ONTARIO — The Autism Center has expanded its services at 68 Briggs Drive, designed to help children with autism build developmental, social and communication skills while preparing to transition back to traditional classrooms.

The center, which opened in 2023, provides occupational, speech and language and physical therapy alongside educational programming.

The program maintains a ratio of one aide for every two children enrolled.

The Autism Center serves families across Richland County and surrounding communities, where consistent, developmentally focused autism services can be difficult to access.

“We’re a therapy school, not traditional,” said Robert Neumann, owner of The Autism Center. “We want to provide parents with options to get to the root causes and remediate.”

Getting that parent involved brings three legs back to the stool, and if we have them on board it’s so much better.

Robert Neumann, owner of the autism center

Evidence-based therapies target communication and regulation

The Autism Center has expanded its research-based programming by incorporating multiple evidence-based interventions focused on developmental growth, sensory regulation and communication.

Neumann said consistent intervention is essential for progress.

“You’ve got to do interventions every day. They have to be consistent,” he said.

Research-based programs offered by the center include DIR/Floortime, a developmental approach focusing on the child’s developmental stage. It recognizes each child processes the world differently and using emotional connection for growth.

DIR stands for Developmental, Individual Differences and Relationship-Based.

Floortime is the practical application of the DIR model. During sessions, an adult joins the child on the floor, follows the child’s interests and encourages back-and-forth interaction while working toward more complex communication and problem-solving skills.

Neumann said the approach focuses on strengthening a child’s ability to connect, think and communicate rather than simply correcting behaviors.

The PLAY Project, also based on the DIR model, trains parents to become effective play partners and support their child’s social and academic development.

“Teaching play is a classroom application of The PLAY Project that focuses on functional development and interaction to help children with autism succeed socially and academically in school settings,” Neumann said.

“How do you teach a kid to play when they don’t play?” he added. “We go upstream, find the cause and remediate that.”

The center also utilizes JASPER, a play-based program helping children with autism improve social communication skills. JASPER stands for Joint Attention, Symbolic Play, Engagement and Regulation.

“This is an ABA program, helping children to play where they are developmentally and move them forward,” Neumann said. “We have a test to determine where they are and help them increase their routines.”

For example, he noted if a child is playing with a car, they may introduce a doll and integrate it into the child’s existing play routine to encourage expanded play.

Neumann said The Autism Center works with schools and parents to provide these services.

Additional therapies support sensory and behavioral development

The center also offers Qigong Sensory Treatment (QST), which uses structured touch to improve sensory processing and help regulate the nervous system.

“QST blends principles from traditional qigong with modern clinical research on sensory regulation,” Neumann said. “It is performed completely by the parent or caregiver under the guidance of a trained therapist.”

He said the therapy reduces sensory overload, improves tactile comfort, increases sensory clarity and supports physiological regulation.

The Autism Center also provides Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS), which helps children and caregivers work together to address behavioral challenges while strengthening relationships.

Additionally, the center uses Transcranial Photobiomodulation (tPBM), a noninvasive brain stimulation technique that applies red or near-infrared light to the scalp.

“The light penetrates the skull and interacts with brain cells — particularly mitochondria, which produce cellular energy,” Neumann said.

Researchers are studying tPBM as a possible support for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. This is due to its potential to stimulate mitochondrial activity, increase cellular energy production, reduce neuroinflammation, improve cerebral blood flow, and influence brain wave activity and neural connectivity.

The Interactive Metronome is a computer-based program using movement and real-time feedback to improve timing and rhythm. It has participants perform motions such as clapping or tapping in sync with a metronome beat.

The therapy supports individuals with autism, ADHD, learning and sensory challenges and brain injuries. It aims to improve attention, processing speed, coordination, self-regulation and academic performance.

The Melillo Method focuses on identifying retained primitive reflexes and addressing hemispheric brain imbalances through targeted sensory stimulation and movement exercises.

The approach aims to promote neuroplasticity and improve outcomes for children with diverse learning and behavioral profiles. 

Developmental approach emphasizes consistency and parent involvement

The Autism Center staff works with preschools and families to provide services grounded in developmental science and structured, consistent intervention.

Neumann said parents play a critical role in reinforcing therapy.

“You can’t do them out of sequence,” he said. “Consistency helps kids think abstractly in a logical way and get ready to go back to their school, which every parent wants.”

The center encourages parents to participate in therapy sessions and learn techniques they can continue at home.

“I’ll teach it for free as long as they come in during our hours of operation,” Neumann said. “Getting that parent involved brings three legs back to the stool, and if we have them on board it’s so much better.”

For more information about services, scheduling or program details, families are encouraged to contact The Autism Center directly at 419-756-3456.

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