ABA Centers of America Partners with Temple to
Open “Maddy’s Room” Just in Time for Finals
Today, Temple University in partnership with ABA Centers of America hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for Maddy’s Room, which opens to students just in time for finals.
Maddy’s Room is a dedicated sensory-friendly space where all students, but neurodivergent students in particular, who may become overstimulated or overwhelmed by their surroundings can find a few minutes of respite and can recenter themselves through the self-soothing activities provided within the room.
The daughter of Christopher Barnett, ABA Centers Chief Executive Officer and Temple University alum, is the namesake of Maddy’s Room – and is also the inspiration behind the founding of ABA Centers itself.
“What was born out the frustration of two parents in our living room, about wanting to do the best that we could for our daughter, has mobilized into a force that is making a real impact,” Mr. Barnett remarked at the event. “If a room that allows a safe place and a sense of community when you feel overstimulated is what makes it so that you can attend college and get a degree, then it’s our job to provide that.”
“The award from ABA Centers of America and the opening of this sensory room are important statements that extend a greater welcome for autistic adults to higher education and will support collaborative work to improve acceptance, recognition, support and the achievements of autistic adults,” remarked Philip McCallion, PhD Director of Temple University’s School of Social Work.
The unveiling of Maddy’s Room is part of a multi-pronged partnership between ABA Centers and Temple University that began in November 2022 with a $1 million donation to the school. The facets of this alliance began to come to fruition earlier this semester, when Temple introduced an online tract for its applied behavior analysis (ABA) master’s program, which gives a greater pool of future clinicians access to these worldclass courses. ABA Centers of America has provided full-ride scholarships to this education opportunity to nearly 20 of its current team members to further bolster the autism care workforce.
The partnership between the two organizations is also supporting the launch of the ABA Centers of America Autism Laboratory, which will support the school in conducting autism research, offer diagnostic services, and train students to become clinicians to meet the needs of the autistic community.
About Temple university
Temple University is a top-tier research institution with roughly 40,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. As the largest university in one of the nation\’s most iconic cities, Temple educates diverse future leaders from across Philadelphia, the country and the world who share a common drive to learn, prepare for their careers and make a real impact. Philadelphia\’s public university, Temple provides an unparalleled value to families in the region and serves as an essential resource to the surrounding community.
