Autism Care for Toddlers (ACT) Clinics

two toddler children happily interacting with an adult provider; credit: iStock

MMI's ACT Clinics

The Autism Care for Toddlers (ACT) Clinics are community outreach programs. The clinics provide early intervention services using applied behavior analysis (ABA), which is a research-supported treatment for autism spectrum disorders. The clinics offer one-on-one services for toddlers with autism and a caregiver-training program.


Clinic Locations

ACT Clinic (Central Omaha)

9012 Q Street
Omaha, NE 68127
402-552-9756

Clinic Director: Regina Carroll, PhD, BCBA-D

ACTION Clinic (North Omaha)

5050 Ames Avenue
Omaha, NE 68104
402-836-9781

Clinic Director: Mary Halbur, PhD, BCBA-D

 Frequently Asked Questions

Who benefits from services at the ACT clinic?  
Toddlers (ages 2-5) diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder benefit from services at the ACT Clinics. Children can receive services at the clinic until they are eligible for kindergarten, at which point a transition plan is developed.
Who provides the services?  

Services are provided by undergraduate- and graduate-level behavioral therapists in various disciplines (e.g., speech-language pathology, psychology, special education). Therapists are Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs).

Training and ongoing supervision is provided by Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and/or Licensed Mental Health Practitioners (LMHP) with expertise in ABA.

What skills are targeted?  
Programming is individualized based on each child’s strengths and areas of need. The Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VB-MAPP) is used to assess skill level upon entry to the clinic and every six months thereafter. VB-MAPP assessments are used to identify areas in need of intervention, which may include skills in the areas of receptive and expressive language, adaptive behavior (e.g., challenging behavior and self-help skills), pre-academics, social interactions or play.
What does a typical session look like?  
Each child works one-on-one with a behavioral therapist. Therapeutic activities rotate every 15 minutes and include highly structured learning opportunities via discrete-trial teaching (DTT) and naturalistic instruction in small-group activities (e.g., circle time, arts and crafts) and play settings.
What support is available for parents and caregivers?  

The ACT Clinics offer a caregiver-training program that teaches the skills required to increase language, decrease challenging behaviors and promote generalization of skills to home and community settings. Instructional information is delivered in a one-on-one format during which behavioral techniques are described and modeled by BCBAs. Each caregiver is given an opportunity to practice skills through role play and/or with his/her child and feedback is delivered.

Outside of structured caregiver training sessions, caregivers are encouraged to regularly attend parts of their child’s sessions to participate in the therapeutic process. Supervising BCBAs also work with caregivers to problem-solve concerns that arise outside of the clinic setting.

What is the cost?  
Many insurance providers provide benefits for services, but it is your responsibility to check with your provider to confirm coverage.
Is there a waiting list?  
To inquire about accessing community services available for young children with ASD through the Autism Care for Toddlers Clinics, please contact Mandi Reinders at 402-559-3210.
Are there opportunities for employment?  

To learn more about employment opportunities at the MMI iCASD ACT Clinics please search for available positions including Behavioral Technician I, Behavioral Technician II, and Behavior Analysis Specialists.