VOICES OF JOY
March/April 2021
A newsletter for the employees of Canopy Children’s Solutions
Dr. Furlow Named Canopy's Director of Autism Solutions Christopher “Chris” Furlow, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA, has been named the Director of Autism Solutions. “We are proud to have such a talent as Chris on board as the Director of Autism Solutions,” Canopy’s CEO John D. Damon, Ph. D., said. "Not only does he have a genuine passion for his work, but he knows firsthand the importance of community, family, and hope when it comes to serving children on the autism spectrum.” Chris stated, “I’ve dedicated the last 13 years of my life to gain as much knowledge and experience from leading experts around the country, and I am so privileged to have the opportunity to bring those experiences to the children and families we serve at Canopy.” Prior to being named Director, Chris served as the Clinic Manager of the Early Intervention Autism Clinic. Chris is a native of Slidell, LA, but currently resides in Madison, MS. He and his wife, Lauren, have two children and enjoy spending time as a family exploring new milestones of young parenthood. During Autism Awareness Month this April, Chris had the opportunity
to speak on WLBT's Ask the Expert Facebook Live and answer questions pertaining to Autism Spectrum Disorder and working with children on the spectrum. Below are a few "soundbytes" from the segment. What age is autism typically diagnosed? Autism is typically diagnosed around the age of two, but can be as early as 18 months. If an older child receives a diagnosis, it is likely that autism was always present. The child might be having difficulties in school or relationships leading to the diagnosis. How important is early intervention? It is important to get the diagnosis and begin treatment early because you can begin teaching the language skills needed for school. With an older child there is a greater challenge to catch up with skills while working with a typcial school schedule. What are some of the misconceptions about children on the autism spectrum? One misconception would be that the child on the spectrum doesn't display or experience emotions. That is a myth, everyone experiences emotions. It is just to what extent they communicate it. Another
know myth is, just because you have autism spectrum disorder doesn't mean you are going to have an intellectual disability. What are some effective treatments for autism? Applied Behavior Analysis is considered the gold standard for autism treatment. There is extensive evidience supporting it with good clinical outcomes. What is the best way for a parent to support a child with autism? We practice what we call "time-in" at our clinic and we teach this to our parents. It is a structured approach to establish a solid relationship with the child. Parents need to carve out certain times of the day to interact with their child and let the child lead the interaction. Praise the child while labeling what they did well, "That is awesome, it is a great tower you made." A parent can also repeat what the child says. It let's the child know you are listening to what they say. When spending time with your child, talk to them a lot. To view the complete interview, visit the Canopy Facebook page.