Recommended Autism Consultant

As a professional I feel it my duty to provide my clients and parents of children with special needs, with information regarding other professionals.  I am passionate about empowering families to make informed decisions about the healthcare of their child. I know I can’t do it all, and so I have and continue to build a trusted network of skilled professionals who can help.  

It is my distinct pleasure to introduce Brenna Noland.  I have worked with Brenna for the past 17 months, and in this time I have noted and observed her amazing abilities to work with families and their children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.  Not only do I respect and trust her work; I look forward to collaborating with her because every time I do, I learn!

Brenna Noland: 3B's Therapy

During the school year, Brenna works full-time as an Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) teacher and autism specialist for a local school district. The majority of her current caseload is children who have been identified as having an autism spectrum disorder (or who are displaying red flags for ASD) between the ages of 18 months and 5 years old. She has over 6 years of experience working with children with special needs and their families.

She received her ECSE degree from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire in 2005 and her Master’s of Arts in Autism Spectrum Disorders from the University of St. Thomas in February of 2011.  All of the graduate credits that she received outside of the ASD program came from her coursework in the Emotional or Behavioral Disorders program.  While she specializes in working with children with ASD and those with behavior challenges, she also enjoys working with children with overall developmental delays.

She has received training in various methodologies; however, she believes in using a variety of evidence-based strategies based on each child’s interests, strengths and needs rather than sticking to the strategies that compose one single methodology.  The variety of strategies that she has learned over the years enables her to provide effective instruction geared towards increasing skills in young children across each developmental domain within daily routines.

For families looking for help and assistance, or collaboration regarding their child with Autism Spectrum Disorders, please visit Breanna's website at http://3bstherapy.com.

Respectfully,

The Candid Therapist

Is there a difference between School and Private Therapists?

The answer is "no" there is not a difference in the type of training or qualifications that a Speech Language Pathologist has to have to work in a private clinic or within the schools.  The answer is also "yes" there is a difference in when we can or cannot provide services.

So, what is it really then?

Within the education setting the Department of Education sets guidelines for criteria.  In order for your child to receive Special Education services in the area of Speech Pathology they need to meet the criteria for disability in one or more of the following areas: articulation, language, voice, and/or fluency.  The rules for a Speech/Language Impairment can be found here:  https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/?id=3525.1343

Within the clinic setting the criteria is set by your individual insurance company.  Some insurances exclude things such as stuttering, others many exclude any habilitative services for children with developmental delays.  While yet other insurance companies will cover services up a set number of visits.  And yet others determine qualification for services based on the child's percentile rank within a given area. It is highly and solely dependent on your insurance and which policy you have from that insurance.

If your child qualifies for services from the school district all goals must be educationally appropriate.  This excludes: feeding therapies, alternative therapies such as The Listening Program and other such holistic approaches.  If a therapy method cannot be directly related to and/or pertinent to a child reaching educational expectations it cannot be used within therapy sessions in the school setting.

If your child qualified for services from a private clinic the therapist may or may not have more flexibility in the amount and/or type of therapies that can be provided.  Certainly a private therapist is able to address feeding difficulties, auditory processing difficulties, and all other speech and language delays.

Things to keep in mind as a parent:
1) If your child doesn't qualify for speech and language services in the school; they may qualify through a private clinic.
2) It is OK to have both a school Speech Pathologist and a private Speech Pathologist-Word to the wise: your child will receive the best care when you sign releases for the school and private therapist to collaborate.
3) You are your child's best advocate- Be open and honest about what your concerns for your child are.