Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who do you serve and how long?
I typically work with young children ages 2-8 (early intervention) with a wide range of diagnoses/deficits including but not limited to Autism spectrum disorders, ADHD/ADD, Down syndrome, speech and language disorders, and problem behaviors. The amount of time services are provided can vary, however a typical intervention usually lasts 2-4 years.

2. What skills/behaviors do you target?
My primary objective is for your child to function as independently as possible in their natural environments. Programming is based on the individual’s needs and includes goals across many areas, with an emphasis on consistency and generalization, communication, social, and the reduction of problem behavior. Parent involvement and participation is a crucial component in order for the intervention to be as effective as possible. The goals are analyzed and modified based on the individual’s data. The ABLLS-R assessment is also used to monitor a variety of skills including imitation, receptive and expressive language, play, academic, self-help and motor.

3. How many 1:1 hours do you provide?

Direct teaching sessions are usually 2 hours. Based on the number of hours your child is receiving from other team members as well as his/her individual needs, I typically provide 1-2 sessions (2-4 hours) a week. The number of skills I can target will be correlated to the total number of therapy hours your child is receiving.

4. How do I find my child's team members?
I recommend putting flyers around college campuses (particularly in certain departments), checking with your church nursery/preschool classrooms, advertising in the local newspaper, and talking to university professors. I also work with several people on other familes who might have additional availability.

5. How do you address skill deficits in the community (ex. church)
I will observe your child in the specific setting (ex. grocery store, restaurant, hair salon, dentist, target, etc...) and write a protocol/make recommendations for you to follow. Additional training and observations will be provided as needed. It can also be helpful to work on pre-requisite skills in the home that your child is expected to tolerate/perform in the target setting.

6. Does insurance cover your services?
Sometimes they do. More and more families are receiving compensation for behavioral services so I encourage parents to contact their insurance provider.