TUCSON, Ariz. and WINCHESTER, Va., May 13, 2013 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — AudioEye, Inc.AEYE +23.68% , the creators of the Audio Internet(TM), the patented audio browsing and automated publishing technology, announced today it has been working under contract with Grafton Integrated Health Network and has launched its patented Audio Internet technology at Grafton’s website www.grafton.org.

The company further announced that AudioEye has been hired by Grafton to work with the inventors and executives of Grafton to design, patent, and fully develop a new mobile behavioral health care technology platform designed to support the employees, clients and families that Grafton serves.

“We’re so proud to be working with Grafton on what we at AudioEye feel is one of the critical issues in technology today: the ubiquitous access of internet and mobile content to all people regardless of any support needs they may have,” stated Nathaniel Bradley, AudioEye’s CEO. “Creating technology with Grafton has enriched AudioEye’s culture with a humbling and first hand view of these innovative leaders who are poised to make long awaited leaps forward in the field of Behavioral Health using some of our technologies and many of their own inventions. It’s an honor to witness their innovations coming to life through our work together and the pride our team is taking in AudioEye adding unique value for Grafton.”

Grafton Integrated Health Network won the 2013 National Council Impact Award for “Excellence in Behavioral Healthcare Management” in March. This award recognizes organizations that demonstrate effective and innovative programs in the minimization of risk and liability AudioEye’s patented technologies have provided Grafton with a unique platform in which to optimize care-planning. It is expected that this mobile application will not only assist the trans-disciplinary team to track client progress on treatment goals, but also to ensure real-time communication, clinical decision-support, and true goal mastery. Grafton will ultimately market this product to other organizations both within the United States and internationally.

“Working with AudioEye has raised our standards of accountability. The use of mobile technologies allows us to truly focus on client outcomes and enables us to have real time information related to client progress. We are excited about the development of this revolutionary platform and believe it will change the way our clients and families utilize data-driven treatment and outcomes. We are thrilled to have an innovative “big data” technology to both compliment and contribute to treatment that results in enduring positive outcomes. Our vision is that it will greatly facilitate our mission to increase an individual’s functional autonomy while simultaneously empowering the individual’s naturalistic community based support systems,” said Jim Gaynor, GIHN’s CEO and President.

About Grafton Integrated Health Network

Grafton Integrated Health Network is a private, nonprofit organization that has provided a full continuum of services to people overcoming emotional, behavioral or developmental challenges. As an industry leader in behavioral healthcare, we empower individuals to lead better lives. Grafton provides continuous and coordinated services from short-term stabilization and residential services to outpatient to integrated therapeutic special education services and career and technical training. These programs along with a data-driven, trauma-informed model help the organization to develop successful plans of care and clients to thrive in a variety of settings.

Grafton provides a continuum of services to children, youth and adults including applied behavior analysis, early intervention, psychiatric residential treatment facilities, a short-term stabilization program, special education programs, community-based group homes, intensive outpatient program and outpatient services.

For more information on Grafton Integrated Health Network’s services and expertise, please visit www.grafton.org.

About AudioEye

Founded in 2003, AudioEye, Inc. (AEYE.OB) is a Delaware Corporation that has developed patented Internet content publication and distribution software, enabling the conversion of any media into an accessible format and allowing for real-time distribution to end- users on any Internet connected device. The focus of the company is to provide solutions to create better and more comprehensive access to the Internet, print, broadcast and other media, irrespective of an individual’s network connection, device, location, or impairment. AudioEye solutions also provide comprehensive E-Learning and E-Commerce systems, as well as a variety of Internet publishing products and services. AudioEye, Inc., Audio Internet and AudioEye are Registered Trademarks of AudioEye, Inc., All Rights Reserved. The systems and technologies described herein are protected all or in part by US7966184, US7653544, US8046229, US8296150, US8260616 and patents pending in the U.S. and Internationally. These products enable all customers to create and deliver highly scalable accessible voice browsing applications. For more information, please visit www.audioeye.com or call866.331.5324

Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes forward-looking statements contained within Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements regarding our expected future financial position, results of operations, cash flows, financing plans, business strategy, products and services, competitive positions, growth opportunities, plans and objectives of management for future operations, as well as statements that include words such as “anticipate,” “if,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “will,” and other similar expressions are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control, which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from anticipated results, performance, or achievements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include those set forth in our Form 10-K and other reports filed with the SEC. We are under no obligation to (and expressly disclaim any such obligation to) update or alter our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

News: For Immediate Release

Grafton Launches Audio Internet™ Powered Website and is Developing Behavioral Healthcare Mobile Technology Platform with AudioEye

Tucson, Arizona and Winchester, Virginia –May 10, 2013-AudioEye®, Inc. (OTCBB: AEYE), the creators of the Audio Internet™, the patented audio browsing and automated publishing technology, announced today it has been working under contract with Grafton Integrated Health Network and has launched its patented Audio Internet technology at Grafton’s website www.grafton.org.

The company further announced that AudioEye has been hired by Grafton to work with the inventors and executives of Grafton to design, patent, and fully develop a new mobile behavioral health care technology platform designed to support the employees, clients and families that Grafton serves.

“We’re so proud to be working with Grafton on what we at AudioEye feel is one of the critical issues in technology today: the ubiquitous access of internet and mobile content to all people regardless of any support needs they may have” stated Nathaniel Bradley,AudioEye’s CEO. “Creating technology with Grafton has enriched AudioEye’s culture with a humbling and first hand view of these innovative leaders who are poised to make long awaited leaps forward in the field of Behavioral Health using some of our technologies and many of their own inventions. It’s an honor to witness their innovations coming to life through our work together and the pride our team is taking in AudioEye adding unique value for Grafton.”

Grafton Integrated Health Network won the 2013 National Council Impact Award for “Excellence in Behavioral Healthcare Management” in March. This award recognizes organizations that demonstrate effective and innovative programs in the minimization of risk and liability AudioEye’s patented technologies have provided Grafton with a unique platform in which to optimize care-planning. It is expected that this mobile application will not only assist the trans-disciplinary team to track client progress on treatment goals, but also to ensure real-time communication, clinical decision-support, and true goal mastery. Grafton will ultimately market this product to other organizations both within the United States and internationally.

“Working with AudioEye has raised our standards of accountability. The use of mobile technologies allows us to truly focus on client outcomes and enables us to have real time information related to client progress. We are excited about the development of this revolutionary platform and believe it will change the way our clients and families utilize data-driven treatment and outcomes tracking. We are thrilled to have an innovative “big data” technology to both compliment and contribute to treatment that results in enduring positive outcomes. Our vision is that it will greatly facilitate our mission to increase an individual’s functional autonomy while simultaneously empowering the individual’s naturalistic community based support systems.”, said Jim Gaynor, GIHN’s CEO and President.

About Grafton Integrated Health Network

Grafton Integrated Health Network is a private, nonprofit organization that has provided a full continuum of services to people overcoming emotional, behavioral or developmental challenges. As an industry leader in behavioral healthcare, we empower individuals to lead better lives. Grafton provides continuous and coordinated services from short-term stabilization and residential services to outpatient to integrated therapeutic special education services and career and technical training. These programs along with a data-driven, trauma-informed model help the organization to develop successful plans of care and clients to thrive in a variety of settings.

Grafton provides a continuum of services to children, youth and adults including applied behavior analysis, early intervention, psychiatric residential treatment facilities, a short-term stabilization program, special education programs, community-based group homes, intensive outpatient program and outpatient services.

For more information on Grafton Integrated Health Network’s services and expertise, please visit www.grafton.org.

Contact:

Shweta Adyanthaya
Director, Communications
Tel: 540-955-2400 ext 7260
sadyanthaya@grafton.org.

About AudioEye

Founded in 2003, AudioEye, Inc. (AEYE.OB) is a Delaware Corporation that has developed patented Internet content publication and distribution software, enabling the conversion of any media into an accessible format and allowing for real-time distribution to end- users on any Internet connected device. The focus of the company is to provide solutions to create better and more comprehensive access to the Internet, print, broadcast and other media, irrespective of an individual’s network connection, device, location, or impairment. AudioEye solutions also provide comprehensive E-Learning and E-Commerce systems, as well as a variety of Internet publishing products and services. AudioEye, Inc., Audio Internet and AudioEye are Registered Trademarks of AudioEye, Inc., All Rights Reserved. The systems and technologies described herein are protected all or in part by US7966184, US7653544, US8046229, US8296150, US8260616 and patents pending in the U.S. and Internationally. These products enable all customers to create and deliver highly scalable accessible voice browsing applications. For more information, please visit www.audioeye.com or call 866.331.5324

Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes forward-looking statements contained within Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements regarding our expected future financial position, results of operations, cash flows, financing plans, business strategy, products and services, competitive positions, growth opportunities, plans and objectives of management for future operations, as well as statements that include words such as “anticipate,” “if,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “will,” and other similar expressions are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control, which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from anticipated results, performance, or achievements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include those set forth in our Form 10-K and other reports filed with the SEC. We are under no obligation to (and expressly disclaim any such obligation to) update or alter our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

AudioEye
Investor Relations
ir@audioeye.com

By Kim Walter
The Northern Virginia Daily

Grafton Integrated Health Network is moving forward in terms of its use of technology to better patient outcomes.

The private, nonprofit organization that is headquartered in Winchester provides a full continuum of services to people overcoming emotional, behavioral or developmental challenges.

For the past several years, Grafton has had an internal process that has proven quite successful in tracking the progress of clients. President and CEO Jim Gaynor said the organization had an obligation to start accurately answering questions about the outcome of treatment.

“Years ago, there was no real way to measure progress, or know what specific things were working,” Gaynor said Thursday. “People want to know if their goals will be reached, and we need to have an answer for them.”

The process includes constructing goals appropriate to each individual client, and then figuring out how to measure progress toward the goals. Data is collected and entered into an electronic medical record each week. From there, a chart is created, giving staff a visual way of seeing where a client is struggling, and whether or not he or she is on track.

Gaynor said that if there are three consecutive data entry points that fall below the “minimum growth line,” a multidisciplinary team is called to meet and “figure out what’s going on.”

“The program we’ve developed keeps us truly accountable and focused,” Gaynor said. “It’s all about delivering the outcome.”

In fact, before using the system, Grafton was meeting goals and succeeding throughout the process about 35 percent of the time. Gaynor said this was partially due to different goals being set by different parties, making it hard to track a client’s “success.”

Now that success rate has jumped to 85 percent.

“And that represents the number of times that a client has truly mastered their goal, which means they’ve met it and sustained it,” Gaynor said.

For the past year, Grafton has been working with AudioEye — a Delaware corporation that has developed patented Internet content publication and distribution software, enabling the conversion of any media into an accessible format. While AudioEye recently launched its patented Audio Internet technology at Grafton’s website, Gaynor said more exciting things are still to come.

The CEO is looking forward to taking the technology and data collection system, and turning it into a mobile application. This will make entering data easier, and allow for real-time results and reports for employees and the families they work with. Clients will be able to sit down in their home and understand what their progress means, Gaynor said.

The mobile app for smart phones will add to the speed and cost effectiveness of the system. Gaynor said it will save money because records won’t have to be transferred from “pencil and paper” manually.

Launching the application will take sometime, though, as bugs will need to be sorted through and fixed. However, Gaynor said he hopes to have it available to employees out in the field by late fall.

“The coolest thing, though, is that we’ll be building in a decision support functionality,” Gaynor said. “So the system will be able to identify a presenting problem, whether it be with behavior, emotions or even school work, and then it will offer suggestions of appropriate goals and best practices.”

The best part is, he added, as more and more people use the app, it will grow into more of a database that constantly will upgrade itself. The suggestions will evolve with the entered information, enabling it to be more specific to each client’s situation.

Gaynor said AudioEye has been a great company to work with, especially given Grafton’s role in the community. He said the organization had to understand exactly how the system would benefit not only employees and health care professionals, but also family members.

“They understand the social importance of applying their skills to improve the health of everyday citizens,” Gaynor said. “All of this is going to change the way things are looked at and paid for … it’s time to stop paying for procedures and start paying for results.”

Contact staff writer Kim Walter at 540-465-5137 ext. 191, or kwalter@nvdaily.com

News: For Immediate Release
AudioEye and Grafton Integrated Health Network Announce Technology Development Partnership

Grafton Launches Audio Internet™ Powered Website and is Developing Behavioral Healthcare Mobile Technology Platform with AudioEye

Tucson, Arizona and Winchester, Virginia –May 10, 2013-AudioEye®, Inc. (OTCBB: AEYE), the creators of the Audio Internet™, the patented audio browsing and automated publishing technology, announced today it has been working under contract with Grafton Integrated Health Network and has launched its patented Audio Internet technology at Grafton’s website www.grafton.org.

The company further announced that AudioEye has been hired by Grafton to work with the inventors and executives of Grafton to design, patent, and fully develop a new mobile behavioral health care technology platform designed to support the employees, clients and families that Grafton serves.

“We’re so proud to be working with Grafton on what we at AudioEye feel is one of the critical issues in technology today: the ubiquitous access of internet and mobile content to all people regardless of any support needs they may have” stated Nathaniel Bradley,AudioEye’s CEO. “Creating technology with Grafton has enriched AudioEye’s culture with a humbling and first hand view of these innovative leaders who are poised to make long awaited leaps forward in the field of Behavioral Health using some of our technologies and many of their own inventions. It’s an honor to witness their innovations coming to life through our work together and the pride our team is taking in AudioEye adding unique value for Grafton.”

Grafton Integrated Health Network won the 2013 National Council Impact Award for “Excellence in Behavioral Healthcare Management” in March. This award recognizes organizations that demonstrate effective and innovative programs in the minimization of risk and liability AudioEye’s patented technologies have provided Grafton with a unique platform in which to optimize care-planning. It is expected that this mobile application will not only assist the trans-disciplinary team to track client progress on treatment goals, but also to ensure real-time communication, clinical decision-support, and true goal mastery. Grafton will ultimately market this product to other organizations both within the United States and internationally.

“Working with AudioEye has raised our standards of accountability. The use of mobile technologies allows us to truly focus on client outcomes and enables us to have real time information related to client progress. We are excited about the development of this revolutionary platform and believe it will change the way our clients and families utilize data-driven treatment and outcomes tracking. We are thrilled to have an innovative “big data” technology to both compliment and contribute to treatment that results in enduring positive outcomes. Our vision is that it will greatly facilitate our mission to increase an individual’s functional autonomy while simultaneously empowering the individual’s naturalistic community based support systems.”, said Jim Gaynor, GIHN’s CEO and President.

About Grafton Integrated Health Network

Grafton Integrated Health Network is a private, nonprofit organization that has provided a full continuum of services to people overcoming emotional, behavioral or developmental challenges. As an industry leader in behavioral healthcare, we empower individuals to lead better lives. Grafton provides continuous and coordinated services from short-term stabilization and residential services to outpatient to integrated therapeutic special education services and career and technical training. These programs along with a data-driven, trauma-informed model help the organization to develop successful plans of care and clients to thrive in a variety of settings.

Grafton provides a continuum of services to children, youth and adults including applied behavior analysis, early intervention, psychiatric residential treatment facilities, a short-term stabilization program, special education programs, community-based group homes, intensive outpatient program and outpatient services.

For more information on Grafton Integrated Health Network’s services and expertise, please visit www.grafton.org.

Contact:
Shweta Adyanthaya
Director, Communications
Tel: 540-955-2400 ext 7260
sadyanthaya@grafton.org.

About AudioEye

Founded in 2003, AudioEye, Inc. (AEYE.OB) is a Delaware Corporation that has developed patented Internet content publication and distribution software, enabling the conversion of any media into an accessible format and allowing for real-time distribution to end- users on any Internet connected device. The focus of the company is to provide solutions to create better and more comprehensive access to the Internet, print, broadcast and other media, irrespective of an individual’s network connection, device, location, or impairment. AudioEye solutions also provide comprehensive E-Learning and E-Commerce systems, as well as a variety of Internet publishing products and services. AudioEye, Inc., Audio Internet and AudioEye are Registered Trademarks of AudioEye, Inc., All Rights Reserved. The systems and technologies described herein are protected all or in part by US7966184, US7653544, US8046229, US8296150, US8260616 and patents pending in the U.S. and Internationally. These products enable all customers to create and deliver highly scalable accessible voice browsing applications. For more information, please visit www.audioeye.com or call 866.331.5324

Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes forward-looking statements contained within Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements regarding our expected future financial position, results of operations, cash flows, financing plans, business strategy, products and services, competitive positions, growth opportunities, plans and objectives of management for future operations, as well as statements that include words such as “anticipate,” “if,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “will,” and other similar expressions are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control, which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from anticipated results, performance, or achievements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include those set forth in our Form 10-K and other reports filed with the SEC. We are under no obligation to (and expressly disclaim any such obligation to) update or alter our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

AudioEye
Investor Relations
ir@audioeye.com

News: For Immediate Release
Governor McDonnell Proclaims March Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

Winchester, Virginia, March 15, 2013 –Last week, Governor McDonnell proclaimed March Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in the state of Virginia. In his proclamation, the governor recognized the value and potential of the nearly 145,000 adults and children across the Commonwealth who are estimated to have a developmental disability.

“Individuals with developmental disabilities do not want to be defined by their disability; they want to be known for their abilities,” said Governor McDonnell. “There is much we can do to encourage their independence and allow them the choices anyone else would want—such as having a home, being near family, having employment opportunities and being accepted in their own communities. As people with developmental disabilities successfully engage in these aspects of society and live more productive, fuller lives in their own communities, we begin to see what they are capable of, instead of taking a limited view of what they cannot do.”

According to recent data and statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of Developmental Disabilities has increased 17.1%–that’s about 1.8 million more children with Developmental Disabilities in 2006-2008 compared to a decade earlier. The prevalence of autism has increased by 289.5%.

Across the state of Virginia:

• 144,018 children and adults are estimated to have a developmental disability.
• One in 91 children is estimated to have an autism spectrum disorder.
• Approximately 18,425 infants, toddlers and young children (birth through age 5) have developmental delays requiring early intervention services.
• There are currently 9,885 people served in Virginia communities on the Intellectual Disability (ID) or Developmental Disability (DD) Medicaid waiver, 7,728 on the waiting list to receive these community waiver services so they can live closer to home, and 866 individuals being served among Virginia’s five training centers.

“Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month provides a great opportunity to raise awareness and educate community members about how organizations providing services across the Commonwealth are partnering with one another to create better outcomes for individuals with developmental disabilities,” said Jim Gaynor, CEO/President.

One example of partnering with local agencies to create better outcomes is the Infant and Toddler Connection (ITC) of Shenandoah Valley. Grafton became the local lead agency for the ITC of Shenandoah Valley in 2010. On an annual basis, the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) is required to make “determinations” for local early intervention systems using four categories. The attached 2013 Local Early Intervention System Determination Assessment report highlights the ITC of Shenandoah Valley. Data supports that the ITC of Shenandoah Valley has met requirements for 2012 and 2013 and the OSEP requirements are at 100% in all monitoring areas. This achievement of 100% for two consecutive years is a first for the ITC of Shenandoah Valley and confirms the commitment and dedication of the early intervention team in meeting the needs of children and families who need services.

About Grafton Integrated Health Network
Grafton Integrated Health Network is a private, nonprofit organization that has provided a full continuum of services to people overcoming emotional, behavioral or developmental challenges. As an industry leader in behavioral healthcare, we empower individuals to lead better lives. Grafton provides continuous and coordinated services from short-term stabilization and residential services to outpatient to educational and career and technical training. These programs along with a data-driven, trauma-informed model help the organization to develop successful plans of care and clients to thrive in a variety of settings.

Grafton provides a continuum of services to children, youth and adults including applied behavior analysis, early intervention, psychiatric residential treatment facilities, a short-term stabilization program, special education programs, community-based group homes, intensive outpatient program and outpatient services.

For more information on Grafton Integrated Health Network’s services and expertise, please visit www.grafton.org.

Contact:
Shweta Adyanthaya
Director, Communications
Tel: 703-777-3485 ext 1326
sadyanthaya@grafton.org.

By Kim Walter
The Northern Virginia Daily

Betsy Shanley, left, and her husband Jim sit with their son Phillip, 7, while he reads inside the living room of their home in Front Royal. Phillip has autism. Rich Cooley/Daily

Phillip Shanley is like any other child. He likes to play, has a wild imagination and at times wants what he can’t have. But unlike other 7-year-olds, he has a more difficult time communicating his emotions.

His parents, Jim and Betsy Shanley of Front Royal, noticed that he struggled to play with other children – including his eight other siblings. Mrs. Shanley said “he just couldn’t fit in” no matter how much he tried.

“It was heart wrenching,” she said.

In between age 5 and 6, Phillip was diagnosed with autism. His parents have had to embrace change to help their son, but over the past year of his working with therapists and special teachers at his elementary school, they say getting him help was “the right thing to do.”

April is Autism Awareness Month, and it seems to come at a good time. In late March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a startling update on the “epidemic” of autism, outlining just how many children in America are impacted.

Shamsi Sadeghzadeh, director of outreach services at Grafton Integrated Health Network in Winchester, has been with the network for the past 25 years. Her background was in counseling, but she said she was offered an opportunity to work with children with autism.

“I had just graduated, I had a masters,” she said, sitting in the Winchester office recently. “But I asked, ‘What is autism?’ … I had never heard of it.”

At the time, Sadeghzadeh said she was told autism was rare, only occurring in one out of every 10,000 children. However, the CDC’s latest report updated that statistic to one in every 50 childrend.

Just like 25 years ago, she said people still ask the question “Why?,” wanting to know the reason why their child had been placed in the autistic spectrum. She said she has no answer. The affliction is a neurological disorder, causing a child’s brain to work differently than that of their peers. The result can range from a few to severe symptoms displayed in a child’s social and intellectual abilities.

Sadeghzadeh said not one child with autism is exactly alike another, and that is part of the problem in finding a cause. Another question yet to find an answer to is why the number of children diagnosed has increased so dramatically.

While there are some roadblocks in getting to the root of the problem, Sadeghzadeh said she is encouraged by recent findings in treatment and behavior analysis.

“We do know that there is so much that can be done, and it is proven effective,” she said.

Babies can start displaying some “red flags” that could lead to a diagnosis as early as 6 months, according to Sadeghzadeh. From birth to age 7 is the opportune time for diagnosis and early intervention, she said.

In Virginia, the average age of diagnosis is 4 years old, which to Sadeghzadeh means “many opportunities and precious time is being missed.”

“The earlier the identification, the better the outcome for all involved,” she added.

Grafton offers clinic services for children with autism at a number of its facilities, and last year in-home services were added to the list of offerings. Sadeghzadeh said the ability to go to a child’s home and not only work with them, but in front of the parent, has been priceless.

In looking for early identifiers, Sadeghzadeh said parents might start to notice a lack of their child’s ability to engage with, observe and then imitate the things around them. Small children might lack the desire for their mother’s touch, or may not respond when their name is called out.

Sadeghzadeh said another red flag is if a child doesn’t invite a parent or other person to participate in an activity or emotion with them. For instance, a “typical” child may see something that makes them smile, and then point at it, and look to someone close by, inviting them into the experience. The same might not hold true for a child with autism.

“For as many people that are on the spectrum, there are probably that many symptoms,” she said. “When you meet a person or child with autism, that’s just it. You’ve only met one.”

She said often parents struggle with knowing exactly how to react to their child’s symptoms, whether it be biting, screaming or a variety of other things. Some children may struggle with social interaction, but excel in academics, while others will have the opposite issue.

Sadeghzadeh said it is not important how the child expresses his emotions, but why. She said it is crucial to understand what need is not being met in the child.

“If you only deal with the action, you are not fixing anything,” she said. “Our number one goal is not necessarily a cure, but to increase independence and quality of life for both the child and parents.”

The Shanleys decided to some research when they noticed their child not fitting in. They discovered that there was no time to waste given his age. They said they learned that Phillip might benefit most from public school, which was a huge change for the family since they had home-schooled all of their other children.

“Well, it was scary for him, of course,” Mrs. Shanley said. “But I was terrified to hand over my son to someone I didn’t know, in a place that I wasn’t familiar with.”

But the parents now agree that the benefits are very real.

Upon entering elementary school in Warren County, Phillip was testing below the kindergarten level. However, months later at the end of the school year, he was hitting the benchmarks. His teacher even suggested that he be placed in a standard first grade class.

Other students apparently don’t even notice that Phillip is a little different, since his social skills have improved greatly. Through in-home services, Phillip is observed while he plays with friends and family so that his specific needs can be met.

His therapist works a lot with his imagination, helping him to bridge the gap between fantasy and reality. He also looks at pictures of certain situations that might trigger anxiety so that he can begin to deal with those emotions – and truly understand them.

Sadeghzadeh said that every child wants to learn and succeed. “A child with autism is no different. If a child can’t swim, you teach, right? So if a child doesn’t know how to behave and react, our responsibility is to teach.”

Jim Shanley said caring for Phillip has its ups and downs.

“With him, we take two steps forward, but then take another back,” he said, sitting in the family’s living room as his son played. “But we know in general, we’re moving in the right direction. His lows are a bit more severe than another kid’s, but then his progress is so very rewarding.”

The couple admitted they struggled with the decision to tell their story. They strive not to label their son as “autistic” – they won’t be hanging a declaration of some kind on their front door concerning Phillip anytime soon. However, they say they hope others can learn that there is hope.

“This is how we dealt with it, and it worked,” Shanley said. “But we’ll keep working; it doesn’t stop after age seven. I see Phillip having a very normal adult life. If anything, it will be an extraordinary one.”

The Shanleys agreed with Sadeghzadeh in that there is no time like the present to get help.

Sadeghzadeh said the “days of ‘we’ll just wait and see’ are over. The time to move forward is now.”

For more information on autism services, or other resources in the community, contact Grafton at 888-955-5205 or visit grafton.org.

Contact staff writer Kim Walter at 540-465-5137 ext. 191, or kwalter@nvdaily.com

Grafton Celebrates Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

Earlier this month, Governor McDonnell proclaimed March Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in the state of Virginia. In his proclamation, the governor recognized the value and potential of the nearly 145,000 children and adults across the Commonwealth who are estimated to have a developmental disability.

http://www.governor.virginia.gov/OurCommonwealth/Proclamations/viewproc.cfm?id=268

According to recent data and statistics from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of Developmental Disabilities has increased 17.1%–that’s about 1.8 million more children with Developmental Disabilities in 2006-2008 compared to a decade earlier. The prevalence of autism has increased by 289.5%. Today, one in 88 children is diagnosed with autism.

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month provides a great opportunity to raise awareness and educate community members about how organizations providing services across the Commonwealth are partnering with one another to create better outcomes for individuals with developmental disabilities. Kaitlynn, who you will meet later in this newsletter, is an engaging five year old with autism who is making remarkable progress in the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program.

Grafton’s ABA program focuses on antecedent and reinforcement-based strategies to improve skills acquisition in the areas of communication, social interactions, motor control, daily living activities and play. We work with children and their families in home, school, clinic and community based settings to target skill acquisition such as language, self-care and social skills as well as reduce challenging behaviors that may be a barrier to success. For more information about our ABA services offered in the following areas (Charles Town, West Virginia, Shenandoah Valley, Northern Virginia and Richmond), please contact Bonnie Zampino via email at bonnie.l.zampino@grafton.org. For ABA services in Bradenton, Florida, please contact Bob Schnorf via email at ABAFlorida@grafton.org.

Grafton and Project Horse

Grafton is pleased to announce a partnership with Project Horse, a not-for-profit organization based in western Loudoun County, Virginia that provides equestrian therapy to our clients. Equine therapy offers
an experiential learning model that helps clients deal with symptoms and feelings associated with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Trauma, Depression, Anxiety and other disorders.

93% of adolescents in inpatient setting reported a history of trauma and 32% had severe symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (Lipschitz et al, 1999). We often attribute behavioral problems in children to non-compliance, assuming that they have the capacity to perform to our expectations. A child or adolescent survivor who is in a state of hyper-arousal due to perceived threats in their environment may not have the cognitive or emotional capacity to perform to our expectations. Project Horse provides a safe haven for children to explore feelings, develop trust and meaningful relationships, improve problem solving skills and improve their self-concept.

Horses are sensitive, social creatures fully attuned to an individual’s emotional needs. Within a safe and non-threatening environment, children can learn and practice new behaviors and new ways of thinking. Horses provide immediate feedback, while remaining nonjudgmental. This encourages the children to try new ways of being and acting, as they develop meaningful connections with the horses. Many of the program’s horses have experienced trauma, neglect and abuse, and the children deeply relate to this and develop a sense of empathy. The horses, having been rehabilitated and now living productive and happy lives, inspire hope for healing and a better future.

The program offered at Project Horse for Grafton clients is organized around the following themes:

• Observation and awareness of environmental cues
• Observation and awareness of physiological states
• Awareness of thoughts and internal dialogue
• Problem solving
• Awareness of internal and external triggers
• Modification of negative thought patterns
• Gaining perspective and empathy
• Relaxation (knowing when to chill)

Following sessions at Project Horse, children have greater self-awareness, feelings of empathy, improved self-confidence and a sense of hope.

For more information about Project Horse or to make a donation, please visit http://www.projecthorse.org

Kaitlynn’s story

The Challenge

Kaitlynn is a happy five year old girl with autism. She resides with her mother, father, older sister and younger brother. As any five year old little girl, Kaitlynn loves Disney princesses. She demonstrates an eager willingness to learn and has just discovered the wonders of an iPad. Difficulties identified by her family at the beginning of treatment included having behavioral and screaming episodes that lasted about twenty minutes when she was presented with different foods. Kaitlynn’s preschool reported that she would not try any new food and would have difficulties when presented with options. Issues during meals and eating limited where the family could go out to eat together. In addition, Kaitlynn would only wear certain clothes or no clothes at all. Prior to receiving treatment, Kaitlynn displayed limited language skills. In addition, on a daily basis, Kaitlynn would smear feces all over her room. She would have behavioral episodes that would last for 20 minutes to an hour due to her limited language skills and not being able to have what she wanted.

Uncovering Skills for Change

Kaitlynn began to receive Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services through Grafton’s program in Richmond, Virginia. ABA services started the first week of January. Through parent interviews and an initial assessment, a number of goals were established included increasing the number of foods Kaitlynn could tolerate without engaging in disruptive behavior, decreasing problem behaviors, increasing her functional expressive language skills, and increasing toileting skills. Heather, Kaitlynn’s therapist worked with not only Kaitlynn, but others siblings within the home as well. Frequently, when working with a child with a developmental disability, there is resentment from other siblings centered around changes that need to be made to accommodate needs, preferences and desires. With her siblings, the therapist focused on helping them understand Kaitlynn’s needs and identifying what they needed within the family unit.

Heather set out to develop a meaningful working relationship with Kaitlynn and worked at Kaitlynn’s pace. New foods were slowly introduced and Kaitlynn received encouragement and positive reinforcement to explore foods presented to her. Gradually, Kaitlynn became more and more open to trying new foods. As Kaitlynn got used to the presentation of new foods, Heather would just present the food and Kaitlynn would begin eating. Heather recognized that it was important to incorporate Kaitlynn’s strengths (willingness to learn), preferences (princesses, chocolate milk, bubbles and time on the iPad) while working on her needs. As Kaitlynn became more comfortable with Heather, new foods were introduced into her diet. This was done through modeling by her therapist, pairing foods with a reinforcer of Kaitlynn’s choice and repeated trials. Kaitlynn now eats healthier food and a wider variety of foods presented to her. Being able to enjoy a wider variety of foods alone has resulted in the family being able to go out together to explore restaurants together and enjoy meals as a family.

Progress

Kaitlynn has significantly increased her express language skills. In addition, she is now eating new foods on a consistent basis. During a recent outing at a local restaurant, Kaitlynn reportedly said to a waiter, “I want water, please.”

Today, Kaitlynn’s vocabulary continues to increase and she is able to communicate her wants and needs on a regular basis. Much to the family’s surprise, Kaitlynn enjoys a larger variety of food which has significantly impacted not only Kaitlynn’s quality of life, but those of her family members as well. Kaitlynn also spontaneously asks to visit different places within her local community, a behavior that was non-existent a few months ago.

• Debbi Richardson, Education Administrator presented a webinar entitled, “Zero Tolerance for Bullying through Partlow Insurance’s 2013 Best Practice Award Series on March 5th.
• A webinar entitled, “Evidence-Based Strategies for Toilet Training & Addressing Common Toileting Problems,” was presented by Lucy Bargioni, Board Certified Behavior Analyst on March 5th.
• Teachers Chad Lesman and Roger Styron presented “From Classroom to Employment for Individuals with Significant Disabilities,” at the Virginia Transition Forum on March 11th in Richmond, Virginia.
• The 2013 Early Intervention System Determination report supports that the Infant and Toddler Connection of Shenandoah Valley has met requirements for 2012 and 2013 and the Office of Special Education Program requirements are at 100% in all monitoring areas. This achievement of 100% for two consecutive years is a first for the ITC of Shenandoah Valley and confirms the commitment and dedication of the early intervention team in meeting the needs of children and families who need services.
• Jason Craig, Director of ABA Services, Shamsi Sadeghzadeh, Director of Outreach and Bonnie Zampino, ABA Practice Manager conducted a training at Lord Fairfax Community College in Middleton on March 12th that included topics such as: “An Introduction to Autism”, “An Introduction to Functional Behavior Assessment and Behavior Management”, “Experience Autism” and “Ten Things Parent of Children with Autism Wish Teacher Knew”.
• At the end of March, Grafton will be consolidating our two psychiatric residential treatment facilities to the Berryville site. This consolidation allows Grafton to continue to develop the community based services at the Leesburg facility, including outpatient, intensive outpatient, ABA and therapeutic day schools (including a designated classroom for children with autism. For more information about our services and programs, please contact admissions@grafton.org

• Grafton won the 2013 National Council Award for Excellence in Behavioral Healthcare Management for the paper entitled “The ‘Least Resistance’ Approach to Crisis Management or ‘Ukeru’. The Excellence in Behavioral Healthcare Management Award recognizes an organization that has demonstrated effective and innovative programs currently in use to minimize risk and liability. The organization will be formally recognized at the National Council Awards banquet scheduled on April 9th in Las Vegas, Nevada.
• Shamsi Sadeghzadeh will present “Innovative and Proactive Strategies for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders,” at the 57th annual American Association of Residential Treatment Centers conference in New York on April 9th.
• Jim Gaynor, CEO/President, Lisa Marshall, Director, Research and Outcomes and Kim Sanders, Executive Vice President and Chief Outcomes Officer will present “Technology Infrastructures for Evidence-Based and Person-Centered Actualization of Sustainable Positive Outcomes,” at the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IASSIDD) conference in Tokyo, Japan scheduled in August 2013.

Posted: March 9, 2013
By Donna Koehn
Herald-Tribune

The two baby girls in China were sweet, beautiful — and in desperate need of a home.

Debbie and Jeff Allspach had waited so long for them to make their little family complete. Samantha came home at about 8 months of age, while Danielle arrived when she was about 17 months old.

Although they were not blood relatives, the girls would be raised as sisters in the couple’s roomy Englewood home.

As the two grew, their increasingly strange behavior was chalked up to difficulties forming an attachment to their new parents, something Debbie Allspach knew to expect.

Danielle stopped talking or making any attempts to communicate. It seemed sudden; she had been laughing, clapping her hands, making eye contact. She also couldn’t stand up, well past the age at which she should have been running.

Samantha became out of control at preschool, her speech slow, her ever-tentative serenity shattered by loud noises.

Danielle began to hit herself in the face and yank out her own hair.

“We weren’t sure what it was all about,” Debbie says.

Then came the shocking diagnosis: Both girls had autism.

“I couldn’t say the world ‘autism’ or I’d start crying,” she recalls. “Obviously this wasn’t what we expected when we adopted.”

Putting away the picture

Some parents who have adopted from other countries have been faced with behaviors they did not anticipate, and have tried to send the children back.

That was never an option for Debbie and Jeff. Danielle and Samantha were their girls.

“We waited eight long years for them,” Debbie says. “Just like with any parents, you can’t predict what will happen. You just have to put away the picture of what you expected your family to be.

“I couldn’t stop crying, though. I was grieving for the life I thought we were going to have.”

As an increasing number of parents have done before them, the couple dried their tears and immersed themselves in study to figure out their girls’ best options.

They decided that a treatment called Applied Behavioral Analysis, or ABA, offered the best chance for Samantha and Danielle to improve.

ABA, the No. 1 treatment option for the estimated one in 88 children with autism, involves extinguishing bad behaviors and encouraging better ones. Children must be incrementally taught the social skills that other children pick up naturally.

At its most effective, ABA is an intensive one-to-one treatment begun in the child’s earliest years.

In 2008, the Florida Legislature determined that private insurance would be required to cover autism treatment beginning in 2010.

The family had to do the best it could prior to insurance kicking in. Private ABA can be expensive and hard to find in many parts of Florida, Englewood among them.

The couple regret not living near a big city with plenty of options for their girls’ earlier years.

“We never would have bought this house if we had known what was ahead,” she says of her Englewood home, which likely would be a challenge to sell in the current market.

Debbie Allspach had to take a new job with fewer hours to accommodate long drives to appropriate schools and time spent working with the girls in afternoons and evenings.

Samantha, who is showing great improvement, attends a Montessori school in Venice. Danielle, 8, attends a school with ABA therapists in Lakewood Ranch.

Jeff’s job as manager of plastics in a warehouse keeps the family afloat.

Help arrives

Meanwhile, a new service in Bradenton has started sending a therapist almost an hour south to their home to work with Danielle and her parents.

Grafton Integrated Health Network, a private, nonprofit organization, offers ABA treatment primarily in homes and schools.

It began 55 years ago in Virginia, and the Bradenton office, which opened in September, is its first in Florida.

Lucy Bargioni, with a master’s degree in psychology and additional training and certification in ABA, is the program director.

“There is such a high demand in this area,” Bargioni says, and it goes beyond autistic children.

“We treat predominantly children, but also adults and others with severe behavioral challenges. Our goal is to help people stay in the natural setting.”

Grafton’s Bradenton office has two full-time therapists and five behavioral specialists who work with clients in their homes under her supervision.

The office, at 1608 53rd Ave., also offers a walk-in Community Behavioral Resource Center, with free access to the latest research, literature and educational materials. DVDs and books can be checked out for free to help parents and professionals learn ABA techniques.

Debbie Allspach says ABA seems almost counterintuitive to natural instincts. Before, when Danielle hit herself, fell to the floor screaming or otherwise acted out of control, Debbie and Jeff would run to her and try to soothe her or remove her from whatever circumstance had distressed her.

Now, based on her experiences working with Grafton therapists and other ABA practitioners, she knows doing so reinforces that behavior.

“It’s embarrassing in public and I get horrified looks,” she says. “But we have to ignore it. I’ve taken her in stores and everybody stares.

“But I know I have to continue what I was doing. I can’t leave the store. You have to harden yourself.”

Jeff Allspach says when he has Danielle with him in public, he simply tells everyone right away that she’s autistic so they will understand if she becomes emotionally distraught.

Vigilance is hard work

Still, caring for Danielle is a time vacuum for her parents.

They must constantly monitor her to prevent destructive behavior and to keep her from sliding into her own world. They also have to try to teach her how to play, something she does not do naturally.

If they miss a chance to reward or ignore a behavior, the progress can be set back for weeks. Vigilance is imperative.

“We’re lucky if Jeff and I can even tell each other what happened during the day,” Debbie Allspach says.

The treatment is working, albeit slowly.

Although her use of language is limited, Danielle has learned to ask for what she wants and address the question to a specific person. When she does that, there’s a family scramble to grant her wish, as long as it’s reasonable. Doing so reinforces the behavior they want to encourage.

The request might be to be allowed to pick up and stare at her crayons, one by one, something that in the past would entrance her for hours. That’s called “stemming” in the world of autism. She also is allowed to watch her favorite show, “The Wiggles,” as a reward for doing well.

Her parents usually let her do so for specific amounts of time, often five minutes.

Most of the time, Danielle is a much calmer girl.

“We can go to the beach or out to eat or even to Disney,” says Debbie Allspach. All of that was out of the question before.

Still, every day is challenging.

“I’m always on edge,” she says. “I have to constantly stay on guard to stay one step ahead of her, to guess what might throw her off and prepare for it.

“We’ve learned a lot of strategies. When she’s upset, we try not to talk so much, which can make it worse.”

Bargioni says Danielle is intelligent, and learns quickly. But the social interactions with parents that are pleasant and motivating to young children hold no appeal for those with autism.

“People without autism want to please, but that’s not a reward for these children,” she says. “We have to establish ourselves as something good.”

Both girls now gravitate to their mother as an anchor in a world that can seem chaotic.

“Until she got ABA, Danielle’s behavior got worse,” Debbie says. “But since then, she’s become a happier child. And that’s what anybody wants, for their child to be happy.”

News: For Immediate Release
Grafton Receives National Recognition for Excellence in Behavioral Healthcare Management

Winchester, Virginia, March 1, 2013 –Grafton Integrated Health Network wins the National Council 2013 Impact Award for “Excellence in Behavioral Healthcare Management.” The Excellence in Behavioral Healthcare Management Award recognizes an organization that has demonstrated effective and innovative programs currently in use to minimize risk and liability. These programs improve the operation of the organization or the lives of the people it serves.

There has been significant research on the harmful, traumatizing effects of restraint and seclusion in behavioral healthcare facilities nationwide. Although there has been national spotlight on this issue, few have focused on individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities—the population considered most vulnerable to potential restraint and seclusion use and abuse.

“Our restraint reduction effort was pioneered in our residential services for consumers with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It has achieved remarkable and sustained results. The principals we developed during this process have been extended over all of the populations we serve, including those with psychiatric or educational challenges. It is rooted in a fundamental belief in self-determination and the power of choice, and this is what makes it effective throughout our entire continuum of care”, said Jim Gaynor, CEO/President.

Grafton’s submission to the National Council, The “Least Resistance” Approach to Crisis Management or “Ukeru” highlights the company’s commitment to not only reducing the use of coercive interventions, but also replacing these procedures with alternatives that produce a safer working and learning environment for all. Ukeru was Grafton’s first alternative solution and it involves the use of soft, cushiony materials to protect oneself against aggressive behaviors and the use of protective equipment such as gloves, shin guards and umpire shields to protect clients and employees. Ukeru is about receiving, engaging, sensing, feeling and responding to what someone is trying to communicate to us through their actions while maintaining the safety of all involved.

Each year, the National Council honors distinguished behavioral healthcare individuals and organizations that have set themselves apart through its Impact Awards. Honorees reflect the most innovative and inspirational work happening in behavioral healthcare organizations across the country — staff, board leadership, volunteers, consumers, families, and community partners who are changing the lives of children, adults, and families with mental illnesses and addiction disorders. For more information, please visit http://www.thenationalcouncil.org/cs/awards_of_excellence/impact_awards.

Grafton will be formally honored at the 2013 National Council conference scheduled April 8-10 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The organization will also receive a cash prize of $10,000, to be donated to a non-profit organization of their choice.

About Grafton Integrated Health Network

Grafton Integrated Health Network is a private, nonprofit organization that has provided a full continuum of services to people overcoming emotional, behavioral or developmental challenges. As an industry leader in behavioral healthcare, we empower individuals to lead better lives. Grafton provides continuous and coordinated services from short-term stabilization and residential services to outpatient to educational and career and technical training. These programs along with a data-driven, trauma-informed model help the organization to develop successful plans of care and clients to thrive in a variety of settings.

Grafton provides a continuum of services to children, youth and adults including applied behavior analysis, early intervention, psychiatric residential treatment facilities, a short-term stabilization program, special education programs, community-based group homes, intensive outpatient program and outpatient services.

For more information on Grafton Integrated Health Network’s services and expertise, please visit www.grafton.org.

Contact:
Shweta Adyanthaya
Director, Communications
Tel: 703-777-3485 ext 1326
sadyanthaya@grafton.org.