Professional Member Services Directory

Advocate Navigator LLC 

2619 Colston Drive, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815

202-304-8490; https://advocatenavigator.com/

Contact: Melissa Stein; melissastein@advocatenavigator.com

Services: Educational consulting (Grades K–5)

Advocate Navigator LLC serves familles seeking to initiate or improve Montgomery County, MD special education services for their child's academic, social-emotional and/or behavioral needs. Melissa Stein empowers parents to effectively advocate for special education that is individualized and evidence-based for their child's unique strengths and needs. We provide advocacy tools, graduate level special education expertise, and a multifaceted understanding of the MCPS special education process.

Alliance Pediatrics 

10810 Darnestown Rd., Ste 201, North Potomac, MD 20878

240-252-4105; www.alliancepediatrics.com

Contact: Linda Quinones: administration@alliancepediatrics.com
Services: Social-emotional programs year round for elementary-aged children through adolescents; caregiver support; individual therapy and school consultations. Licensed clinicians available for services (psychologist, social worker and licensed behavior analysts).

We provide innovative, fun and effective social and emotional support to children and adolescents! Our empathetic and highly skilled clinicians collaborate with children, teens and their families to become empowered with a toolbox of skills that can apply to everyday circumstances. We enjoy consulting with students, teachers and school administrators in educational settings. We provide 1:1 support when additional guidance benefits students in reaching their values and independence in school and community settings. In our summer program our #1 goal is for children to have fun while learning about social-emotional well-being and improved quality of life.

ArtStream 

Programs offered throughout the DMV.

301-565-4567; www.art-stream.org/
Contact: Katie Mraz; k.mraz@art-stream.org; info@art-stream.org

Services: Social skills; Recreational support; Performing arts support

ArtStream offers performance opportunities to people with IDDs – including autism - of all ages. Classes, workshops, and performances improve communication and social skills, build confidence, and develop friendships. No acting experience is required to take a class or workshop. There is a role for everyone at ArtStream. 

Ascend Ed LLC 

Gaithersburg, MD

301-814-4263; www.ascend-ed.com
Contact: Anneliese Girson; anneliese.girson@gmail.com

Services: Educational consulting and advocacy; Academic tutoring; Evaluations of academic achievement

Ascend Ed provides advocacy, consulting, behavior support plans, transition testing and plans, educational achievement evaluations, and tutoring to support families of children and teenagers with disabilities. Owner Anneliese Girson has firsthand knowledge of IEP implementation, goal writing, service delivery models, and behavior management. She specializes in supporting students and families of students with behavioral needs that impact their relationship with school and learning.

Bass Educational Services, LLC 

3403 Olandwood Ct, Suite 101 Olney, MD 20832
301-774-5211; http://www.basseducationalservices.com

Contact: Judy Bass; judy@basseducationalservices.com
Services: Educational consulting; Academic tutoring/coaching; College placement assistance; Serving special education and general education, grades 9-12 and transition ages 18-21.

Bass Educational Services, LLC provides an array of educational services for students with learning differences, ADHD, ASD, and other special needs. Our educational consultants offer guidance and structure throughout the college and postsecondary planning process, provide assistance in gap year programming and assist families in facilitating local K-12 school placements. Our trained, experienced tutors provide online and in-home, one-on-one SAT/ACT test prep and subject tutoring. Additionally, we provide assistance in obtaining SAT/ACT accommodations when appropriate.

Suzanne Keith Blattner and Associates 

301-758-4275; www.suzannekeithblattner.com
Contact: Suzanne Keith Blattner; hello@suzannekeithblattner.com 

Services: Educational consulting; Advocacy; Academic tutoring/coaching

Ms. Blattner and her associates are highly skilled and experienced professionals who have provided supports to families of students with special learning needs for over 30 years. They offer a range of supports including tailored consulting, advocacy, specialized tutoring and academic coaching. A complete description and details of the services offered through this practice are outlined on the website. Ms. Blattner offers a free 1/2 hour consultation to families to learn about their needs and to point them in the right direction to get started.

Matthew B. Bogin, Attorney at Law 

5454 Wisconsin Ave., Ste. 760, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
301-656-1755; www.boginlaw.com
Contact: Matthew Bogin; matthew.bogin@boginlaw.com
Services: Financial/trust management

Matthew B. Bogin has been helping families with special needs members throughout the D.C. metropolitan area for over thirty-five years. He is well respected for his championing the varying rights of special needs clients. Currently his particular focus is ensuring that families with special needs members complete and review planning to ensure a successful future for these children. Because that calls for specialized knowledge and expertise, Matthew is ideally suited to assist clients in the area of special needs trust, estate planning, and guardianship.

Casey's Special Education Services, LLC 

2 I St SE, Washington, DC 20003

561-353-8336; https://www.caseythespeducator.com/

Contact: caseythespeducator@gmail.com

Services: Academic tutoring/coaching, Behavioral support, Pre-K, K-12, Transition Ages 18-21, Ages 21+

Casey’s Special Education Services is a comprehensive special education service in the DMV. We service neurodiverse students, ages 2-28, in the comfort of their home. We provide high quality one-on-one instruction for all learners and focus primarily on reading, writing, math, social/emotional learning, adaptive/independent living skills and executive functioning skills.

We are comprised of a team of over a dozen licensed special education teachers who can support families and schools through instruction, professional collaboration, parent coaching, IEP planning, document review, and more.

Center for Anxiety & Behavioral Change (CABC) 

50 W. Montgomery Ave., Rockville, MD 20850
301-610-7850; changeanxiety.com 

Contact: Jonathan Dalton; drdalton@changeanxiety.com; clinic-coordinator@changeanxiety.com

Services: Psychological counseling; Social skills therapy; Behavioral therapy

The Center for Anxiety and Behavioral Change, with offices in Rockville, Maryland and McLean, Virginia, is a private treatment center that is dedicated to reducing the suffering of individuals living with anxiety and related disorders through state-of-the-art, evidence based, behavioral treatment in the context of a warm, compassionate, and collaborative environment. These services are provided through individual, group, and family therapy. In addition, we provide professional training, consultation services, and public outreach as core aspects of our shared mission.

Center for Assessment And Treatment (CAAT) 

8401 Connecticut Ave., Ste. 1000, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
240-424-0184; caatonline.com
Contact: David Black, Ph.D.; dblack@caatonline.com
Services: Psychological counseling; Social skills therapy; Behavioral therapy; Neuropsychological testing; Educational testing; Educational consulting

The Center for Assessment And Treatment (CAAT) was created to improve the lives of children, teens, and adults. Their team consists of compassionate clinicians who are dedicated to identifying the obstacles that interfere with an individual’s performance and creating personalized treatment plans to help the individual reach his or her full potential. CAAT provides extraordinary service through a uniquely integrated and continuous approach to evaluation, treatment, and support. We are committed to helping people reach their potential through careful evaluations of strengths and weaknesses and providing individually tailored, empirically-based interventions.

Center for Communication & Learning 

6266 Montrose Road, Rockville, MD 20852
240-883-6731; www.ccl-md.com
Contact: Randi Rosenblatt; info@ccl-md.com
Services: Speech/Language Therapy; Social Skills Therapy; Parent Education

The Center For Communication and Learning is a comprehensive pediatric speech and language private practice that provides evaluations and therapy to children diagnosed with communication challenges secondary to autism, social pragmatic language disorders, speech and language delays, apraxia and oral motor/feeding difficulties. Staff collaborate with educators and therapists in order to provide an integrated approach to services for your child. Family participation is welcomed. The dynamic Be Social Kids programs assist children in developing social thinking skills to enhance their ability to navigate the social world at school and at home. 

Chesapeake Center, ADHD Learning & Behavioral Health 

6430 Rockledge Dr, Suite 500, Bethesda, MD 20817
301-562-8448; www.chesapeakeadd.com
Contact: Kathleen Nadeau, kathleennadeau@chesapeakeadd.com
Services: Medical/medicine management; Psychological counseling; Behavioral therapy; Educational consulting; Educational testing; Neuropsychological testing; Academic tutoring/coaching; College placement assistance; Behavioral support; Medicine management

The Chesapeake Center is an ADHD, Learning and Behavioral Health clinic that offers a broad range of services to people across the lifespan. We provide individualized and integrated care all in one location using a team-based approach. Our services include: developmental and behavioral pediatrics, psychotherapy, psychiatry / medication management, a comprehensive array of assessments including neuropsychological and psychoeducational testing, tutoring and study skills support, executive functioning coaching, specialized career services, school consultations / observations and therapeutic placement services. We believe in treating the whole person taking a strengths-based and solution-focused approach.

Children's Speech Therapy Services 

Bethesda, MD
240-600-0911; https://www.childsspeech.com/
Contact: Jennifer S. Gaum, MA, CCC-SLP, ChildsSpeech@gmail.com

Services: Speech/language therapy; Social Skills therapy; Special education Pre-K; Special education K-12; General education Pre-K-12

I am a sole provider who focuses on your child's needs and involves the whole family and outside providers! I provide in-home and in-school speech-language therapy services!

CSahm Foundation for ADHD 

7920 Longridge Ct, Cabin John, MD 20818

301-257-6655; www.csahmfoundation.org

Contact: Candace Sahm; candace@csahmfoundation.org
Services: Coaching; Tutoring; Customized ADHD programs; Organizational, test-taking, and job readiness training; Support groups

The CSahm Foundation for ADHD Educational Services and Support, Inc. helps low–income youth with ADHD and Autism. We offer coaching support for their organization and time management skills. We have top academic tutors to help with coursework. We also offer counseling and guidance for assessment, IEPs and 504s.

Dance Inclusive 

6125 Montrose Rd, Rockville, MD 20852

https://danceinclusive.com/

Contact: inclusivemovementinfo@gmail.com

Services: Recreation support

Dance Inclusive is a non-profit organization dedicated to sharing the joy of dance with the Neurodiverse Community in Montgomery County, Maryland. We offer dance classes for middle school students (ages 10-13) and young adults (ages 16+) with mild to moderate cognitive disabilities to learn dance technique, practice fun choreography, and move alongside their neurodiverse and neurotypical peers. Dance Inclusive also offers performance opportunities, as well as volunteer opportunities for neurotypical young people. Classes are enrollment-based with Fall, Winter/Spring, and Summer sessions, and instructed by the highly skilled faculty of Unity Dance & Movement. Build social skills, develop confidence, and make new friends - no experience is necessary to come dance with us!

DC Peers 

5028 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20016
202-580-5622; www.dcpeers.org
Contact: Catherine Roberston; crobertson@dcpeers.org
Services: Social skills therapy; recreational support; coaching

DC Peers is a nonprofit providing innovative free/low-cost social learning and social coaching programs to teens and young adults. Our programs bring typical and autistic peers together to learn how neurological differences affect social interactions. We're committed to raising neurodiversity awareness in our organization and our community.

DC Social Hikes 

202-422-2315; www.dcsocialhikes.com
Contact: Lauren Devine; DCsocialhikes@gmail.com
Services: Social skills therapy, athletics, recreations support

DC Social Hikes was created by Maria Stangheriln and Lauren Devine with the belief that movement is medicine and that every kid can benefit from nature and friendship! Maria and Lauren are experienced professionals who bring decades of experience working with a range of kids and young adults. Hikes are geared at neurodiverse kids and address skills like problem solving, regulating emotions, conversation skills, and identifying social cues. 

Disability Rights Maryland 

1500 Union Avenue Suite 2000, Baltimore, MD 21211
410-727-6352; disabilityrightsmd.org
Contact: Robin Murphy; RobinM@DisabilityRightsMD.org
Services: Nonprofit organization; Special education law; advocacy

Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) envisions a world where people with disabilities are fully included in the workplace, neighborhoods and all aspects of community life. We help people with disabilities pursue opportunities to participate fully in all aspects of community life, and champion their rights to self-determination, dignity, equality, opportunity, and freedom from discrimination and harm. DRM may represent Maryland residents who have a disability and a legal issue within the scope of our Advocacy Services Plan.

Educational Resources Group of Greater Washington 

edresourcesgroup.com

Contact: Stacy Ganz Kahn; (301) 636-0389 ; sgkeducational@gmail.com

Services: Educational Consulting and Advocacy; Academic Therapy (Tutoring); Executive Functioning and ADHD Coaching; College Consulting; Behavioral Intervention Support

Utilizing a coordination of care approach, Educational Resources Group of Greater Washington (ERG) provides a high level of expertise and a broad menu of educational services specifically tailored to meet the individual needs of our clients. Our experienced team of certified professionals can also help you navigate the complicated processes often associated with the world of learning differences.

Enhance EFS 

enhanceefs.com

Contact: Marci Skigen; 847-903-5600 ; enhanceefs@gmail.com

Services: Executive Functioning Coaching; IEP Consulting; Academic Tutoring; College Counseling

Whether you’re looking for executive functioning skills training sessions, educational therapy, college counseling, home organization and IEP or 504 advocacy, we have you covered! All of our services are customizable for your needs to ensure we provide the critical tools needed to enhance each individual’s daily lives! Many of our clients are intelligent, capable students, late elementary school to post- college, who are not achieving their potential as a result of ineffective work habits. Some have diagnoses such as ADHD, ASD or other learning differences and see Enhance EFS as excellent additional support to interventions they may have already tried or would like to try. Some of our clients have emotional challenges, such as anxiety, which impact their ability to work effectively. Other clients we work with have no formal diagnoses yet and benefit from learning more effective ways to manage their academic or workplace demands.

Exceptional Educational Solutions 

701 Hyde Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20902
724-320-9026; ExceptionalEducationalSolutions.com
Contact: Stephanie Frumkin, M.A.Ed.; Stephanie@exceptionaleducationalsolutions.com
Services: Educational consulting all grades, special and general education, public and private schools

Exceptional Educational Solutions finds educational solutions for bright K-12 students with learning differences in the D.C. metro area. As an educational consultant and founder of Exceptional Educational Solutions, Stephanie Frumkin helps parents of bright students with learning differences gain clarity and find educational solutions so their child will thrive. She specializes in students with autism, ADHD, mood disorders, behavioral challenges, and other learning differences. Many of her students are gifted/twice exceptional. Stephanie has over 25 years of experience in the field of education. In addition to earning a B.A. in Elementary Education and an M.A. in Leadership in Teaching, she has completed both the COPAA Special Education Advocacy Training 2.0 coursework and the Master IEP Coach Mentorship. She is an associate member of the IECA—Independent Educational Consultants Association. 

Family Legal Advocacy Group (FLAG Family Law) 

7120 Minstrel Way, Ste. 202, Columbia, MD 21045
410-884-0400; flagfamilylaw.com
Contact: Katherine Thomas; katherine@flagfamilylaw.com
Services: Special education law

The attorneys at FLAG are former educators with years of experience working with disadvantaged and special education students. We combine our knowledge of the intricacies of the special education process with the advocacy skills of an attorney. Given that skill set, we are uniquely able to help families determine if an IEP or 504 is appropriate, explain the legal framework, and get children the help they need.

Feig Mediation Group, LLC 

10411 Motor City Drive, Suite 750, Bethesda, MD 20817

301-785-8972; www.feigmediationgroup.com

Contact: Erik Feig; erik@feigmediationgroup.com

Services: Parent/family mediation

Feig Mediation Group provides mediation for parents and adult family members in neurodiverse families who are dealing with important decisions but aren't on the same page - yet.

We help parents have solutions-oriented dialogue so that they can shift from trying to win when they disagree to creating solutions together. Issues we mediate include:

• Managing Logistics and Task Sharing
• Medical Decisions and Evaluations
• School and Educational Decisions
• Financial Planning and Budgeting
• Managing Supports, Therapies, and Services
• Addressing Clutter and Sharing Space
• Parenting Roles and Decision Making
• Divorce & Integrating Blended Families
• Staying in Step!

Fitness for Health 

11140 Rockville Pike, Ste. 303, Rockville, MD 20852
301-231-7138; www.fitnessforhealth.org
Contact: William Sickel; willie@fitnessforhealth.org
Services: Occupational therapy; Physical therapy; Social skills therapy; Athletics/recreational support

Fitness for Health strives to build self-esteem and self confidence, and to make a difference in the lives of the children with whom they work. Combining state-of-the-art equipment with innovative approaches to exercise, Fitness for Health helps people of all ages and abilities enjoy the benefits of physical activity while having fun. Featured in O Magazine, Fox News, and The Today Show, founder Marc Sickel is fulfilling his dream of helping children maximize their physical potential. By using specialized equipment and unique methods, Marc has created an exciting, safe environment where children can develop the motivation and confidence to learn new skills and take on new challenges. They offer a non-intimidating, relaxed environment where children can feel comfortable. Therapeutic fitness, and Occupational and Physical Therapy services are available.

Geneva Presbyterian Church Disability Ministry/Mission Team 

11931 Seven Locks Road, Potomac, MD 20854
804-833-9805; https://genevapotomac.org/
Contact: Allyson McElwaine, asmcelwaine@gmail.com
Services: Hosting social gatherings for neurodiverse children

This new ministry team has formed at Geneva to explore ways we can partner with disabled or special needs individuals and find a role in the disability support community. The Geneva Presbyterian Church in Potomac is known as "the little church with the big heart."

Great and Small 

17320 Moore Road, Boyds, MD 20841

(301) 349-0075; greatandsmallride.org

Contact: Alexis Leonard; info@greatandsmallride.org

Services: Speech language therapy; Athletics; Recreational support

Great and Small provides equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) to children and adults with a wide range of physical, developmental, and emotional disabilities. Our programs include therapeutic riding and summer camps, as well as hippotherapy through a partnership with REINS Therapeutic Services, a local speech-language therapy practice. Through a supportive and therapeutic engagement with horses we strengthen and empower our riders, helping them develop their full potential.

Brian K. Gruber, P.C., Law Office 

6110 Executive Blvd., Ste. 220, Rockville, MD 20852
301-657-3777; www.bkgpc.com
Contact: Brian K. Gruber, Esq., brian.gruber@bkgpc.com
Services: Special education law including consultation, representation at IEP meetings, conflict resolution, mediation, and due process hearings; educational consulting; financial and trust management

The Law Office of Brian K. Gruber, P.C., represents students and their parents in matters related to special education, access to appropriate accommodations under section 504, and students who are facing long-term suspension or expulsion. By developing and maintaining strong relationships with public school agencies in Maryland and DC, the office is often able to help achieve a positive outcome for clients without the need for litigation. Our staff of attorneys have handled hundreds of due process hearings and mediations across Maryland and the District of Columbia. 

Guiding Exceptional Parents, LLC 

4711 Sheridan St., Riverdale Park, MD 20737
301-768-8503, www.guidingexceptionalparents.com
Contact: Sarah Wayland, wayland@guidingexceptionalparents.com
Services: Social Skills Therapy; Behavioral Therapy; Educational Consulting; Behavioral Support; Coaching

In addition to co-authoring the book, "Is This Autism? A Guide for Clinicians and Everyone Else," Sarah Wayland, Ph.D., is a parenting coach, certified RDI consultant, and a special needs care navigator at Guiding Exceptional Parents, LLC. Her work as a parenting coach involves working closely with families to figure out which parenting strategies are best suited to their family - taking the profiles of both the caregivers and the child into account.

As an RDI™ consultant, Dr. Wayland works with parents to show them how to teach their children the essential skills that make relationships work. She teaches them how to identify problems, and through a highly customized program that takes both their profile and their child’s profile into account, they learn how to teach the missing skills. She also works with teens and adults to help them learn the skills necessary for making and maintaining meaningful relationships.

Her Special Needs Navigation Services are designed to help parents learn how to access resources and knowledge so they can confidently and effectively help their children. She knows how to effectively navigate clinical care and educational systems, how to evaluate reports, and how to help prioritize.

H2D Counseling, Sumaiya Olatunde 

301-575-4885; www.h2dcounseling.com

Contact: Sumaiya Olatunde; sumaiya@h2dcounseling.com

Services: Educational advocacy; educational consulting; admissions services; Serving students ages Pre-K through graduate school.

H2D Counseling provides educational advocacy and K-12, college and graduate school admissions services for all students. We participate in IEP and 504 meetings, connect families and students with resources, and help identify needed supports in the areas of education, mental health, therapies, and other needs as they arise. Our approach is very individualized and student-centered with a focus on balancing short-term needs with long-term goals. Sumaiya will also provide a free session to get you started in the right direction.

Heads Up Consulting, Jane Snider 

443-994-7331; http://www.heads-upconsultants.com

Contact:  Dr. Jane Snider; jane@heads-upconsultants.com

Services: Special education law including consultation, representation at IEP meetings, conflict resolution, mediation and due process hearings; educational consulting. 

Dr. Jane Snider and her team at Heads-Up Consultants transform nonprofit organizations, schools, and families whose children struggle with learning differences like dyslexia and ADHD. Dr. Snider is the Founder of The Summit School in Edgewater, MD.

Jane is an entrepreneur and expert in school and nonprofit management. She has worked with heads of schools across the country to refine their special education programs and build support for students with learning differences. Specialties include: guiding parents to appropriate schools; advocating with Admissions Directors for student placement; interpreting diagnostic assessments.

Jean Hickey, M.Ed. 

Kensington, MD

Contact: 240-460-5306; jeh217@aol.com
Services: Individual educational therapy; academic tutoring/coaching; educational consulting; parent training and support

Jean Hickey has worked with children and adolescents with significant learning needs for more than thirty years. Jean works with individuals ages 3-21 and her experience covers the range of academic skills in addition to community, vocational, and life skills instruction. For the past 25 years, Jean has worked one-on-one with students to build skills in all areas of learning. Jean values the role parents play in their child's education and welcomes parents and caregivers to sit in on all sessions. Jean works primarily from her Kensington office or via virtual Zoom sessions. Jean has experience working with children on the Autism Spectrum as well as children with Fragile X, Down Syndrome, and rare genetic disorders. Jean develops a hands-on, fun, and individualized approach for each student and provides parents with information and skills to support their child. In addition to individual instruction and parent support, Jean also consults with team members and coordinates the focus of support among school-based and private therapists and teachers. Jean also develops home-based instruction for a team approach and has experience developing and supporting home-school plans. Jean has delivered presentations and led workshops for the xMinds community and has presented at the Fragile X International Conference and the Learning Disabilities Association of Montgomery County. Jean is a special educator with both a bachelor and master's degree in special education. Jean is also trained in Orton-Gillingham IMSE and completed the S.E.A.T. 1.0 course through COPAA (Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates).

Integrated Living Opportunities 

5603 Potomac Avenue NW, North Entrance, Washington DC 20016
202-248-7113; www.ilonow.org
Contact: Executive Director Tait Danielson Castillo; info@ilonow.org
Services: Independent living support; coaching

Integrated Living Opportunities is a non-profit organization that is devoted to helping families with special needs build supportive, integrated communities that enable safe, productive, independent living options for their young adults with developmental disabilities. ILO helps families create networks of support for adults with disabilities by developing teams of paid and unpaid individuals for our self-advocates as they move out of their family houses into their own homes.

The Ivymount School and Outreach Programs 

11614 Seven Locks Rd., Rockville, MD 20854
301-469-0223; www.ivymount.org
Contact: Carolyn Leskowitz Woodham; cwoodham@ivymount.org
Services: Private school; Nonprofit organization; Occupational therapy; Speech/language therapy; Social skills therapy; Behavioral therapy; Educational consulting; Athletics/recreational support

Ivymount School and Programs provide school- and community-based services for children and young adults with special needs from throughout the Washington metropolitan area.

The school serves more than 200 students, ages 4–21, with speech and language impairments, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, health impairments, and Autism Spectrum Disorders. The classrooms are structured to serve students with a range of academic and cognitive abilities, including, in some cases, those who have the potential to obtain a high school diploma.

Ivymount Outreach Programs serve students, teachers, and parents to support children with learning and developmental challenges in the community through assessments, evaluations, therapies and professional development. The goal in all of the programs is to help children and young adults achieve their highest level of development and independence to live with dignity and self-respect. Ivymount School has been twice recognized as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education. Founded in 1961, Ivymount celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2011.

JMS Education Consulting 

240-994-0330; https://www.jmseduconsulting.com/

Contact: Joanna Salzman; joanna@jmseduconsulting.com

Services: Educational advocacy; Educational consulting; Educational assessments

At JMS Education Consulting, we believe families and schools must work together to meet the needs of all children. Together, we will define what success means for your child and help them to achieve it. This includes the IEP and 504 processes. I also conduct educational assessments, do observations, recommend strategies, write  edit IEPs, and participate in all types of meetings. I want to work collaboratively with schools so we can meet the needs of your child, together. If you feel your child needs a different placement or services, I can also assist with this. 

Spectrum Education and Therapy Center 

15806 Chippenham Terrace, Upper Marlboro, MD, 20774

301-857-1789; www.SETClearning.com

Contact: Keisha Berry; admin@setclearning.com

Services: Occupational therapy; Speech/language therapy; Social skills therapy; Behavioral therapy; Educational consulting/testing; Academic tutoring/coaching

We specialize in supporting families who have chosen to homeschool their children. Consider us a "Homeschool Related Services Team". Our multidisciplinary team partners with parents to provide their family members with a quality education at home. We also serve children and young adults in traditional education and community settings through tutoring, parent coaching, vocational training, and social skills development.

Steven Kane, Ph.D. 

4405 East West Highway, Suite 501, Bethesda, MD 20814
240-476-8764; www.stevenkanephd.com
Contact: Steven Kane; stevenkanephd@verizon.net
Services: Psychological counseling; Social skills therapy

Steven Kane provides psychotherapy to children and adults with diverse neurodevelopmental profiles. He has worked in special education, residential and private practice settings for over 30 years with a primary focus on autism spectrum disorders.

Lisa Kays, PLLC 

1800 R Street NW #C8, Washington, DC 20009

202-489-6882; www.lisakays.com

Contact: Lisa Kays; lisa@lisakays.com
Services: Psychological counseling; Ages 21+

Lisa Kays provides psychotherapy to adult individuals, couples, and groups, as well as improvisation classes and training to a diverse number of groups and for a variety of purposes. Her practice offers interpersonal process groups, as well as themed groups, one of which is a support and therapy group for grownups of neuro-diverse kids.

The Language Link 

Silver Spring, MD
240-621-0855; www.thelanguagelink.com; www.speechexplorers.com
Contact: Aviva Krauthammer; aviva@thelanguagelink.com
Services: Speech/language therapy, Social skills therapy, Behavioral support, Verbal Behavior, Educational consulting, Social Skills Groups, Parent Education

The Language Link speech-language pathologists are dedicated to serving children, teens, and adults with speech, language, social pragmatic, and executive functioning needs in Montgomery County, MD and Washington DC.

Dr. Joanna Lhulier 

5480 Wisconsin Ave. NW, #204, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
202-262-1483; www.drlhulier.com
Contact: Dr. Joanna Lhulier; drlhulier@gmail.com
Services: Psychological counseling

Dr. Joanna Lhulier is a licensed psychologist in MD and DC, and has been in private practice for over 15 years. She provides individual psychotherapy and psychological consultations to both adults and adolescents who are either on the autism spectrum or who have a loved one on the spectrum (parents, siblings, spouses etc.)

Link Education Resources 

17208 Wellflet Dr., Olney, MD 20832
240-644-4648; www.linkeducationresources.com
Contact: Eve Margol; eve@linkeducationresources.com
Services: Educational Consulting; Academic tutoring/coaching

Our philosophy is to provide children, parents and educators the greatest chance of success by offering the necessary supports, education, and skills for both the individual and group setting. In a group setting, a classroom, daycare or homeschool environment, LinkEducation Resources offers parents and educators research based training and development of strategies for student’s mindfulness, executive functioning and behavior modification as well as the underdeveloped student skills that often accompany and lay as the root of these behaviors. This multi-tiered and collaborative support approach partners parents, teachers and students to work as a team towards the shared goal of student success. On the individual level, LinkEducation Resources offers support for both typical and exceptional students in understanding and developing underlying academic areas weakness and identifying strengths. This is done using an individualized tutoring approach combining research based programs such as Orton Gillingham, Lindamood Bell, Handwriting Without Tears, and Framing Your Thoughts. Additionally, LER integrates strategies that will enable students to problem solve, stay organized and master challenging academic environments independently.

MOCO Movement Center 

5268-A Nicholson Lane, Kensington, MD 20895
301-770-5437; www.MOCOmc.com
Contact: Andrea Santman; info@MOCOmc.com
Services: Occupational therapy; Physical therapy; Speech-language therapy; Behavioral therapy; Social skills therapy; Athletics/recreational support; Coaching

MOCO Movement Center is a fully inclusive pediatric therapy practice and athletic movement center. We offer movement classes for children of all ages and abilities and provide therapy services to support their function. MOCO's proprietary method, Applied Functional Therapy, takes evidence-based physical, occupational and speech therapy out of the clinic and integrates it into real life activities to help your child achieve better functional outcomes. MOCO Movement Center is committed to excellence and puts our patients and families first! That means staying on the cutting-edge of medical research and education, truly understanding your child’s goals, and adapting therapy to meet their specific needs. Showing families how to interact and grow in a real-world environment is our way of showing you that MOCO’s commitment does not end at our doors.

Martinez Advocacy 

10605 Concord St., Ste. 102, Kensington, MD 20895
202-255-7842; www.martinezadvocacy.com
Contact: Monica Martinez; mmartinez@martinezadvocacy.com
Services: Special Education Advocacy

Monica Martinez is a special education advocate working with families in Montgomery County, MD. Through her seven plus years of involvement in Partnership for Extraordinary Minds (xMinds), Monica developed an in-depth understanding of how Montgomery County Public Schools educates students on the autism spectrum and how to navigate the district’s special education system. Monica’s areas of expertise are services and accommodations for students on the autism spectrum, as well as those with ADHD and/or co-morbid mental health issues. Monica also works to help parents and guardians understand the educational rights of their children. Monica has attended Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Training and completed the yearlong Special Education Advocate Training (SEAT) 2.0 through the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA).

Pediatric Development Center, LLC 

15850 Crabbs Branch Way, Suite 150, Rockville, MD 20855

12520 Prosperity Drive, Suite 210, Silver Spring, MD 20904

301-869-7505; pdcandme.com

Contact: Amy Wetherill; info@pdcandme.com
Services: Occupational therapy, Physical therapy, Speech/language therapy, Social skills therapy, Coaching, Verbal Behavior

At the Pediatric Development Center (PDC) everything we do is centered around play and practical experience.  We believe that all children learn best by fully engaging in stimulating, hands-on activities.  Through our captivating, play-based model, PDC  provides skilled, collaborative speech-language, occupational, feeding, and physical therapy services.  We partner with families to ensure that what the child learns with us transitions well to their home environment. Our bilingual office staff is here to help you get started, and our dedicated billing team will help you get the most out of your insurance benefits. We have physical offices in Rockville and Silver Spring, and the PDC Virtual Clinic lets us help children all across Maryland via teletherapy. PDC is truly the place where EVERYONE can discover what is possible. (Now in-network with BlueCross, United Healthcare, TRICARE, and Maryland Medicaid.)

Personalized Career Services, LLC 

P.O. Box 915, Laurel, MD 20725

240-704-4449; https://www.pcscareerservices.com/

Contact: Viktoriya Selden; selden@pcscareerservices.com

Services: College placement assistance, Coaching, College assistance

PCS provides career services to young adults with autism and other disabilities. The services are personalized to each student’s needs, abilities, and goals. Students can participate in career exploration, assessment, or coaching to identify specific career goals, acquire job seeking skills, and learn about workplace professionalism. Students can also learn about self-advocacy, disclosure, and accommodations as it relates to their needs. Students pursuing postsecondary education can learn of suitable programs, college majors, and schools.

Raising Orchid Kids 

Washington, DC

917-696-1155; http://www.raisingorchidkids.com

Contact: Jen Dryer and Gabriele Nicolet; raisingorchidkids@gmail.com
Services: Support and coaching for parents

Raising Orchid Kids is a parent education and coaching practice dedicated to helping parents find practical parenting strategies that actually work with neuro-different kids. All services are virtual.

Reach Every Voice 

11900 Parklawn Drive, Suite 110, Rockville, MD 20852

240-630-1785; http://www.reacheveryvoice.org

Contact: Lisa Mihalich Quinn; lisa@reacheveryvoice.org
Services: Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC) Services; Rapid Prompting Method (RPM) provider; Communication/educational consultant; Academic tutoring/coaching

Reach Every Voice is a multi-faceted practice created and staffed by experienced teachers. REV provides communication instruction to nonspeaking or unreliably speaking individuals, hosts in-person group programs that build communication practice and provide opportunities for socialization, offers online courses for non speakers, and provides consultation, training, and coaching for families and schools working to improve their communication practices. REV is a nonprofit organization. 

Rebecca Resnik & Associates 

Executive Office: 6125 Executive Boulevard, North Bethesda, MD 20852

Old Georgetown Office: 11510 Old Georgetown Rd, Suite F, North Bethesda, MD 20852

301-581-1120; www.resnikpsychology.com
Contact: Rebecca Resnik; drresnik@resnikpsychology.com
Services: Psychological counseling; Educational consulting; Educational testing; Neuropsychological testing

For over 13 years, Rebecca Resnik and Associates has offered exceptional psychological assessment, psychotherapy, medical/dental desensitization, parent coaching, educational advocacy, and training/continuing education for both parents and professionals. All professional services are conducted personally by Licensed Psychotherapists/Psychologists exclusively (we do not use techs or trainees). Our clinicians are highly skilled at serving clients with a wide range of neurodiversity, including non-speaking and Gifted/2e individuals aged two through adult. We personalize our care according to each person's goals and strengths so our clients can access their support needs and reach their full potential. Our offices are sensory friendly and fully ADA compliant.

Naomi Rubinstein LLC 

North Potomac, MD

Contact: Naomi Rubinstein; naomirubinsteinllc@gmail.com; 301-509-9181

Services: Direct developmental support services, parent coaching, collaboration with schools and outside practitioners, case management, inclusion support, special education navigation, and professional development. Serving infants through 12 years old.

Naomi Rubinstein, M.Ed. partners with parents, schools, and outside practitioners to support children as they develop the tools to be resilient, social, independent and cognitively flexible teens and young adults. She spends time with the child and family in multiple environments-home, school, social settings-in order to understand the whole child and family dynamics. She guides parents to identify and prioritize the appropriate combination of treatments and/or approaches to best support their child’s goals. Naomi takes a holistic view of the child’s development in order to create and execute individualized developmental plans. This approach assists children as they utilize their interests and strengths to develop the building blocks necessary to thrive in various social and academic settings. She problem solves with parents and schools and provides them with individualized, research-based tools to support the child in all situations. In addition, she works directly with the child to explicitly teach skills and meet goals. She often promotes the attainment of goals during individual and/or parent coaching sessions and then scaffolds these skills in real time, thus, promoting generalization across settings. 

Through this process, parents better understand the needs of their child and are able to think flexibly about how best to support their child during challenging times. Naomi’s collaborative approach ensures strategies are in place throughout the week-from school to play dates to daily routines at home-thus, setting up the child for success. Areas of support: Social/emotional development, executive functioning, play, behavior, cognitive flexibility, and sibling relationships. 

SCI Educational Consultants, Inc. 

8800 Quiet Stream Ct., Potomac, MD 20854
301 996-4124
Contact: Dr. Sheila Iseman, scikids@gmail.com
Services: Special education consulting, ages from Pre-K through elementary, secondary and transition years to age 21 

Dr. Iseman, with 50 years' experience in the area of special needs, provides services to students and their parents to achieve appropriate educational programming and/or placement in public and private schools. Consulting services include case management, IEP development, support at all meetings, programming and placement, and referrals for evaluations and community services.

Shefter Law, PA 

shefterlaw.com; 110 N Washington St, Suite 350, Rockville, MD 20850 

Contact: Frances Shefter; frances@shefterlaw.com; 301-605-7303 

Services: Special education law; Educational consulting

Shefter Law, PA is a law firm dedicated to helping families have a Stress-Free IEP experience. Parents of Children with Special Needs have a ton of demands on their time and energy. Learning the complexities of how to get your child’s school to meet his or her unique needs is just one more thing you do not need on your plate. As a former Special Education teacher, Frances Shefter is uniquely able to mix Education and the Law to help take the stress out of the IEP or 504 process. She aims to empower families with the knowledge and resources needed to help bring peace and harmony to their home.  

Spectrum Transition Coaching, LLC 

703-988-3470; https://spectrumtransitioncoaching.com/

Contact:  Beth Felsen; bfelsen@spectrumtransitioncoaching.com

Services: Coaching; College assistance; Grades 9–12 and transition ages (18–21) 

Spectrum Transition Coaching, LLC provides college readiness coaching for autistic high school students and their parents as well as one-on-one coaching for autistic young adult clients 18 and older. College readiness for autistic high school students focuses on the non-academic skills needed for college success: self-advocacy, executive function, social communication and life skills. One-on-one coaching after high school can focus on academic, social, organizational, life, and employment goals. Services are provided virtually. Private pay only. Navigating life with autism can be really difficult – working with a coach can make it easier.

SpeechKids, LLC 

DC, MD, and VA
202-306-0505; http://www.speechkids.com; http://www.raisingorchidkids.com
Contact: Gabriele Nicolet; info@speechkids.com
Services: Speech-language therapy; Educational consulting; Coaching

Speech Kids provides holistic, developmental, attachment-based pediatric speech therapy serving DC, MD, VA. Raising Orchids is the parent education division of SpeechKids that offers parent education and parent support groups for parents of neurodiverse children (global, online), along with a monthly subscription service that past participants can opt into. 

SPIRIT Club 

10417-B Kensington Pkwy, Kensington, MD 20895

(301) 933-3722; https://www.spirit-club.com/

Contact: Jared Ciner; join@spirit-club.com

Services: Athletics/recreational support, Athletics, Coaching

SPIRIT Club offers supportive fitness programs that are universally designed to support people of ALL abilities. We put a focus on functional fitness and movements that are used in our daily lives with our own SPIRIT Club spin to make the workouts fun and engaging for members and supporters. Classes are structured into a two-circuit workout routine with a fun SPIRIT Challenge to test what we learned throughout the class. We also offer 1:1 and small group training. Just bring your energy, water and some SPIRIT and let’s have some fun with fitness!

Starobin Counseling, LLC 

18213 Hillcrest Ave., Olney, MD 20832
301-417-5979; www.starobincounseling.com
Contact: Caron Starobin, LCSW-C; caron@starobincounseling.com
Services: Psychological counseling, Social skills therapy, Support groups

Starobin Counseling offers individual, couples, family, and group therapy. In individual & family counseling for autistic people, people have a space for exploring their identity as an autistic person, exploring and addressing trauma that impacts their daily living, learning relationship skills and tools for thinking with greater flexibility, and receiving support and counseling for mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Family members learn to interact with greater ease and compassion with their loved ones and learn how to provide support and scaffolding for their autistic family members. Starobin Counseling facilitates the following support group programs:  Parents Together,  Siblings Together, and Autistic Adults Support Groups. The parent groups offer parents emotional support, information, resources, and connection to other parents with similar experiences and aims to strengthen the capacity of parents to navigate the maze of services for their children, adolescents, and young adults. Siblings Together offers a supportive and therapeutic space for children and adolescents who have autistic siblings.   Starobin Counseling also offers two support groups for autistic adults. These groups are open to self-identified autistics and autistics with formal diagnoses. The adult groups provide a supportive space for making connections that can reduce social isolation and a space where members can share experiences and exchange resources with others who may relate to the path autistics travel in a world designed for neurotypicals.

The Stixrud Group, LLC 

8720 Georgia Ave., Suite 606, Silver Spring, MD 20910

(301) 565-0534; http://stixrud.com

Contact:  Dr. Salya Namazi; snamazi@stixrud.com

Services: Educational Testing; Neuropsychological Testing; Educational Consulting

The Stixrud Group is a group of neuropsychologists and clinical psychologists who specialize in the evaluation of children, adolescents and adults with learning, attention, social or emotional difficulties. We are committed to the alleviation of suffering for our clients and their families by removing any blocks to their experiencing happiness and fulfillment in life. We believe this is accomplished by helping our clients understand themselves. Our goal is to use our professional knowledge and skills to help people achieve educational and professional success, emotional healing and interpersonal harmony in their relationships.

Talk Yoga 

3207 Decatur Ave., Kensington, MD 20895 

(202) 607-0910; www.talkyogaslp.com

Contact: Kim Hughes; talkyogaslp@gmail.com

Services: Speech/language therapy; recreational support; ages preschool to 21+

Talk Yoga™ is a multidisciplinary, evidenced-based treatment approach incorporating the movement of yoga with speech-language therapy resulting in intentional, playful, and effective intervention.

TAR Education in Motion, LLC 

(202) 808-5924; www.tareducationinmotion.com

Contact: Pia Seltmann; contact@tareducationinmotion.com

Services: In-home occupational therapy services and parent coaching

TAR Education in Motion, LLC is committed to making a positive impact on children's lives through personalized in-home occupational therapy services. Our comprehensive approach encompasses addressing sensory needs, enhancing activities of daily living (ADL) skills, refining fine motor abilities, and more. With a specialization in working with children with special needs, including those on the autism spectrum, our goal is to provide tailored care that supports growth and development in a familiar setting. Additionally, if in-home speech therapy is desired, we are dedicated to helping you find the right speech therapist to cater to those needs.

The Treatment and Learning Centers 

2092 Gaither Rd., Ste. 100, Rockville, MD 20850
301-424-5200; www.ttlc.org
Contact: Michelle Lyons; mlyons@ttlc.org
Services: Private school; Psychological counseling; Occupational therapy; Speech/language therapy; Social skills therapy; Educational testing; Neuropsychological testing; Academic tutoring/coaching

TLC annually serves nearly 2,000 children and adults with a wide range of special needs. Our mission is to improve the lives of and to expand possibilities for these individuals through offering a family of services within one organization. We offer speech-language and occupational therapy, evaluations and summer programs for children; comprehensive psychological and educational testing, tutoring and counseling for students with learning challenges.

The Katherine Thomas School is a private school for students with moderate to severe language and learning disabilities and/or autism, preschool through twelfth grade. Summer programs and intensive educational programs are available.

The Outcomes Service helps individuals with special needs find and keep jobs and live independently in our community.

The Family Hearing Center conducts hearing testing, provides counseling, evaluations and hearing aid fittings for all ages.

Vista Choice Supports, LLC 

1500 Pointer Ridge Place, Unit 1721 Bowie, MD 20716

(240) 472-2846; https://vistachoice.org/

Contact: Linda Stringer; Linda@vistachoice.org

Services: Coaching; Support Brokerage

Vista Choice Supports provides assistance to individuals with developmental disabilities who choose to direct their own services and supports, which are approved by the Maryland DDA. The individual with disabilities (the "Participant") is supported by a team that helps to implement their "Person-Centered Plan. "  A Vista Choice Support Broker can assist the Participant by serving as a human resource agent to help promote their goals, find work, live safely, learn new skills, and engage in activities in their community. 

The Support Broker can help with:  navigating community waiver supports (Maryland DDA), recruiting and training direct support staff (personal supports) , training Participants and their representatives in self-directed services, and managing the Participant's DDA Waiver budget and employees that are hired to support the Participant.

Washington Behavioral Medicine Associates, LLC/SOAR Program for Psychotherapy & Testing 

Jaclyn Halpern, Psy.D., Director/Co-Founder

5480 Wisconsin Ave #223  Chevy Chase, MD 20815

(301) 576-6044; https://www.wbma.cc

Contact:  Jaclyn Halpern, Psy.D.; hello@wbma.cc

Services:  Medical/medicine management; Psychological counseling; Social skills therapy; Behavioral therapy; Educational consulting; Educational testing; Neuropsychological testing; Academic tutoring/coaching

We believe in providing empathic, personalized science-based treatments and supports. Our providers seek to accurately identify strengths, vulnerabilities, neurodiversity, and diagnoses. Our supports and treatments rely upon a thorough understanding of each individual’s medical and developmental history, and identified needs. They may include the integration of medication, neuromodulation (TMS, eTNS, tDCS, and others), comprehensive psychological testing, a range of supportive psychotherapies, expressive arts therapies, coaching, psychiatric genetics and pharmacogenetics, personal and family-based care, diet and supplements, and adequate sleep and reasonable exercise. Treatment and support plans are based on each individual’s needs.

Our practice is unique in its integration of traditional psychiatry and psychology, genetics, neuroscience, and holistic, whole-person approaches to care. We help you achieve your treatment goals through our collaborative wellness model. We know reaching out is not easy, and we are dedicated to creating the most helpful path towards wellness for each and every person and family. Our patient population is diverse, we are neurodiversity affirmative, and we are inclusive and welcoming to all. Telehealth available.

Dr. Webbink & Associates, PA 

6109 Broad St. Bethesda, MD 20816

301-229-8000;  AACCounseling.com

Contact: Dr. Patricia Webbink; enrichctr@aol.com

Services: Psychological counseling, social skills therapy, academic tutoring

Dr. Patricia Webbink is a licensed psychologist in private practice who has worked with children with autism and Aspergers for over 50 years. She began her work with autistic children at Duke University, where she received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, working with pioneers in the field of childhood autism, including Dr. Eric Schopler, a researcher into Autism and a colleague of Bernard Rimland. For over 30 years, Dr. Webbink has developed summer programs for Autistic children where they receive one-on-one attention. She has published several books, including The Power Of The Eyes.

Weinfeld Education Group (WEG) 

Rich Weinfeld, Executive Director
4865A Cordell Ave, Ste 240, Bethesda, MD 20814
301-681-6233; www.wegadvocacy.com
Contact: office@wegadvocacy.com
Services: Educational Advocacy, IEP Planning, School Selection, Trainings and Consultations, Expert Witness, Gifted and Talented, Behavioral/Discipline Services 

Weinfeld Education Group strives to help all students reach their potential. They focus on students who face increased obstacles presented by their learning challenges or disabilities, and are in need of special education or other educational support services. WEG provides services in Maryland, Virginia, DC, and virtually, nationwide.

Dr. Jamell White 

Services primarily provided in offices located in Rockville and Bethesda; Community-based support and virtual sessions also offered.
Contact: Dr. Jamell White; drjamellwhite@gmail.com; 301-613-1766 

Services: Psychological counseling; Social skills therapy; Behavioral support

Dr. Jamell White is a therapist specializing in working with children, adolescents and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other (neuro)developmental disabilities.  She has over 20 years of experience providing individual and family therapy, social skills intervention, and care coordination and consultation for individuals and their families. Dr. White is also a PEERS Certified Provider.

Dr. White has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Maryland, a master’s degree in social work from The Catholic University of America, a master’s degree in special education from Johns Hopkins University and a doctorate in Human Development and Quantitative Methodology from the University of Maryland. Dr. White is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry (Child and Adolescent) at Georgetown University School of Medicine as well as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Sondra Wolff, LCSW 

Contact: Sondra Wolff, LCSW; sondrawolff@me.com; 703-794-4514

1487 Chain Bridge Road, Suite #303

McLean, VA 22101

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/sondra-wolff-mclean-va/253091

Services: Psychological counseling

Offering individual and group neuroaffirmative psychotherapy to Autistic Women on-line and in-person, residing in MD, DC & VA. I work with adults and teens using interpersonal and cognitive-behavioral therapies. My clinical interests include: 1) Women with anxiety, depression, and relationship difficulties 2) Peer and romantic relationship issues 3) ADHD & learning differences 4) Autistic Women

I offer a sensitive and nonjudgmental manner for reflection on areas where you feel hurt, lost, and stuck. Together we will build on your strengths and internal resources to manage intense emotions, cope with difficult situations, build confidence, and improve relationships. With greater clarity and confidence, it is possible to lead a happier lifestyle.

Gulnoza Yakubova, Ph.D.

University of Maryland, College Park, 3214 Benjamin Building
https://education.umd.edu/directory/gulnoza-yakubova
Contact: Gulnoza Yakubova; (301) 405-6889; gulnoza@umd.edu
Services: Research studies involving autistic individuals and their families. Research interests: Autism, technology-based intervention, virtual and augmented reality, parent training, life skills instruction, academic supports.

Gulnoza Yakubova, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in Special Education in the College of Education at the University of Maryland, College Park. Having received her Ph.D. in special education from Purdue University in 2013, Dr. Yakubova worked as an Assistant Professor at Duquesne University prior to joining UMD. She has several years of experience in working with autistic children to teach them independent living skills and supporting them in an academic environment. Her overarching research interest focuses on examining technology-based interventions to teach autistic students the skills they need to have a successful life after school. She uses technology with a primary focus on: (1) increasing functional independence of autistic children in school and community, (2) supporting access to learning academic content, and (3) training parents on creating video-based interventions. She conducts virtual and in-person training and research with autistic children and their parents via ongoing research projects.