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May Institute Continues Expansion of Critical Autism Services in Military Communities

03/12/13


Randolph, Mass. – May Institute, a national nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive, research-based services to children and adults with autism and other special needs, continues to expand its autism services for civilian and military families. Through the May Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders in Mt. Laurel, NJ, the organization now offers a comprehensive set of educational and behavioral services to civilian and military families and their children with autism stationed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, and in the surrounding area.

Autism is a neurological disorder that affects the development of the brain, causing difficulty with communication, learning, and social interaction. The number of children diagnosed with autism has dramatically increased over the past decade. The most recent studies (CDC, 2012) report that the incidence rate for autism spectrum disorders is one in every 88 children. More than 23,000 military dependents have a diagnosis on the autism spectrum, and their condition is made more difficult by the unique circumstances that accompany military life.

“Finding high quality autism services is a significant challenge for many families in New Jersey and across the country – particularly so for military families who experience frequent changes of residences, schools, and other related issues,” says Lauren C. Solotar, Ph.D., ABPP, President and CEO of May Institute. “Our goal is to help reduce the stressors related to autism by building capacity and providing access to effective treatment, resources, support, and care.”

The services in New Jersey are being offered by Program Coordinators James Kretzer, M.Ed., BCBA, and Stephanie Peters, M.Ed., BCBA, who bring with them extensive experience in delivering high quality applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy to families at other military installations. “May Institute utilizes evidence-based practices based on ABA, the methodology universally recognized as the most effective for teaching children with autism spectrum disorders or other behavioral and developmental disabilities,” explains Kretzer.

The Center will specialize in home-based therapy, which provides meaningful learning opportunities that enable children with ASD to master critical skills in their home or other familiar environments. These home-based services for military families are reimbursed by TRICARE, and May Institute is an approved TRICARE network provider.

May Institute provides services to all branches of the military, including the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. In addition to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, May Institute also offers services to families stationed at the following military bases: Naval Submarine Base New London in Connecticut; Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Naval Station Mayport in Florida; Fort Benning, Fort Stewart, Hunter Army Airfield, and Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Georgia; Fort Campbell in Kentucky/Tennessee; Hanscom Air Force Base and Massachusetts Military Reservation in Massachusetts; Camp Lejeune in North Carolina; Naval Station Newport in Rhode Island; and Fort Eustis, Fort Lee, Hampton Roads, Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Langley Air Force Base in Virginia.

For more information about the new May Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders in Mt. Laurel, please contact Stephanie Peters at 609.498.4503 or at speters@mayinstitute.org.

About May Institute

May Institute is a nonprofit organization that provides educational, rehabilitative, and behavioral healthcare services to individuals with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities, brain injury, mental illness, and other behavioral health needs. Since its founding nearly 60 years ago, May Institute has evolved into an award-winning national network that serves thousands of individuals and their families annually.

For more information, call 800.778.7601 or visit www.mayinstitute.org.
 

 

  • 41 Pacella Park Drive
  • Randolph, MA 02368
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May Institute does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, sex/gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, military status, veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, marital status, socioeconomic status, homelessness, or any other category protected under applicable law in treatment or employment at the Institute, admission or access to the Institute, or any other aspect of the educational programs and activities that the Institute operates. The Institute is required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (Age Act), and their respective implementing regulations at 34 C.F.R. Parts 100, 104, 106 and 110, not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin (Title VI); disability (Section 504); sex (Title IX); or age (Age Act). Inquiries concerning the application of each of these statutes and their implementing regulations to the Institute may be referred to the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, at (617) 289-0111 or 5 Post Office Square, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02109-3921, or to Pamela Raymond, Title IX Coordinator at 1.800.437.1200  ext.1252 or compliance@mayinstitute.org or May Institute 14 Pacella Park Drive, Randolph, MA 02368.

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