Raleigh, North Carolina
7404 Chapel Hill Road, Unit K
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 854-4400
raleigh@asmallmiracleinc.com
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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, PD
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 the past 10
years.
Beth Gaul, APD
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.
Mike Joyce, QP / Guest Training Chair
Mike
Joyce graduated from State University of New York at Oneonta with a Bachelors degree in Psychology in May of 1999. He
then moved to Baltimore, MD where he worked at an after school program for inner city children with behavioral and learning
disabilities. In 2001, Mike moved to Raleigh and began working with ASM as a habilitation technician. In 2002, he left
to teach at the Mariposa School for Children with Autism, where he received extensive training in Verbal Behavior. In
2003, Mike returned to ASM as a QP. He specializes in supervising cases with VB and ABA programs in place.
Brigitte McDonald, QP
Brigitte
McDonald graduated from Campbell University with a Bachelors degree in Psychology in May of 2001. She worked with a home
care agency for several months and then joined ASM. Brigitte received extensive training in ABA/VB and sign language
while working as a habilitation technician for a service recipient with autism. Brigitte then left to teach at the Mariposa
School for Children with Autism for three years. During this time, she also learned PECs and token exchange economies,
and participated in Dr. Carbone’s three-day VB workshop. Brigitte returned to ASM in June 2006 as a QP and Family/Staff Trainer.
Krista Bader, QP / Adult COP Chair
Krista
Bader graduated from NC State with a Bachelors degree in Psychology in 2004. She has worked with children with autism
since 2001 and trained in VB experience since 2001 as well. She joined ASM as a Family and Staff Trainer and began as
a QP in November of 2006. Krista has served as Co-director of Camp G.R.A.C.E. for the summer of since the summer of 2006
(Please see the section on Camp G.R.A.C.E. for more information). She has attended several VB, ABA, and RDI trainings.
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 been in a supervisory position
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 Lowder, QP
Nicole
Lowder 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.
Wendy Vos, QP
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.
Lauren Koenig, QP / Child COP Chair
Lauren
Koenig graduated from Western Carolina University in 2004 with a degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice. After graduation
she relocated to Raleigh and began work as a Habilitation Technician. In addition to being a Hab Tech, she also gained
experience as a Job Coach and as a Teacher Assistant in AU1 and Behavioral classrooms. Lauren joined ASM in January of
2007 and was promoted to QP in June of the same year. She is also a CPR Instructor for ASM.
Ravainell Hunt, QP
Ravainell
(Rav) Hunt graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in August 2007 with a Bachelors degree in Psychology. Rav joined the ASM team
in August 2004 working as a habilitation technician for 4 years, gaining experience and training working with children
and adults with various disabilities, such as Autism and Down Syndrome. He also spent a year as a job coach with an adult
with special needs. Rav has attended trainings through ASM to include Behavior Modification and TEACCH. Rav was promoted to QP in August 2009.
Jenna Kalk, QP / Community Involvement Chair
Jenna
Kalk graduated from North Carolina State University with a Bachelors degree in Sociology in May of 2006. Prior to working
for A Small Miracle, Jenna worked with children and adults with various disabilities through Raleigh Parks and Recreation
at Camp Friendly for five years. She also supervised a bowling program for adults and children and taught a cooking class
to adults with disabilities. Jenna joined A Small Miracle in September of 2004 as a Habilitation Technician. During this
time, she also worked for the Wake County Public School System, spending two years as a Teacher’s Assistant in
classes for students with Autism. Jenna was promoted to QP in July of 2008.
Tracy Cannady, QP
Tracy
Cannady graduated from East Carolina University with a Master's degree in School Psychology and a certification in Assistive
Technology in May of 2006. Her background includes extensive familiarity with conducting psychoeducational assessments,
counseling, consultation with families, as well as providing behavioral and academic intervention strategies. Prior to
working at A Small Miracle, Tracy worked with children with various disabilities through the Cumberland County school
system for two years. Tracy has also taught at the Mariposa School for Children with Autism as a lead instructor using
her extensive training in ABA/VB. She returned to A Small Miracle in 2009 as a QP after having served as a Habilitation
Technician in 2008.
Opal Johnson, QP
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. She left Mariposa in May 2009, and began working full time for ASM as a QP.
April Holleman, Office Manager
April
Holleman is the Office Manager for the Raleigh office. She graduated from Fuquay-Varina High School in 1997 and then
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 until she
joined ASM in April of 2002. She has been the Office Manager of the Raleigh office ever since.
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 an Assistant
Office Manager in August 2007.