AudioHope provides Auditory Integration Training(AIT)a specialized music intervention for autism and ADHD, and has achieved amazing results with a ten day protocol. The AudioHope website offers DVD presentations of actual clients and histories of their treatment.

Dr. Ellis, Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Director of Spectrum Psychological Services, is a sought-after speaker in Tidewater and Virginia on the topic of Autistic Spectrum Disorders.

Commonwealth Autism Service is partially funded by the Virginia Legislature to carry out activities in four major goal areas--providing ongoing support to families and professionals, developing regional networks, providing technical assistance, and conducting conferences related to pervasive developmental disorders. Our Board of Directors and Advisory Council include representatives of state agencies, school professionals, medical professionals, parents of children with autism, persons with autism, attorneys, and other relevant stakeholders.

Client focused Occupational and Speech therapies, pediatric special needs, non-drug pain treatment, pediatric care coordination, network provider all major health insurers.

Dower and Associates, Inc. is a multi -disciplinary private practice with a focus on speech/language, behavior analysis (emphasis in verbal behavior), and education. It primarily serves Prince William and Loudoun Counties, Virginia and was established in 1993.

The JustChildren program of the Legal Aid Justice Center offers civil legal services to low-income families. We provide information about special education and school discipline, including the JustChildren handbook "Helping You Help Your Child: Focus on Education." Our offices are located in Charlottesville, Richmond and Petersburg. We provide community education, community organizing, legal advice and representation to eligible clients in those cities and their surrounding areas. JustChildren also engages in systematic advocacy for all low-income Virginians, focussing on eliminating the immediate symptoms and addressing the underlying causes of poverty in Virginia.

A comprehensive local online website geared toward parents who have children with a special needs or a disability and are looking for local resources in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC

I do Speaking Engagements for Autism support groups and colleges in Southwest Virginia. Anything within 50 miles I do for no fee. Further distances I do for travel expenses +$50.00

Mother of an an autistic young man who went through inclusion classroom and graduated with honors.

LFSVA provides home and community based services for at-risk children and families. One of our programs is called Essential Pieces, and this is a free, structured, and educational program for parents and professionals who live with and serve children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This program also provides free respite care and a social group for children whose parents attend the parent group. A professional speaker leads each group, and includes presentations and Q & A sessions from individuals such as Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Founder of Autism Outreach, Developmental Optometrists, Teachers, Directors of Special Education, and many, many more individuals who serve our children.

POAC-NoVA is dedicated to improving the public and private education of special needs students by providing opportunities for scientifically-based training to parents, therapists, teachers and related personnel who provide direct services to children with autism spectrum disorders.

When I was a child I became accustomed to speaking and feeling like no one was listening. It was the way my life was. Understanding was something I felt was never achieved. There are so many things I would have liked to have said, but had no idea how to say them.

I don't know if my mother knew my frustrations. If she did, she certainly made no sign of knowing, nor did she make an attempt at communicating about it. I know there was no one else in my life who was aware of my frustrations and inability to express myself emotionally.

I prize understanding above anything. I don't care if you agree with me or not, but if you understand me, then I feel like we are connected. If we understand the "why" or the motive behind someone's actions, we have gained the ability to truly act in a beneficial way rather than a detrimental way.

But what happens when your children cannot say more than a word or two, or cannot speak at all, let alone express feelings to you? What happens when that child is not understood? What happens when your child has a need that remains unfilled because you do not know the need exists?

Enter Tara.

I have Asperger’s syndrome, which brings it's own gifts and challenges. I have learned to harness the gifts and continually try to minimize the challenges. One of the gifts is that I am able to feel others' troubling emotions and then translate them into words so their loved ones can understand.

I enter a home, and sit with the person who is having a struggle with communication - verbal and non-verbal alike, with or without disabilities. Then I try to put that emotion into words and translate for those who cannot speak, or cannot verbalize accurately, what they need to say. I then help families to use that information effectively to make their home a more peaceful, loving environment where patience and understanding are fostered.

Practically, this can be as simple as knowing the preferred sleep environment your child needs, and then helping you to arrange that, so that your child, and you, can get the rest you need. Or it may look like me sitting with your child and explaining some of the basic communication tools already in place but that are being misunderstood (or possibly partially understood).

If you are interested in my services as a consultant, or would like to hear more about our training seminars, please feel free to contact us. We can do consulting in person, over Skype, or over the telephone. So we are not limited to the immediate area. I also travel if there is a large enough group (usually 10 or so families) interested in my services within a 100 mile radius of each other.

Thank you for your support and letting us be a part of your family's mending process.


For information or to schedule an appointment, please contact Lisa.

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