7404 Chapel Hill Road, Unit K
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 854-4400
(919) 854-4446 fax
raleigh@asmallmiracleinc.com

A Small Miracle, Inc. in Raleigh offers a wide range of therapeutic programs and advocates that each family tailor their program specifically for their child.  Our Raleigh office provides individualized programs using a wide range of methodologies including:  Applied Behavior Analysis (both Lovaas and Verbal Behavior Therapies), TEACCH, Relationship Development Intervention (RDI), and Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). The ASM team combines Specialized Consultative Services, Individual/Caregiver Training and Education, and "program specific" staff training with one-on-one services to provide a thorough and effective program for each individual.

A Small Miracle, Inc. also believes that every member of a child’s team should work together to ensure an optimum program.  To further these goals, we offer a variety of guest speakers and trainings throughout the year.  Each quarter we offer training sessions (link to current Raleigh training schedule, including VB workshop series) on a variety of therapeutic methodologies including:  Applied Behavior Analysis Programs and Techniques (including Verbal Behavior), Special Diets such as Gluten- and Casein-Free, Relationship Development Intervention, Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), Social Stories, and Alternative Treatments for Autism.  We contract with the area’s leading Speech / Language Pathologists, Behavioral Psychologists and Behavior Analysts to present these trainings.  To encourage a true therapeutic team, we invite everyone to come to these trainings including staff, parents, teachers, babysitters, community members and other professionals.

Realizing that many of our individuals need assistance in areas such as socialization and appropriate play skills, we developed a Community Outing Program, and each month we schedule several community based events during which we teach specific socialization and play skills.  These outings include bowling, sports events, therapeutic horseback riding, restaurants, parks, and museums. We also offer activities for siblings to participate in, and at the suggestion of our individuals’ families, we have expanded the program to include a family outing each month that all family members are invited to attend.

Our Raleigh office has also teamed up with A.E. Finley YMCA to provide Parents’ Night Out as a free service for our families one Saturday each month from 6-9pm.  Both service recipients and siblings are welcome to join us in fun activities at the YMCA.  Each month we offer a variety of play activities based around a theme.  While a habilitation technician accompanies each service recipient, ASM provides interns to assist with the siblings. This is another opportunity for individuals to work on socialization and play skills while their parents enjoy a well-deserved night out on the town!

Last but not least, in collaboration with the GRACE Foundation of Raleigh, A Small Miracle, Inc. offers our Raleigh service recipients two free thirty-minute therapeutic riding sessions each month.  If you are not familiar with the GRACE Foundation, the ultimate goal at this non-profit organization is “to provide families of autistic children a place to come and always be welcome.” Horseback riding is a favorite activity for many of our individuals (and offers therapeutic benefits as well!)

The Raleigh Team

Keri Richardson, Program Director
Keri Richardson is the Program Director/QP for the Raleigh office. She graduated from the University of North Carolina in Wilmington with her Bachelors degree in Psychology with a minor in Education in 1999. While attending college, she worked with children with disabilities at a local elementary school. Following her graduation, Keri received formal ABA-Lovaas training in Pennsylvania and practiced discrete trial training with children with autism for three years. During that time she also served as a Program Director/QP for a residential facility for adults with DD and MI issues. In 2001 Keri helped open the Raleigh ASM office. She received training in Verbal Behavior, attending seminars by Drs. Carbone, Partington, and McGreevy, and local experts such as SLP Tracy Vail and BCABA/VB Consultant Denise Freeman. Keri has also attended RDI seminars by Dr. Gutstein and local SLP/RDI consultant Amy Cameron, PECS training, Social Stories Training with Carol Grey, the 2003 Florida Association of Behavioral Analysts Conference, and the 2004 DAN Biomedical Conference. In total, Keri has worked with or supervised programs for children with disabilities and specialized in autism for over 10 years.

Beth Gaul, Assistant Program Director
Beth Gaul graduated from Meredith College with a Bachelors degree in Psychology and a minor in Communication in May of 2002. While at Meredith, Beth worked in the Autism Lab, using ABA/behavior modification techniques to teach children with Autism. In March of 2002, she joined the ASM team as a habilitation technician, and then after graduation took on additional duties as a Family Trainer. She continued to study Verbal Behavior (VB), attending seminars by Dr. Carbone, Dr. Sunberg, and local SLP Tracy Vail. She has also attended numerous other trainings on RDI, HBOT, Special Diets, Social Stories, and other educational and biomedical treatments for autism. Beth was promoted to AP in February of 2004 and to QP in May of 2004. She was then promoted to Assistant Program Director in May of 2007.

April Holleman, Office Manager
April Holleman is the Office Manager for the Raleigh office. She studied Information Systems/Office System Administration at Wake Technical Community College. During her two years there she specialized in office supports/computer management, computer hardware/software support, and database management. April then worked in office management for an agency providing services to individuals with mental illness. April joined ASM in April of 2002 as our Office Manager.




Wendy Vos, QP / Adult Community Outing Program Chair
Wendy Vos graduated from North Carolina State University with a Bachelors degree in Psychology in December of 2005. She began working for A Small Miracle in March of 2003 as a Habilitation Technician. During this time, she implemented an intensive Verbal Behavior program with a service recipient. Wendy then worked as an AQP with another provider agency and rejoined A Small Miracle as an AQP in May of 2006. She has attended both TEACCH training and VB trainings and has experience supervising individuals with autism and other disabilities. Wendy became a QP in December of 2007 and is an NCI instructor. She attended ASD conference, Adolescent and Behavior training, and training on RDI by Dr. Gutstein. Wendy is is also the NCIA / NCI B Instructor.



Sara Keen, QP / Family Support Group Chair
Sara graduated from North Carolina State University with a BA in Psychology and a minor in Sociology in May of 2006. While in school, she joined ASM as a habilitation technician and worked with both children and adults with various disabilities. She has received training in Verbal Behavior and RDI from local SLP Tracy Vail and has shadowed a child with special needs at Camp Friendly in Raleigh. With three and a half years of experience. Sara has worked as an AQP with ASM since 2006, and was promoted to QP in May of 2008. Additionally Sara has attended conferences and trainings focusing on the areas of Asperger's Syndrome from Dr. Tony Attwood, Adolescence and behavior training with TEACCH, RDI training with Dr. Gutstein, Verbal Behavior from Dr. Sunberg as well as attending the DAN conference in 2007.

Nicole Layden, QP
Nicole Layden graduated from Peace College in 2004 with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. While in college, Nicole did her internship with Dr. Stegman of Concord NC. Dr Stegman is a developmental and behavioral pediatrician who specializes in autism and has been on Good Morning America speaking on Autism awareness. Nicole began working as a Habilitation Technician for A Small Miracle in February of 2005 and was promoted to QP in May 2007. She has training and experience with Verbal Behavior programs.




Brandy Sollars, Assistant Office Manager
Brandy Sollars graduated from Wake Tech with an Associate’s Degree in Human Services in 2007. She has been with A Small Miracle, Inc. as a Habilitation Technician since April 2004. Brandy began working additional part time hrs as our Assistant Office Manager in August 2007.

Opal Johnson, QP / Wellness Committee Chair
Opal Johnson joined the ASM team as a Hab Tech in 2006. She graduated from Fayetteville State University in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Opal has 6 years post-baccalaureate experience working with the fetal alcohol spectrum d/o, traumatic brain injury, asperger's syndrome, mental retardation, autism, obsessive compulsive d/o, attention deficit/hyperactivity d/o, a wide variety of social and emotional developmental delayed, and the smith-magenis syndrome population. Her experience was gained as she served the community in positions as a Charter School Teacher, School Coordinator, Residential Counselor, AP, and a Habilitation Technician. Opal was promoted to QP in April of 2009.

Heather Marriner, QP
Heather Marriner graduated from Meredith College in May 2006, with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology. During her last two years at Meredith she worked in the Meredith Autism Program (MAP), using ABA/Behavior modification techniques to teach children with autism. In June 2006 she became an instructor at the Mariposa School for Children with Autism, where she was trained in Verbal Behavior. It was also during this time that she was able to attend seminars/trainings given by professionals such as Dr. Carbone and SLP Tracy Vail. Heather began working for ASM part time in May 2008 as a Developmental Therapist Paraprofessional, at which time she was able to gain some experience with Floortime. Heather accepted a QP position here at ASM in May 2009.

Gary Ricci II, QP
Gary Ricci II graduated from Hilbert College in Hamburg,NY in May 1999 with a Bachelor or Arts in Psychology.  Gary has worked with individuals with special needs for the past 8 years. He worked as a program assistant for Stanley G. Falk in Buffalo for 6 of the 8 years, and then most recently as a Case Manager in Raleigh.  Gary Ricci joined A Small Miracle as a QP in October 2010.

Sarah-Jane Fitch, QP
Sarah-Jane graduated from Meredith College in 2009 with a degree in Psychology. Throughout middle school and high school, Sarah-Jane volunteered at North Shelby School, a school for children and adults with special needs. While studying at Meredith College she worked as a Hab Tech and studied at the Meredith Autism Program. During her time at Meredith she was able to learn ABA and Behavior Modification Techniques. After graduating Sarah-Jane spent time working at the Tammy Lynn Center in a program which promoted inclusion of students with Autism and other special needs into typical classrooms. She has been working for A Small Miracle since October of 2009 as a Hab Tech, and was promoted to QP in March of 2011.