Family, Adult & Child Therapies
Mikal Britt, Behaviorist 10+ years When I started working at FACT ten years ago, I knew basically nothing about autism, therapy or social work. And although I wasn’t aware of it, certain natural parts of my personality and intuition made me a good fit for the field. So I owe a big thank you to FACT for hiring me, for seeing this potential in me. For opening the door and allowing me the opportunity to grow and explore a new…
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Linda Andron-Ostrow, Executive Director Imagine a starry night in Los Angeles. Just the right temperature. And then you see something you probably never could’ve imagined would happen. An athlete from Iran hands the olypmic torch to an athlete from Israel. Then, furthering a climate of acceptance, the torch is passed to Cuba and from Cuba to the United States. The LA 2015, the Special Olympics World Games, brought this to life. And history also takes me back to the meeting I…
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David & Patti, Parents Earlier this month, we ran with our 12-year old son, Maxim Singer ran in the Unified Relay for the Special Olympics. We were even featured on ABC 7 – click here to see us in action! Maxim was born with Down Syndrome. While we were unsure how to manage this at first, his ability to love & make people laugh have made him an integral part in our community and we wouldn’t have it any other…
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Zoey Giesberg, MSW & Executive Assistant When talking about autism, the public seems to focus on children. Google “autism” in the images section and among the multitude of puzzle pieces is pictures of children. I completely understand why this is – autism is a developmental disorder that begins presenting itself in toddlers and that creates a need for early intervention so that these children can learn vital skills so they can adjust to the greater world. In fact, the biggest…
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By Tamra, Parent In December 2014, SB 468 was signed into law, creating a statewide Self-Determination Program that offers a voluntary alternative to the traditional way regional center provides services. This program offers the consumer and their families a way to control and tailor their services and supports independently. These services are controlled by the consumer, and paid for by the consumer using a pre-determined budget. It is a voluntary program. If you choose not to participate, you will receive…
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Mikal Britt, Behaviorist 10+ years I don’t normally write about or promote movies, but Pixar’s new Inside Out is a MUST SEE. I find it very honorable of these filmmakers to make a psychological movie for kids. Yes, it is also fascinating and entertaining for adults. But it’s ability to tell a story while also explaining the why and how the human brain and emotions work is truly a feat to behold. I think especially for children on the spectrum,…
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Zoey Giesberg, MSW Last May, I walked across the USC campus for the last time. This wasn’t for any classes or any particular school-related check-up – it was a graduation ceremony. After four long years, I have received my diploma and can now call myself a legitimate social worker. I’m no longer a student, but an official Master in Social Work. And I got extremely lucky post-graduation. FACT has been generous enough to offer me a job post-graduation. I’m doing…
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Casey, GAP Program Member “Dance like nobody’s watching, Love like you’ve never been hurt, Sing like nobody’s listening and Live like it’s heaven on earth” I really like this quote because it brings inspiration, happiness, joy, peace and a life that’s filled with gratitude and individualism, not only with my art, but to who I am as a person. Since I am very in touch with God and have a close relationship with him, I believe he shines through me,…
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Linda Andron-Ostrow, Executive Director Art Linkletter reminds us that kids say the darndest things and we often find these very funny. While the general public finds this humorous and lighthearted, sometimes the kids many not understand the humor or the intentions of the general public. And as a result, sometimes when the kids are met with laughter, they may feel that the public is laughing at them, not with them. So how do we make sure we are laughing with…
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Mikal Britt, Behaviorist 10+ Years One of the things I have always loved about working with autism is the endless mystery it provides (that’s also one of the most frustrating things as well!). However, whether clinical or theoretical, autism provides a lot of thought provoking intrigue and brain-nourishing questions. This means things never get boring or mundane. There is always a new angle to consider and study.Recently, I have been listening to a book called “Busting Loose From the Money…
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