Marcus Autism Center

Working alongside specialists in our Severe Behavior Program empowered Amick’s family to develop a unique treatment plan to help reduce their son’s challenging behaviors and develop communication skills. Motivated by her son’s love for vending machines and her desire to create meaningful employment opportunities for individuals of different abilities, Amick’s mom, Brooke, founded Ability Vending. Today, 15-year-old Amick helps out by stocking the company’s vending machines, checking inventory and counting earnings.

By making therapies fun, we can better help children with autism overcome challenges. Last week, Target made a special delivery of items from our wish list for therapy and research support.

Enrolled in a clinical trial at Marcus Autism Center at just 2 weeks old, Piper was flagged for early signs of autism spectrum disorder when she was 12 months old. Working with the team at Marcus Autism Center at an early age allowed Piper to improve her communication skills and capabilities. By her third birthday, she no longer showed signs of being on the autism spectrum. Autism is not a life-ending diagnosis. It comes with challenges, but it also comes with a lot of beautiful benefits, said Dani, Piper’s mom. The more you know and the more assistance you have, the better outcome you have.

Diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at 1 year old, Nigel was one of the first kids to enroll in our Preschool Program, where children with and without autism learn together in an inclusive environment. With the support of his teachers, Nigel has formed lifelong friendships with fellow preschoolers and staff alike. In May, the Mayor of Preschool will celebrate his graduation and prepare to put his well-honed social skills to work as he starts kindergarten this fall.

With the upheaval of day-to-day routines, the pandemic has significantly impacted children on the autism spectrum. As more people across the country get vaccinated for COVID-19 and communities gradually reopen, it's important for parents to have the knowledge and resources to safely prepare their kids for new experiences like dining out, going to stores and other community outings. Our very own Dr. Cheryl Klaiman discussed how parents can navigate supporting kids with autism by developing new routines. https://www.wabe.org//what-the-pandemic-has-meant-for-chi/

After Quinn was diagnosed at Marcus Autism Center, her dad, Quentin, went above and beyond to ensure his daughter had access to the resources she needed. Working with the team at Marcus from an early age allowed Quinn to make huge strides with her communication skills and social capabilities. With the help of her therapists, Quinn started sleeping through the night, her meltdowns reduced dramatically, and she even started saying words and responding to vocal commands. Inspire...d to create a more openminded and accepting world, this devoted father wrote a children’s book, with the goal of instilling confidence in all kids. The idea first came to Quentin from part of his morning routine. Before dropping Quinn and her older sister, Quincy, off at daycare, Quentin would stand with his daughters in front of the mirror and repeat positive affirmations. A diagnosis is not the end of the world; it is the beginning of a broader world, said Quentin. "As adults, it's our responsibility to make sure we help the young people in our communities have a better future. When kids read my book with their parents, they'll have the chance to decide what being brave, smart and beautiful means to them." See more

We’d like to welcome Emily to the ABA Therapy Services family at our Forsyth County location. She has more than 7 years of experience working with individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities and will be joining us as a Behavioral Clinical Practitioner. We can’t wait for our families to meet her!

Today is the day! Because of donor support, we can offer programs that focus solely on lifting spirits, calming minds and making kids smile. Make an impact and give today.

Don’t forget to give to Marcus Autism Center tomorrow for #GivingTuesday. Your gift allows us to continue to work toward brighter futures for kids with autism. Make a donation or start a fundraiser with your friends and family.

Did you know that #GivingTuesday is next week? On Dec. 1, give to Marcus Autism Center and invite your friends to join you. Visit https://fb.com/fund/MarcusAutismCenter/ to kick off your Marcus Autism Center fundraiser today.

At Marcus Autism Center, we are dedicated to providing state-of-the-art clinical services to children with autism spectrum disorder. Our intensive Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Therapy Program provides individualized treatment focused on improving core deficits associated with ASDsocial communication and play. Learn more here: https://www.marcus.org/care-and-services/aba-therapy-program

Marcus Autism Center is currently without power or phone lines. We are reaching out to affected families as appropriate to reschedule.

Halloween can be challenging for autistic kids and their families. Parents shared how a few of our tips and some basic courtesy can make all the difference in the world.

Early intervention is key to successfully addressing signs and symptoms of autism. Parents are often able to pick up on differences in their child’s development long before they might be noticed during a doctor visit. Learn the signs at www.marcus.org/learnthesigns.

No matter how great or small the victory, we are always moved by the strides of inspiring kids on the spectrum.

"For some, having a pantry full of non-perishables during lengthy stay-at-home orders was precautionary, but for MacDonald, it was paramount. MacDonald's daughter Ashlyn has severe, non-verbal autism. When she was four years old, she tried SpaghettiOs with Meatballs and, since mid-March, has been unable to eat anything else." Crystal MacDonald received an outpouring of support from her community, from tips about where to find the product to donations of cans directly to her door.

UPDATE: A few weeks back, we invited you to join us to walk on wheels, on foot or online. Your safety has been our top priority as we navigate these challenging times together and, due to the state of COVID-19 in Atlanta, we have made the difficult decision to take the Walk fully remote. Thankfully, remote does not mean apart. You can still join us virtually on August 30th. Register and get more information here: http://act.autismspeaks.org/site/TR/Walk?pg=entry&fr_id=4801

Facial expressions and clear enunciation are key to the work Marcus care teams are doing with patients. Thanks to a donation of adaptive masks from Sewing Masks for Area Hospitals - Atlanta, our specialists can continue to provide kids with autism the best care possible.

Bring the Autism Speaks Atlanta walk home this year! On August 30th walk 1.54 miles with your friends and family for the 1 in 54 U.S. kids with autism or get together with your team to celebrate locally while maintaining safe social distancing recommendations. Register here: http://act.autismspeaks.org/site/TR/Walk?pg=entry&fr_id=4801

Netflix's documentary 'The Speed Cubers' follows the journey of reigning Rubik’s Cube World Champion, 17-year-old autistic teen Max Park, revealing a story of friendship and triumph. Dr. Kerry Magros shares his thoughts on the film as an adult with autism.

This year, we're getting creative and giving you several exciting options to determine how you want to come together as a community (in person or in spirit!) to raise vital funds for people with autism. Get registered today!

A longtime friend to Marcus Autism Center, Congressman John Lewis cared deeply about the health and well-being of vulnerable children and families. In his honor, we are continuing our commitment to upholding and advancing equity, diversity and inclusion. We look forward to continuing the work of his legacy to create a better world for all.

Coronavirus has shifted the lives of families across the world. But with significant changes to their day-to-day, the pandemic has significantly impacted families with children on the spectrum. FOX 5 spoke with one of our families and a Marcus expert to discuss the challenges Coronavirus has posed for families with kids on the spectrum and how they can maintain their sense of normalcy. Throughout these difficult times, we remain committed to serving our families.

Early detection of autism in infants is often indicated through various biomarkers. Now, research from the Marcus Autism Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and the University of Memphis indicates boys produce significantly more vocalizations known as protophones than girls a difference that is more pronounced in boys at high risk for autism in the first six months after birth. Learn more in our full release below.