About POAC TX: Who We Are

More children are diagnosed with autism each year, than cancer, aids and diabetes combined. 1 out of every 150 children born today is on the autism spectrum (every 20 minutes another child is being diagnosed on the autism spectrum). There are many national and local organizations focused on autism research, but almost none dealing with teaching and reaching children already affected by this disorder. The needs of children with autism are often not met in a traditional special education environment, and parents are unprepared to deal with the daily challenges of having a child with autism.

POAC TX (Parents Of Autistic Children of Texas) was formed to help address these needs. Founded in July 2006, POAC TX embraces the mission and goals of our founding organization, POAC of NJ www.poac.net, by providing scientifically-based training to parents, teachers, and related personnel who provide direct services to children with Autism. In order to fulfill its mission, POAC TX offers targeted and sustained training to parents, professionals and other direct service providers. This training focuses on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), the only research-based treatment recognized by the U.S. Surgeon General for children with autism, and specifically B.F. Skinner’s analysis of Verbal Behavior (VB) when applicable.

Because autism affects all those who provide services to children with the disorder, POAC TX serves not only the children and their families, but also the professionals who treat and teach them. Major goals are to:

• Teach parents and families strategies for living successfully with autism through free mini-workshops

• Provide information regarding effective interventions to the educational community through ongoing workshops, training and conferences

• Increase the pool of individuals qualified to work with children with autism at all levels

• Bring “best practices” teaching techniques to model classrooms throughout Texas

• Increase public awareness of the disorder

Since its inception, POAC TX has provided several workshops that have benefited hundreds of  children. Teachers, parents, and other direct service providers from 28 school districts were in attendance at our January 8 opening workshop for the year 2007. Kelle Wood, M. Ed., BCBA presented “Research Based Practices for Reducing Problem Behaviors in Children with Autism and other Developmental Disabilities”.  Some of the comments from the attendants included: “This was a very informative session. She gave very practical suggestions, provided wonderful logs to use, and explained the methodology clearly and in an entertaining way”..Winona ISD, “Excellent presentation of valuable information”..Van ISD, “This workshop gave me some very specific and helpful procedures to implement in my classroom”..Denison ISD, “excellent, very good, practical – loved the videos”..Marshall ISD, “Actual “real” things you can implement in a classroom… I can do the data collection, and help “teach” the process of Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) and Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) implementation.”…Hemphill ISD.   "As a parent this way of working with my son has changed our lives - we have hope and direction and we are making progress - Thank you."...parent of 11 year old son with autism.

One of POAC TX’s long-term goals is to give every public school teacher in Texas access to the information needed to understand and educate children with autism. Making a difference in the lives of children now is at the heart of everything we do at POAC TX.

Whether it’s providing training at reduced cost to public school teachers or presenting free mini-workshops for parents and professionals, we want everyone in the community to have an awareness and understanding of autism and how to teach and live with those affected.  

Parents of Autistic Children of Texas is a 501(c)3 organization.