It was May of 2017
A well renowned pediatric neurologist, approached our board
member, Mr. Moshe Weiss, with an interesting proposition.
He was sent by a group of venture capitalists that were seeking
to establish an ABA based therapy center.
Being that he treated many children on the autism spectrum
they knew that he understood the value of the ABA modality.
The investors had sent him to find out more about the industry
and how they could benefit financially from it.
We were appalled.
Our organization, the WIECDC, was renowned for our passion
driven mission. We were here with one goal in mind: To help
children with special needs.
We didn’t have a business plan.
We didn’t have investors.
Nor did we have any financial motivation behind the work we did.
Triggered by the mere suggestion, we decided
to take the challenge upon ourselves:
Triggered by the mere
suggestion, we decided
to take the challenge
upon ourselves:
Create an ABA based therapy center without any financial aspects
hovering in the background.
It would be a service to parents of children with special needs.
It was high time to bring a change to the way ABA was
implemented: Without the harshness and the coldness often
attached to the modality and without the dollar bills dangling
in front of the industry investors.
Mr. Aaron Kohn, Executive Director of WIECDC, together with
our team, got to work.
We recruited Sara (Etengoff) Shilcrat,
We recruited Sara
(Etengoff) Shilcrat,
an esteemed Special Educator to get the licensing
necessary to get this project off the ground.
And get it off the ground she did.
In no time, the renowned clinician Yitty (Itzkowitz) Friedman, LBA, Msed
was brought on as the Clinical Director. Together, they made a powerful team
that brought the project from concept to fruition.
And that is how My
Playroom was born.
The success of the initiative was fueled by the passion they
injected. All we ever wanted was to bring compassionate ABA to
children who would benefit from it.
With no strings attached.
