Marigold ABA Therapy Center White Rock

North Texas parents of children diagnosed with autism and related disabilities are anxiously awaiting the opening of the newest Marigold Learning Academy ABA Therapy Center this November. Located in Dallas near White Rock Lake, this center is the latest addition to Marigold’s three established locations in the Dallas area.

Newly Developed White Rock Marigold Center

Marigold is excited to open its newest facility featuring artificial intelligence with robotics and a parent academy room for face-to-face collaboration. The Dallas location’s unique center will be a graduating program with a structured and ritualistic environment that prepares kids for college. The building is designed around the theme of the book, “Where The Wild Ones Play,” bringing the natural beauty of the area into a special place for children with autism. Marigold’s founder, owner, and director, Karri Shojaei-Scott says, “It’s a twist from my first-born’s favorite book – a beautiful story about a young boy who was misunderstood as he journeyed through tantrums, imagination, and love.”

Tactile elements like the building’s interior walls have been designed to look and feel like grass, while the gym walls are made of grained wood. A colorful mural by a local artist greets you with the illusion of sitting in a tent peeking out into the trees. Each room will provide children with various textures to explore their imagination including magnetic walls, climbing trees, and reclaimed 100-year-old tree trunks from Camp Marigold in Cash, Texas.

AI and Robotics

To stimulate and challenge smart minds, technology components have been added to programs at White Rock. Robotic “kits” including Legos and various mechanics are given to each child for creating the look of their individual machines. The talking component of the robot guides them throughout their daily activities while in various therapies.

The Parent Academy Room offers support, encouragement, and hands-on training for parents seeking methods to successfully work with their child at home. The team will be working with a doctorate occupational-therapy student, developing a program to incorporate OT, ABA, and family pets to help teach activities of daily living and social skills. “It’s exciting to partner with colleges to see students grow in their journey to become new therapists,” Karri says.

“We Grow with a Purpose.”

The Marigold family’s rapid development now includes four locations in the surrounding areas of Dallas with accredited academic school programs: ABA (applied behavior analysis), speech, and OT. Using a family-based team approach, they work hand-in-hand with parents to nurture social, emotional, and cognitive development in young children.

Karri owns and operates the four Dallas-area Marigold centers, located in what she believes are underserved areas. Each location provides an exclusive element to the program. Greenville, Rockwall, and Fate offer slightly different curriculums tailored to either a child’s age group or levels of disability. The main focus for all locations is to encourage children’s development through the centers’ programs, and ultimately mainstream the kids back into the private school system.

What is ABA?

ABA therapy is considered one of the most effective treatments for children with autism spectrum disorders and developmental disabilities. Research shows early, intensive behavioral intervention using ABA therapy is key to engaging autistic children with people and their surrounding environments to fully develop their capabilities.

“We are the first and only program of its kind specifically designed for children diagnosed with autism in the North Texas area,” Karri proclaims. Some parents drive great distances – even from other states – for their child to be enrolled in this unique learning environment.

Maintaining the Mission

Throughout its expansion, Marigold’s passionate focus has remained the same since it began in 2012 in Rockwall. Their mission has always been aimed at creating a loving, nurturing, and stimulating environment for children with autism and related disabilities.

Marigold’s goal is to accommodate the emotional and social needs of each child using developmentally appropriate curriculum, therapies, and learning materials. Activities are guided by a team of skilled professional therapists. Self-help skills and daily living are combined with various therapy programs including art and music for a fun and invigorating learning experience. “It helps children understand themselves and others to better navigate the social world and improve their performance at school and at home,” Karri explains.

Giving children a chance to succeed and encouraging them to reach their greatest potential inspires learning. Positive reinforcement is implemented to improve a child’s skills and increase desirable behaviors. Marigold’s use of ABA therapy assists in tempering disruptive behavior and helps children with verbal and nonverbal communication, attention, and social skills.

Credentials and Accolades

Karri received her bachelor’s degree in early education/special education from Texas Woman’s University and earned her master’s in principalship from Texas A&M University-Commerce. She received her BCBA certification from Texas Tech University and is currently working toward a doctoral degree.

Her hard work and leadership has allowed Marigold to enjoy 11 successful years in business, garnering several awards along the way. She was recently honored as a Woman of Influence by D Magazine this past September. Additionally, Marigold has been voted Best Of in Living Magazine’s Readers’ Choice awards in two categories: Early Education – 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 and Therapy Services – 2020, 2022, and 2023. They were awarded Best Therapy and Best Early Childhood Center by Living readers for the past two consecutive years. Last month, Marigold was awarded Best Of Hunt County in Behavioral Health.

Now with multiple Dallas-area locations designed to educate and inspire children with autism and related disabilities, it’s no wonder parents choose the Marigold curriculum for their child’s stimulation and enrichment.