COMING JANUARY, 2024 – BALLANTYNE OFFICE

Join us May 14 for our virtual Spring Conference! Click here for more details.

Aspire

Aspire inspires and serves people on the autism spectrum, believing in the gifts of the uniquely wired mind. We are a group of clinicians who are passionate about collaborating with people on the autism spectrum. We offer a wide range of services across the lifespan for children and adults, families and groups, parents, and couples.

Services

Assessment/Evaluation

Aspire offers comprehensive evaluation for children and teens. We provide thorough, detailed assessment of a child’s areas of strength and needs to aid in educational and treatment planning. Evaluations are useful for initial diagnosis if there are concerns about a child’s development or learning as well as follow-ups to determine whether a child’s needs are being met in education and treatment services.

  • Evaluations for children from toddlers to young adults
  • Process includes parent interviews, parent and teacher questionnaires, and direct testing with the child/client
  • We provide a comprehensive, detailed report with findings and recommendations
  • Diagnostic information to help answer questions such as, “What’s going on?” or “Why is this happening?”
  • Learning profile to target educational strengths and needs

Individual Therapy

Aspire provides a safe, fun place for building partnerships with caring therapists. We offer support for individuals, parents, siblings, couples/marriages, and families. Whether there are particular challenges that need to be addressed, or if it would just be helpful to have someone listen, Aspire is here to help.

  • Caring clinicians partner with clients and families
  • Support for parents, couples/marriage, and individuals
  • Social skills/Life skills, educational advocacy, emotion regulation, targeted behavior change, goal-setting
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), behavior modification, social skills groups, family therapy

Parenting

We at Aspire know that every parent wants the best for their child, to see their child feeling happy and confident, to know that their child can be successful in life. We are here to support parents on that journey.

  • Consultation about how to respond to challenges and encourage positive change
  • Strategies to make things easier at home
  • School placement and educational advocacy
  • Support from other parents who have had similar experiences

Marriage/Relationships

Aspire offers a place for people on the spectrum to seek marital support and consultation. All relationships take work, and sometimes it helps to have a neutral party act as a “sounding board.”

  • Developing a deeper understanding of how spectrum features impact marriage
  • Resolving conflict in a healthy way
  • Listening to and understanding another’s perspective
  • Communicating honestly and effectively
  • Working together to address concerns within the relationship

Life Skills/Social Skills Groups

Aspire’s social groups and programs elevate and celebrate the differently wired mind. We provide a safe, inspiring, fun and magnetic space to build community and confidence in navigating our social world. We serve families, schools, communities, and workspaces to help our clients reach goals and dreams they’ve only imagined. Please contact our Group Coordinator, Brandi Risley, for more information about how we can serve you and your family through groups. Ways to Engage:

  • Parenting Your Aspie Support Group (Free!)
    • This group is not meeting at this time due to COVID-19 restrictions and related health and safety concerns.
  • Social Skills groups with:
    • Dr. Bolton’s SuperGirls – grades 3rd-5th, 6th-8th, and 9th-12th
    • Josh Jensen – groups for adolescent boys
  • Summer camp for all ages

Support Group

Parenting Your Aspie Support Group is a free support group for spectrum parents/caregivers which meets on the first Wednesday and Saturday of the month. We meet from 10:00-11:00am at our Southpark office. This group offers parents a welcoming and supportive space to share their thoughts and experiences. Click here if you’d like to be added to the Parenting Your Aspie Support Group newsletter.

School Advocacy

Aspire helps clients and their families advocate for the support they need in their daily lives.

  • Developing and implementing 504 plans (accommodations only for students with a condition that affects 1 or more life activities) or IEP’s (involve Special Education and involves specialized instruction for students who qualify)
  • Darci Carter’s specialty as a parent advocate in school team meetings
  • Educational consulting, including school placement
  • Tutoring
  • Vocational
  • Community — Finding resources and support within the community

Resources