Pathways-Autism Program

The Lee Ann Britain Infant Development Center at Shawnee Mission Medical Center has served children with special needs in the Kansas City community since 1972. The Britain Center offers a unique program that involves parents in the process of therapeutic treatment and education. Young children with Autism Spectrum Disorders have unique educational and therapeutic needs which we address in our “Pathways" Program.

About the “Pathways” Program

This intensive, highly specialized program is for children ages two to five years, who are not yet in Kindergarten, who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or display characteristics of ASD. Interventions that will be utilized in this program include: 

• Speech-Language Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Sensory Integration Therapy
• Music Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Aquatic Therapy
• Feeding Therapy
• Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
• Floortime/DIR Method
• TEAACH Method
• Integrated Listening Program/Therapeutic Listening
• Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
• Total Communication

Staff

The morning "Pathways" Program will be staffed by an Early Childhood Special Educator who is also a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA), a Speech-Language Pathologist with training in ASD, an Occupational Therapist who also has a master’s degree in ASD, and paraprofessionals with training in ASD. Support staff will include: a Physical Therapist, a Music Therapist, and volunteers.

 The afternoon "Pathways" Program will be staffed by an Early Childhood Special Educator who is also a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), a Speech-Language Pathologist and an Occupational Therapist with training in ASD, and paraprofessionals with training in ASD. Support staff will include: a Physical Therapist, a Music Therapist, and volunteers.

Program Details

An individual program will be developed for each child in the program. We will utilize discrete trial training, pivotal response training and functional routines as well as speech-language, occupational, physical, aquatic and music therapy.  Additionally children will receive group music therapy and participate in preschool activities with typically developing peer models.  Parents will be involved in all aspects of the program. The program will be in session Monday through Friday for three hours each morning or afternoon.  

Program Cost

The “Pathways” program runs from mid-August through July. We will close for various holidays and breaks throughout the school year. Parents will be asked to sign a year long agreement at a cost of $27,500. This cost may be reduced by insurance reimbursement for therapy.

For additional information, please contact Amy Milroy, Director, at 913-676-2253 or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .