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6-09-2026 7:43pm
Spotlight: ABA Centers of New Jersey – Creating Inclusive Opportunities for Local Families
Donnella Tilery
Editor
As autism diagnoses continue to rise across New Jersey, many families are searching for support, clarity, and community. ABA Centers of New Jersey, a nonprofit serving our region, has made it part of their mission to fill that gap by offering accessible autism evaluations, ABA therapy, and community‑centered programming. Their team is committed not only to clinical services but also to creating inclusive spaces where children with ASD can learn, play, and connect.
This summer, ABA Centers of NJ is hosting a Resource Fair & Adaptive Sports Event at Iron Peak in Hillsborough — a first‑of‑its‑kind gathering designed to bring families, providers, and community partners together under one roof. To learn more about the inspiration behind the event and what families can expect, we spoke directly with the team at ABA Centers of NJ.
About: ABA Centers of New Jersey can help your loved one with autism through Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy. Everything we do is for our clients and their families. We can create a customized therapy plan for your child or teen with autism. Let us help.
Please reach out at (908) 731-7695 or (445) 257 6985
- Alfredo Fuccilli, MS, BCBA
- Executive Director
- ABA Centers of America, New Jersey
- 1150 US Hwy 22 #110, Bridgewater, NJ 08807
- afuccilli@abacenters.com
Below is our full Q&A, exactly as shared by the organization:
1. What inspired ABA Centers of NJ to host a combined resource fair and adaptive sports event for families in the community?
Response:
Part of ABA Centers mission is to be a resource and knowledge base for families and cargeivers in the community. I found that an event like this really didn't exist in the area and if it did, it wasn't known. So, we took the initiative and pulled together our community partners in order to create this event. Autism as a diagnosis is only increasing nationwide, and especially in NJ, so events like these are important.
2. How do adaptive sports activities support learners with ASD, and what do you hope families take away from participating?
Response:
It supports them in several ways! ABA as a methodology is a framework that can be applied to many different situations. Adaptive, or modified, sports allows kids on the spectrum or with other disabilities to participate in a team-based activity. They can learn important social skills such as collaboration, compromise, turn-taking, and winning and losing appropriately just to name a few skills. ABA seeks to apply the principles of behavior to these situations in order to teach the above skills. First and foremost, I hope fmaileis have fun! I hope they see that there are inclusive spaces for their children to experience all the normal activities that neurotypical children would enjoy, just modified in a way that's inclusive. I also hope that they see the support available for them in their community.
3. With so many providers on-site — SLP, OT, PT, counseling, pediatricians, and ABA services — what makes this “one‑stop shop” model especially valuable for parents?
Response:
Families often don't know where to turn for services. and "one-stop-shop" events like this help families get connected easily and conveniently. Parents are busy in general, so a resource fair where they can be connected to multiple organizations at the same time I think would be very valuable. Instead of calling around multiple businesses for many different services, thye can attend one event and have in-person conversations!
4. What kinds of feedback have you received from families attending past events, and how has that shaped this year’s experience?
Response:
This would dbe the first event of its kind that we've hosted, but we hope to have this be a regular reoccuring event. Maybe we'll be talking about the 2nd Annual Resource Fair next year!
5. How does partnering with Iron Peak enhance the event, and what role does the venue play in making adaptive sports more inclusive?
Response:
Iron Peak has been extremely collaborative and helpful. From the moment the idea was proposed, they were all in on making it a great experience. We couldn't be happier with their support and for allowing us to use their awesome space! Check them out for the fantastic programs they offer as well. In hosting adaptive games in a venue that's meant to host various sports, it helps our learners generalize their skills to that setting!
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