Currently, there are two places in Bermuda where a family can go to receive a diagnosis of autism or other pervasive developmental disability. They are Child and Adolescent Services and Child Development Programme.
These are just some of the tools we use to change and shape behaviours. As deficits in communication skills are a hallmark of Autism Spectrum Disorders and present in many other developmental disabilities, we have a strong emphasis on the teaching of language. We use an approach called Verbal Behaviour to teach language in all of its component parts.
Our Verbal Behaviour programme uses the principles of ABA to teach verbal language across the verbal operants. We also employ other research based tools and methodologies to teach language and communication.
ABA is based on good science. As such, it can at times be highly structured, but it is by no means strict. The structure of the programme ensures that we are reliably implementing time tested approaches for changing and shaping behaviours and working to increase adaptive and pro-social behaviours while decreasing maladaptive or problematic behaviours. The use of data collections systems ensures that we are operating in an effective manner.
Because Tomorrow’s Voices is a charity, we are able to subsidize up to 80% of these costs for parents (guardians), enabling local and Bermudian families to get the very best that the research has to offer in terms of intervention services at a highly subsidized and reduced rate. Costs are individualized based on the depth, breadth and frequency of services. There is a different cost for those whom require services that fall outside of the parent (guardian) category.
Tomorrow’s Voices understands that even with subsidised fees, some families are unable to meet the financial requirements for their child to receive therapy services, therefore we have established a bursary fund to assist with this need. The Centre’s bursary program was established to support families who wish their children to attend Tomorrow’s Voices but who are unable to afford the set fees. Bursary application forms are available from the Tomorrow’s Voices Administration Office.
As such, there are some young people who never set foot within our Centre. They are served exclusively in their school, in their homes or in the community. There are other young people, who based on their particular educational and/or behavioural profile require a more intensive and structured programme which our Centre can provide.
We have expanded our remit and currently serve people with autism and other developmental disabilities including, but not limited to youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Downs Syndrome, Intellectual Disabilities, Fragile X, and others.
The founders of Tomorrow’s Voices were a part of the original founders of autism support and education in Bermuda. Prior to 2001 there was a void in Bermuda in terms of information, knowledge and training related to autism. Six years later, it became apparent that it was time to move from theory into practice and that simply knowing about effective interventions was no longer good enough. There was a pressing need to put that knowledge into practice. As a result, in 2007, Tomorrow’s Voices opened its doors.