Easterseals Hawaii Expands Autism Program Facility

Easterseals Hawaii Expands Autism Program Facility
Enrollment Projected to More Than Triple Within 3-5 Years

HONOLULU (February 12 / February 16, 2018) – Easterseals Hawaii (ESH) has relocated its autism treatment center – the first such nonprofit program in Hawaii – to now occupy the entire 6th floor within Aloha United Way Building A at 200 North Vineyard Boulevard, Honolulu, HI 96817.

By doubling the size of its facility and expanding the number of its professional staff, ESH is well positioned to significantly enhance delivery of applied behavior analysis (ABA) services, both within the center and via home-and-community-based delivery, to benefit the substantial population of individuals in Hawaii diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In Hawaii this diagnosis is estimated to be 1 in 81 births.

“ASD presents challenges on many levels, not only for keiki diagnosed on the spectrum, but for their families, as well,” said Ron Brandvold, ESH President & CEO. ”We’re proud of our staff for their commitment to treating the specific needs of the individual, irrespective of the severity of the diagnosis. We‘re also grateful for the generous community support we received from numerous local foundations, corporations and individuals, without which improvements to our treatment facility would not have been possible and because of which, we now have greater capacity to serve the needs of our community.”

ASD is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, emotional, communication and behavioral challenges. People with ASD may communicate, interact, behave and learn in ways that are different from most other people, and their learning, thinking and problem-solving abilities can range from gifted to severely challenged. According to the CDC, the prevalence of the ASD diagnosis rose by 119% between 2000 and 2010, making it the fastest growing developmental disability in our country. Hawaii DOH and DOE statistics indicate 3,486 of Hawaii’s keiki have ASD or developmental delays and are in need of receiving special education and/or ABA services.

Nearly 50 years of peer-review research shows that early intervention is the most significant factor in achieving meaningful outcomes for keiki with ASD and developmental disabilities. ESH’s traditional early intervention services can begin at birth, whereas its ABA services begin for keiki when ASD is diagnosed, which can be as early as age 1.

The newly renovated treatment center within the AUW facility features 24 private rooms for individual therapy sessions and has group activity areas for social activities. In addition to our comprehensive ABA program, ESH provides speech and language services, occupational and physical therapy, and special education services to meet the individual needs of each participant.

ESH is looking to provide opportunities for greater access to ABA services on the neighbor islands in the coming years.

###

Established in 1946, Easterseals Hawaii is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering programs and services on the islands of O‘ahu, Kaua‘i, Maui, Lāna‘i and Hawai‘i Island. Throughout its 72-year history, the organization has served and made a profound difference in the lives of tens of thousands of individuals with disabilities or special needs, while also providing resources and support to their families. Easterseals Hawaii is the state’s largest provider of Early Intervention services for infants and toddlers, and is one of the state’s largest (and only statewide) provider of Medicaid Waiver services for adults with developmental disabilities. Easterseals Hawaii’s programs are accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), assurance that the organization meets internationally accepted standards.

Contact: Marla Momi Musick
Cell: (808) 782-6000
Email: [email protected]