In celebration of Autism Acceptance Month, ABA Centers of Florida will take over the FLA Live Arena on Thursday, April 6, at 7 pm as the Florida Panthers defend the ice against the Ottawa Senators.
As the presenting sponsor of the game, ABA Centers of Florida will have signage throughout the arena and will host a 60-person VIP suite for South Florida clients – children who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and their families. One of these young clients will be featured as the “High-Five Tunnel” kid.
The Panthers and ABA Centers of Florida are offering a sensory-friendly quiet lounge for families, located near Section 301 on the upper level and staffed by ABA Centers of Florida’s registered behavior technicians throughout the night. ABA Centers of Florida will also host areas near the main entrance on the first and second levels where fans can experience the organization’s strategically designed, therapy-based ‘Play Places’ in action. ABA Centers of Florida will also provide all fans in attendance with a complimentary pop-it fidget spinner.
This outing will allow the children to apply their autism-care lessons to a real-life situation, and their assigned behavior therapist will also attend to provide each child with one-on-one support as they navigate this exhilarating environment.
“Our organization was designed to disrupt the autism therapy industry and provide relief to children that languish on waitlists for a diagnosis and then again for treatment,” said Christopher Barnett, CEO of ABA Centers of Florida. “We are getting these kiddos the treatment they need with almost no downtime, and we are providing them with the most enriching experiences and pragmatic therapy practices possible.”
As an extension of the takeover, the Florida Panthers’ mascot, Stanley C. Panther, visited ABA Centers of Florida’s Boca Raton clinic in March. The organization’s kiddos were treated to a private meet and greet with the hockey team’s energetic representation of one of Florida’s most endangered animals.
Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, ABA Centers of Florida currently has autism care clinics in Boca Raton and Port St. Lucie. By the end of this year, the organization plans to open therapy centers in Coral Springs, Doral, Kendall, Miami Shores, Miramar, Wellington, and Weston in South Florida, as well as Tampa and Orlando in Central Florida.
About ABA Centers of Florida
ABA Centers of Florida provides applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy services to children with autism spectrum disorder through a play-based approach rooted in positive reinforcement. The company was designed to disrupt the autism care industry by demolishing wait times traditionally experienced by those in search of an autism diagnosis or treatment. Its team of autism care experts serves the South and Central Florida areas through in-clinic, in-home, and in-school strategically tailored treatment plans. Therapy programs are designed to deliver the most impactful continuum of care and to best meet each client’s specific needs. More information on ABA Centers of Florida can be found at www.abacentersfl.com.
About The Florida Panthers
The National Hockey League’s Florida Panthers entered the league in 1993. The Florida Panthers won the Presidents Trophy in 2022-23, earning the most points during the regular season. Under General Manager Bill Zito, the Panthers have grown into a tenacious, dynamic, and exciting team led by Team Captain Aleksander Barkov, forward Matthew Tkachuk, stalwart defenseman Aaron Ekblad, two-time Vezina Trophy recipient Sergei Bobrovsky and a deep roster of proven and promising NHL talent. At home in Sunrise, Fla. At home at the FLA Live Arena, the Panthers welcome fans from the tri-county area, the South Florida region and beyond.
Contact:
Katie Murphy
Director of Public Relations
(561) 895-6017
[email protected]
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