Speranza Behavior Consulting
Applied Behavior Analysis, Social Skills Training, Trauma Informed Practices, and
Augmentative and Alternative Communication Training
Implement Applied Behavior Analysis Principles/Interventions (including social skills lessons) for children and adolescents on the Autism Spectrum and other exceptionalities.
Collaborate with community members to help support and teach Trauma Informed Practices to those working with individuals who experience varying communication and behavioral challenges/disabilities
Train families and educators on Augmentative Communication systems for individuals with severe communication needs
Speranza Behavior Consulting
verb: Speranza~Hope
Alex DeSantis, M.Ed in Special Education, Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Certified ACEs and Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI/NCP) Trainer
Alex DeSantis began working with children who experience various learning and behavioral challenges in 2006. In 2008, she was hired as an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) instructor for children on the Autism Spectrum and other related disorders. She went on to receive a M.Ed. in Special Education from Southern Oregon University in 2011 and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) license from Florida Institute of Technology in 2016 (BACB certification # 1-16-23250). After teaching and consulting in the Portland, OR metro area for six years, she returned to her home town and currently works as an Autism and Behavior Intervention Specialist for a school district in Southern Oregon. She has also been an adjunct professor at Southern Oregon University for their Autism Specialist Endorsement Program.
What Is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)?
ABA is a type of therapy and evidence-based science that focuses on improving various behaviors, including social skills, communication, adaptive/independent living behaviors and job competency skills. Intensive data collection and individual programming is created and used for each client/learner.
Building Social and Functional Living Skills
One of the major roadblocks for individuals on the Autism Spectrum is gaining the social and functional skills to make friends, feel successful at school/in the community, and eventually obtaining a job that fulfills them. Speranza Consulting can help guide individuals and their families through direct social lessons to learn these very important life skills.
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
The term AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) is used to describe the different methods that can be used to help people with disabilities communicate with others. As the term suggests these methods can be used as an alternative to speech or to supplement it.
Examples of high-tech methods include using iPad or tablet applications to produce vocal speech for those impacted by communication struggles.
An example of a low-tech method is using the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) to exchange tangible pictures with communication partners.
What are ACEs?
The CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study is one of the largest investigations of childhood abuse and neglect and later-life health and well-being.
The original ACE Study was conducted at Kaiser Permanente from 1995 to 1997 with two waves of data collection. Over 17,000 Health Maintenance Organization members from Southern California receiving physical exams completed confidential surveys regarding their childhood experiences and current health status and behaviors.
The study continues to be updated with new information and data on how ACEs effect childhood development and the manifestation of behavior in both children and adults.
https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/acestudy/index.html
Trauma Informed Practices
Trauma Informed Practices (TIPs) recognizes the signs and symptoms of trauma in students, clients, families, staff, and others involved with the system; Responds by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices; and seeks to actively resist re-traumatization.
Trainings and Presentations
If you work with or care for children and/or adults with Autism or other behavioral exceptionalities, trainings and consultation are available for any and all of the areas of need mentioned on this site.
Those who could benefit from training:
Parents/Guardians
Foster Parents
Mental Health Care Providers
Educators
Child Care Providers
Social Workers
Contact Speranza Behavior Consulting below to schedule a training in your area.
Contact Us
Contact us and find how our trainings can benefit your community.
Southern Oregon, OR, USA