LEADERS/Autism Spectrum Disorder Services
Available nationally and internationally
Has your child displayed:
Communication problems or trouble expressing his or her wants and needs with words or gestures?
Social problems such as being avoidant of other people, having difficulty initiating or maintaining conversations, or being unable to engage in meaningful play?
Unusual behavior/personality traits such as preferring to play alone, repeating certain actions, and/or having unusually long temper tantrums?
LEADERS, which stands for Lake Erie Autism Diagnostic, Educational & Research Services, is operated in association with the Achievement Center and Mercyhurst College. LEADERS is a program that offers families and professionals access to services that are founded in evidence-based practice and that are rapidly becoming accepted as the gold standard of best practices in the field of autism intervention. The program specializes in designing services and offering consultations that meet the unique needs of every child, family, agency or school, regardless of geographic location. The LEADERS program is a collaboration between the Achievement Center and Mercyhurst College and encompasses a wide range of services. The Achievement Center has been named a regional autism site by the Autism Services Education, Research and Training (ASERT) project. As a regional autism site, the Achievement Center, in connection with Mercyhurst College, has been selected to collaborate with Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC to improve early diagnosis, treatment of and education about autism spectrum disorders.
Outpatient Mental Health Program:
Available in Erie County
Provides individual, group, and family psychotherapy, psychiatric evaluation, and medication management to children.
Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Services (BHRS):
Available in Erie, Crawford, Forest, and Warren Counties
This program provides individualized services to children and youth diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Services include specially trained staff in the field of ASD to include: Therapeutic Support; Mobile Therapy; and Behavioral Specialist Consulting.
Consulting Services:
Available in Erie, Crawford, Forest, Warren, PA; and Chautauqua and Erie, NY Counties
More about LEADERS
LEADERS Director Bob Gulick is the co-author of a book that was supported by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The book, Effective Instruction for Children with Autism, is a comprehensive guide for professionals and parents who are working with children with autism. Topics include skill instruction to address the core language, social, and behavioral differences associated with autism spectrum disorders as well as techniques to effectively deal with problematic behaviors. And it all comes in an easy-to-comprehend format.
The book also includes a CD-ROM with more than 200 skill instruction programs, approximately 50 data sheets, and some video examples of concepts introduced in the text. The book is available for online purchase through the Different Roads to Learning Web site.
What's New at LEADERS?
Autism affects millions of children around the world, including people living with the disorder, their families, and others who are central to their lives. Through education that addresses the core language, social, and behavioral concerns associated with autism, individuals with autism can achieve so much.
LEADERS is a program that offers families and professionals access to services that are founded in evidence-based practice and that are rapidly becoming accepted as the gold standard of best practices in the field of autism intervention.
LEADERS encompasses a range of services available to families around the country and world, developed and coordinated by nationally-known specialists in autism intervention and parent/professional training. LEADERS specializes in designing services that meet the unique needs of every child, family, or school, regardless of geographic location.
The Achievement Center’s roots can be traced back to 1923 when a group of Erie Rotarians recognized a need for organized services for children with physical disabilities. Nearly 80 years later, the agency has grown in depth of programs offered and breadth of service areas while remaining committed to this original calling and true to the mission that underscores all of our services.
More than a decade after changing our name from the Erie County Crippled Children's Society, we have truly become the Achievement Center as we continue helping thousands of families in Pennsylvania counties Erie, Crawford, Forest, and Warren, PA and Chautauqua County, NY, maximize the potential of children.
With LEADERS, a vibrant new page is added to this rich history of helping children and their families, a page devoted to providing world-class autism intervention.
