New autism facility seeks to address need for more treatment options in central Wis.

Local professionals say more options are needed when it comes to treatments for kids with autism in central Wisconsin. A recently opened autism center in Weston is aiming to address that need,

According to the Autism Society of Wisconsin, about 1 in 92 individuals are diagnosed with autism in the Badger State.

Alexis Legenza, the owner of the Skylight Autism Center in Weston says her facility if the only one of its kind in the central region of Wisconsin. Others, according to Legenza, are in cities like Madison, Green Bay, La Crosse, and Appleton.

"I have a passion for helping children fulfill their best quality of life, and kids with autism - intensive behavior therapy has shown to be very effective," Legenza explained.

The entrepreneur said therapy options in central Wisconsin often involve a therapist coming to work with a child at their home. At the Skylight Autism Center, she said parents can bring their child to the facility for a one-on-one setting with a therapist in a different kind of environment.

"They work on deficits that cold be challenging behaviors, social skills, we also prepare them for school," Legenza said.

She uses what she calls reinforcement techniques to help teach those skills.

"For example, a child will play in the ball pit for a little while and then we go do a task. And then they're reinforced back to the ball pit," Legenza explained. "So using those basic principles of reinforcement can really help these children gain the adequate skills that they need."

Some local professionals say more options for kids coping with the disorder are important.

"There's definitely a need for autism treatment in our area," Jennifer Stransky of North Central Health Care said.

Stransky works in the Birth to Three program, which helps work with families and their little ones who are showing delays in development, which can sometimes be indicators of autism. She believes having more options for children with the condition is key.

"Autism is a wide variety of different things, so there is a variety of different interventions and things that need to be done," Stransky said.

As Legenza continues to grow her business, she hopes over time it will help make a difference.