developmental disabilities from birth to age 21.
The hospital provides medical care, inpatient and outpatient therapy services, specialized clinics, outreach programs and resources for families.
Mike Powers, director and CEO of J.D. McCarty Center, called the new Outpatient ABA Clinic “an exciting and meaningful milestone in our mission to serve children with developmental disabilities and their families.”
About the clinic
Moore said the clinic provides more space to serve outpatients. Since 2020, ABA services have been offered in a renovated space in the center’s main building.
The new clinic now features 14,000 square feet of space, which offers room to serve 30 outpatients. The clinic can serve outpatients up to age 21.
“We need the space to be able to never have to say no to a family who needs help,” she said.
The new building also will have space for outreach programs, such as parent support groups and training, and create opportunities for an internship program for Board-Certified Behavior Analysts, who design and oversee ABA treatment plans for patients.
Funding for the $6.8 million clinic is through federal pandemic aid that was allocated to Oklahoma through the American Rescue Plan Act.
Moore said the center applied for funding through the act as a way to help families of children with autism who faced a variety of issues during the pandemic.
“Many families and autistic individuals suffered during the pandemic due to services being cut, education being virtual and families being isolated,” she said.
“ABA was a critical service that was significantly impacted due to guidelines and recommendations put in place to keep people safe during the pandemic, so we thought our vision for this space would be a perfect match for ARPA funds.”
Moore adds, “Our plan when applying through ARPA was to build capacity across the state by serving the underserved population and those who needed help recovering from the loss of services.”
During the grand opening of the clinic, Powers thanked state organizations and leaders and the Cerebral Palsy Commission — the center’s governing board — for supporting the project.
“We also extend special appreciation to the American Rescue Plan Act Committee at the state legislature for entrusting us with this opportunity. And to the citizens of Oklahoma, thank you. Your investment in this endeavor is truly a commitment to the lives, growth and potential of Oklahoma’s children.”
Powers also applauded the work done by Studio Architecture and Willowbrook construction company for creating an innovative and welcoming space with the clinic.
About ABA therapy
Moore started the center’s ABA therapy program in 2020, bringing with her a background as a special education teacher and extensive experience in ABA therapy.
Moore was contacted by the center’s then-director Vicki Kuestersteffen, who wanted to offer ABA therapy at the center.
Moore said the center’s mission aligned with her own longtime passion to help children with disabilities have access to services and opportunities regardless of their socioeconomic status, age, skill level or behaviors.
“I’ve always loved serving the underserved,” she said.
Moore said she views ABA therapy as “a way to take a skill or challenging behavior and break it down into small, tiny pieces.”
“You take data on those small parts until mastery,” she said. “It can be used to teach individuals how to talk, how to play, how to wash their hands.”
The therapy also can help children learn how to ask for help or ask for more time instead of engaging in challenging behaviors.
“The list of skills that can be addressed through ABA is as vast and creative as the BCBA can come up with.”
In outpatient ABA therapy, each child works with a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst who creates an individualized treatment plan based on a child's needs.
Parents whose children are in the center’s ABA therapy services credit the therapy for helping their children improve behaviors and are grateful for the support they’ve received.
Angie Brito said ABA therapy has had “life-changing results” for her grandson, Raylan. The 11-year-old is autistic and has developmental delays.
Brito said the therapy has helped her grandson reduce challenging behaviors and improve transitions from a preferred task to a non-preferred task. He also is better with daily living tasks, such as showering and dressing himself. She said her grandson also has been a picky eater but now shows more of a willingness to try other foods.
In addition, Brito has noticed a boost in his confidence and demeanor and has noticed he’s smiling and giggling more. “He’s genuinely happy.”
The family drive from Mustang each day to Norman for ABA therapy, and Brito said the time involved is worth the effort given the progress her grandson has made and the support they’ve experienced.
“It’s worth every bit of my mileage and my time because it has changed our lives for the better,” Brito said.
Jennifer Pike said her son also has made great gains through ABA therapy. Her son, Sawyer, is 5 years old and has severe nonverbal autism.
“For the past two years, Sawyer has been a part of the ABA program here at the J.D. McCarty Center, and I cannot fully express the difference this place has made in his life — and in ours as a family,” Pike said during the clinic’s grand opening.
Pike said the progress she’s seen in her son has included his use of a communication device to consistently communicate and an increase in his functional play skills. He’s also learning to read basic sight words and is becoming more comfortable going into the community, especially with the support of his noise-canceling headphones.
Pike said she also appreciates the dedication, commitment and continuity of care that she has seen among the ABA staff.
“From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank the ABA therapists and everyone who has worked with Sawyer. They have taken the time to truly know him — not just his diagnosis, but who he is as a person. They know his likes and dislikes and tailor activities to him,” she said.
Pike said she also is grateful that her son receives ABA therapy, as well as speech and feeding therapy in one location.
“I feel like having everything in one center has been the most amazing experience,” she said. “It makes it so much easier on the parent.”
Pike said she is excited about the new clinic and the opportunities that await her son and others in the program.
“It’s a place for kids to grow, to learn skills and to become part of a family — programs that will help kids like Sawyer learn to be more independent, to build routines, to practice daily living skills in an environment designed specifically for their needs,” she said. “Knowing that this support will continue as he grows is a huge relief and gives me so much hope for the future.”
