A Decade of Play & Purpose
Springling started with the vision that Tessa and I wanted to offer high quality intervention while at the same time getting to make the decisions (particularly on our time), that would allow us to be present for our own families and children. It’s been that simple. We have served dozens of families in the metroplex over the last decade, and I find great pride in the quality of intervention we have been able to sustain and pure joy in the flexibility it has allowed me to have in my role as a mom.
Now that we are a decade in, and our children are leaving our own nests, we find ourselves wanting to identify new ways to connect with our local and professional communities. We have both been practicing for 25 years, and in this field that is archaic. Springling is different than a lot of places, and as we are training more future providers we are drawn to share more of what makes us different, if no other reason than maybe a new provider thinks about something in a different way. Our practice is deeply rooted in naturalistic developmental behavior intervention (NDBI), with particular emphasis on the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM). While many programs may pull from these different techniques, our clinic, programs, providers, and RBT’s are deeply committed to this as the primary approach for early autism intervention.
Our providers have additional certifications in ESDM, and the majority of our RBT’s are trained to fidelity in ESDM teachings. Our staff work hard to master these skills and watching their craft makes work a place of joy for me – even today when I was walking through clinic and a patient made eye contact with “an ask”…not quite asking for the “tickle” with words but certainly with his non-verbal language. He was engaged in his environment, but also aware of his surroundings that I was walking by and am always up for a quick social sensory exchange. He shared enjoyment with me and his assigned RBT to make sure we all thought it was as fun as he did. Then as I exited, I heard him request “tickle again” from his RBT. It often requires hundreds of these exchanges to build our relationships and our patient’s skill sets. As Springling focuses on the youngest learners, this play based, flexible approach can be challenging to shift to but provides incredibly meaningful learning moments.
We are introducing this blog to share different techniques, routines, and ideas for other families, providers, and RBT’s. It’s a great place to learn more about NDBI and ESDM techniques and how they can be utilized at home or other settings. We are excited to start this new journey and hope you find some parts of it useful!
With gratitude, Carrie