ABA Beginnings, LLC

03/22/2025

Current openings for new clients.

03/19/2024

There is still time to sign up and join us for a virtual seminar with Jill Martin from Lancaster County BHDS on Tuesday, April 2nd!

This seminar will focus on the three Waivers that are managed by Lancaster County BHDS, as well as what Waiver funding is and what services are available once someone is enrolled in Waiver.

If you are interested in attending, please register at https://aaronsacres.org/the-intellectual-disability-autism-waivers-an-overview-of-eligibility-and-services-a-virtual-seminar-with-jill-martin-from-lancaster-county-bhds/.

Jill Martin has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Millersville University. She has been working in the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities field for 31 years in a variety of roles with Lancaster County Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. Jill has been in her current role as a Program Planner/Evaluator for Intellectual Disability/Autism services for 12 years. Her primary responsibility is prioritizing and enrolling individuals in Waiver funding and reviewing annual service plans for compliance with Waiver regulations.

03/18/2024

Join us at the @3.21forlifepa event to celebrate at 🎉💪 Feel free to bring a friend, visit our fantastic Coaches, and test your speed on our obstacle course! 💨 Attendance at this event is entirely free! We welcome EVERYONE who has a connection with someone with Down syndrome or is interested in learning more about these incredible individuals to join us this Thursday!

For more info check out 321forlife.com

03/06/2024

02/29/2024

02/28/2024

We are a division of Little League Baseball for children and adults with special needs in Central PA

02/23/2024

New therapeutic group opportunity!

Food Explorers is for children ages 4-6 years who are hesitant with new foods. Led by an OT with advanced training in responsive feeding, interoception, and affirming approaches. Participants will explore new foods in a pressure-free, small group environment. Parents are welcome to join the session to learn how to present food in ways that decrease pressure and increase children’s confidence interacting with new foods. Currently scheduled to meet monthly, but we would be happy to add more sessions according to interest. More details and registration here: https://patcs.com/pediatric-therapy-services/therapeutic-groups/

02/22/2024

Here’s a quick little thought/frustration of mine: Please, please, let kindergarteners (and first graders) (and I’d even say second graders!) use half-pencils instead of full pencils.

I say “let” because I keep having to write it into IEPs as an accommodation. I wish it was just the normal!

Children’s hands are 4-5 inches in circumference. Adult hands are 7-8 inches in circumference. And yet adults and very small children alike are expected to use 7.5 inch long pencils.

The equivalent ratio for an adult (using some averages) would be using a 12.5 inch long pencil about as wide as a thick marker! Imagine how unwieldy that would be. Add an eraser to the end of it and now you’ve got even more weight counterbalancing all of the fine motor control you’re trying to do at the pencil end. And all of that with muscles that are brand-new to fine motor control at all and not very coordinated at it…so imagine, really, trying to write with a 12.5 inch long pencil with your non-dominant hand.

You might very well get referred to me for OT when all you needed in the first place was a writing utensil the right size for your hand, from the beginning (not as a special accommodation)!

You can buy full-size pencils and cut or break them in half; you can buy golf pencils (though those typically don't have erasers); you can buy "Handwriting Without Tears" half-size pencils (though those can be expensive). Whatever you do, it's a solvable problem!

[Image description: A simple photograph of a regular-sized pencil and a half-sized, shortened pencil side by side. End description.]

02/16/2024

Envisioning the Future for Your Child begins next week--have you registered? All Pennsylvania families are welcome!

All one-hour virtual trainings are Thursdays from 12:00 PM-1:00 PM
You can attend all three or the one that fits your needs and schedule.
Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMvcO2orjkjGNJdL2E2Sy-u2YFhGYob0EAH

February 22: Transitioning Your Child from Early Intervention to Kindergarten
We will explore the differences between Preschool and School-aged IEP services, and outline strategies to make sure your child's transition from preschool to kindergarten is a smooth one.
March 7: Student Led IEPs
We will discuss the importance of student self-awareness, explore why students should lead their own IEP meeting and the benefits, and describe ways that students, families, and other adults can prepare for and support student led IEPs.
March 21: A Transition Plan is Not Just a Form
We will discuss the importance of having a vision to guide transition planning, describe the areas to consider when transition planning, and provide a list of resources to support successful transition outcomes.