About Bridges

Bridges Behavioral Language Systems, Inc. provides intensive early intervention applied behavior analysis therapy (ABA) programs for young children with autistic spectrum disorders. Bridges provides home based services in the greater Sacramento area. Bridges uses discrete trial and other behavior analytic procedures based on peer-reviewed research in ABA to design and implement individual programs for our clients.

ABA therapy has been shown to be the most effective approach for treating young children with autism in many peer-reviewed studies. (Anderson, Avery, DiPietro, Edwards, & Christian, 1987; Birnbrauer & Leach, 1993; Fenske, Zalenski, Krantz, &McClannahan, 1985; Lovaas, 1987; Sheinkopf & Siegel, 1998; Weiss, 1999; Howard, Sparkman, Cohen, Green, and Stanislaw, 2005)

Many peer-reviewed research articles have been published citing the components of effective ABA programs. Some of the features that effective programs had in common were:

• Comprehensive individualized treatment addressed all skill domains.
• A variety of behavior analytic procedures were employed.
• Supervisors had completed advanced formal training and were very experienced with children with autism.
• Parents were active participants in the program.
• Treatment was delivered initially in a one to one format with gradual transitions to small and large group formats after extended periods of one to one teaching.
• Treatment typically began in the home and was carried over into other environments such as the community, preschool, and kindergarten as the children developed the skills needed to learn in those environments.
• Treatment was intensive, including at least  25-40 hours of structured sessions per week, took place for the entire year, and informal practice of new skills took place during most of the child’s waking hours.
• Duration of treatment was typically 2 or more years.
• Children started at 3-4 years of age or earlier.
  (Howard, Sparkman, Cohen, Green, and Stanislaw, 2005, Lovaas, 1987, McEachin, Smith, and Lovaas, 1993).

All of the components listed above are part of Bridges’ programs.

Bridges provides full time early intervention programs designed for preschoolers from the age of 13 months through the start of full time school (typically first grade) for those children who still need support at that point.

Many children who entered our  program with few or no skills have completed their programs and transitioned to independent functioning at grade level in regular education. Others have made significant progress toward independence.

Each child’s program is individually reviewed and updated at least one to two times per month by a Clinical Program Director holding at least a Master’s degree, under the supervision of a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA).  Every child’s program is therefore unique to that child, though all program components use peer-reviewed research based principles and procedures of applied behavior analysis. All Clinical Program Directors meet or exceed the requirements stated in California’s Title 17.

The consistent implementation of all therapy procedures is crucial to the success of every child. Implementation for each child’s program is individually reviewed and supervised  at least once per week by a Behavioral  Consultant with at least a Bachelor’s degree and two year’s experience. Any other problems or other areas in need of attention are also examined by the behavioral consultant several times per month and are addressed on the spot or referred to the clinical program director as necessary. Bridges's behavioral consultants have the expertise and experience to use a wide variety of research proven tools, including discrete trial, discrimination procedures, auditory language training procedures, functional analysis, functional skills training procedures, generalization procedures, and visually cued communication systems as appropriate for each child. If appropriate, Bridges' programs have the option of providing functional communication skills such as PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) as a stepping stone toward vocal language. All Bridges’ Behavioral Consultants hold at least a Bachelor’s degree and meet or exceed the requirements specified in California's Title 17 regulations. Programming decisions are never left to “lead” therapists or other staff who have not yet completed the requisite formal education and experience to design individualized programs.

Non-intensive programs such as after school programs to improve social, functional, and adaptive skills for children are not currently offered by Bridges, except for those children transitioning out of intensive therapy. Development of an effective research based program to address these needs is in the planning stages.

Bridges was founded in 1998 in the Sacramento area. Bridges is certified by the California State Department of Education as a Non-Public Agency and is contracted with several local school districts to provide services to children. Bridges is vendorized under Title 17 by the California Regional Center System to provide intensive early intervention ABA services.

Page Updated 1 August 2007