Parenting is no easy task, especially when a child resists authority, even throwing the occasional tantrum. And parents of children with disabilities face additional challenges. Sometimes, you just want to ask someone: “What am I supposed to do?”
Fortunately, a local expert is planning an event where parents, grandparents, caregivers and others can get some answers. Board certified behavior analyst and founder of North Florida Behavior Consultants Arthur Hairston will conduct a parent training session Saturday, June 17, at the link in Nocatee.
He will offer tips and tricks for parents, whether or not their children have disabilities, to increase wanted behaviors at home. He will be joined by an analyst who will address potty training and a speech pathologist who will share suggestions to promote better communication, as well as information about devices that can be of use and are covered by insurance.
Hairston will also have his children’s book there. “Chloe Has a Tantrum” tells the story of a momma bear who must address her cub’s behavior. The book is also a step-by-step parents’ guide.
This free wine-and-cheese event, “How to Get Your Child From Whining to Smiling,” will be held from 10 a.m. to noon. It’s open to the public, and there is no need to RSVP. Just show up.
The venue
Hairston said he selected the link because it’s a central location for many of the parents he meets but also because the facility is inspiring.
“I come here at least once a month,” he said. “Every time I come here, just looking at the building, it’s just so inspirational. … I want more people to know about this place.”
He praised the people he encounters at the facility, as well.
“The people I meet here, everybody does something,” he said. “And everybody’s so helpful, too. When you talk to them, they’re not trying to sell you on what they do. They always ask: How can I help you?”
The link, located at 425 Town Plaza Ave., is an award-winning smart building at the forefront of embracing technology for smart workspaces, event spaces and experiences. Many professionals have desks or offices at the link and, because it’s open around the clock, they can conduct business at any hour — even according to whatever time zone applies to business partners overseas.
Hairston also praised the facility’s proximity to restaurants, a supermarket and other establishments.
“I don’t know any other place around this area that matches this,” he said.
Launching his business
Hairston previously worked as a special education instructor, and then as dean of students at Fletcher Middle School. He was studying for the administrative test to become a school principal when he realized that he missed working one-on-one with the students.
At the suggestion of a friend, he bowed out of the school system for a year and a half to take coursework toward becoming a board-certified behavior analyst. Eventually, he found himself working for a company that offered applied behavior analysis services to underserved populations, particularly kids in foster care.
When he decided to launch his own business, he modeled it after that company. North Florida Behavior Consultants opened its doors in March 2020 — a tough time for any new business due to the impact of COVID.
At the beginning, business was slow, but it has grown over the past few years. The need for providers is great; parents sometimes face a two-year wait list. And that’s especially true if these families rely on Medicaid, which is accepted by few providers. But Medicaid is among the insurances that Hairston accepts.
He now has a staff of 14, which includes three board certified behavior analysts and a board-certified assistant behavior analyst. His office at 6817 Southpoint Pkwy., suite 1604, Jacksonville, has also added a sensory gym, which has proven convenient for families.
Another session
Hairston is also planning a disability expo from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 22 at the Community First Igloo, 3605 Philips Hwy., Jacksonville. Popular for its ice rinks and as the home of the Jacksonville Icemen, the Igloo also has a restaurant, bar and more.
As with the parent training session, there is no need to RSVP to attend the disability expo.
For information about North Florida Behavior Consultants, go to northflbc.com or call 904-374-4720.
