SERVICES
SCHOOLS & ORGANIZATIONS
MAXIMIZING THE EXPERIENCE
Create learning opportunities
and tools to stay on course across ages and stages
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Consultation using best practices in capacity building through professional development to create productive learning environments and social emotional experiences.
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FRIEND Program Training, an approach that uses applied behavior analysis (ABA) procedures to facilitate social skill development in the natural setting during lunch and recess. Learn about this program and the framework to support children with ASD and their peers in inclusive environments. Can be embedded with school climate and wellness programs.
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Provide guidance and attend the IEP as a specialist on issues within scope of experti
FAMILIES
ASSIMILATING AUTISM IN YOUR LIFE
What can be most helpful to know about ASD and the right questions to ask
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Assist with the process to identify, access, manage and bridge services across systems (medical, school, clinical, community, other)
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Help integrate vital information into daily life through the cultivation of skills that help manage situations
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Prepare and plan for how to contribute to a strategiec process that shapes an effective IEP
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Attend the IEP to help guide and support positive outcomes.
SERVICES
FAMILIES
HOW TO ASSIMILATE AUTISM INTO YOUR FAMILY LIFE
Provide help with best steps to take and the questions to ask
SCHOOLS & ORGANIZATIONS
MAXIMIZING SUCCESS IN THE PROVISION OF SUPPORTS
AND SERVICES
Create learning opportunities, strategies and training for different
ages and stages
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Assist with the process to identify, access, manage and bridge services across systems (medical, school, clinical, community, other)
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Help to translate clinical/ educational goals and how to integrate this vital information into daily life
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Prepare and plan for how to contribute to a strategic process that shapes an effective IEP
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Attend the IEP meeting to help guide and support positive outcomes
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Training and consultation to build capacity through professional development
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Mindfulness training for middle and high school students, teachers, adults, parents and professionals
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Provide guidance and attend the IEP meeting as a specialist on issues within scope of expertise
INCLUSION
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Training on information about the The Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) FRIEND Program, an approach that uses applied behavior analysis (ABA) procedures to facilitate social skill development for children in inclusive lunch and recess settings. This program can be embedded with other interventions and approaches.
MINDFULNESS
PROMOTING WELL-BEING TO NAVIGATE CHALLENGING SITUATIONS
Learn how mindfulness
can make a difference for you.
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Professional development presentations and speaking events for schools, behavioral health, healthcare, families, students and organizations, offering foundational knowledge and the experience of mindfulness practices
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Fun, interactive and educational workshops to build skills grounded in best practices in social-emotional learning and mindfulness
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Facilitator to support a practice of mindfulness
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Learn how to practice mindfulness in a workshop, small group, 1:1. Appropriate for middle and high school kids, educators, professionals, parents and others with an interest (follow-up coaching offered)
Click here for Mindfulness Skills Classes
Look for More Information in 2022
Sheri's Story
With over 30 years' experience, Sheri is a contributing and well-respected member of the educational and human service community in Arizona and beyond. As an Educational Consultant Sheri helps families assimilate autism; consults on Individualized Education Plans to create goals and outcomes; and works with organizations to create strategic initiatives and trainings related to autism, social skills and services that engage people and promote welcoming environments.
Sheri's passion and what drives her is helping people find solutions that open them up to a new way of defining what success and the future will look like. To her, it’s more than solving ‘the challenge at hand’. Rather, it's teaching people how to find the information that is the best fit and empowering them to break down barriers that stand between where they are and the future they want to create.The intention is that everyone involved will thrive.
Sheri’s experience in early childhood education and autism began as a college student at the University of Arizona, where she was influenced by her professor, Dr. Sid Bijou, a pioneer in the field of applied behavioral analysis (ABA) and child development. As a student, she participated in research initiatives, and an innovative program providing 1:1 ABA based intervention in clinic, home and inclusive school settings. This experience propelled Sheri into the early childhood and special education community where she started out teaching young children in public school, college students, families, educators and professionals.
Sheri provided professional development trainings for the State of Illinois and was the Director of the Easter Seals Early Intervention Program where she led a team of therapists using an interdisciplinary approach. Her collaborative partnerships include state and national projects related to early childhood, disabilities, family issues, adult services, education and positive behavior support. Noteworthy professional activities include initial planning for the Arizona Early Intervention Program (AZEIP), member of the Maricopa Head Start Advisory Council and Oral Healthcare Coalition. She is also on the Chapel Haven West Advisory Board, Positive Behavior Support (PBISAZ) Advisory Committee,The Network of Autism Training and Technical Assistance Programs (NATTAP), National Leadership Collaborative (NALC), Positive Behavior Support Arizona Advisory Board and Mindfulness First Resource Development Circle.
The past 16 years were spent working at the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC), a Phoenix-based autism nonprofit. At SARRC, Sheri played a key role in building programs, leading innovative projects in oral healthcare, feeding, bullying and autism, and growing the organization’s training model. Special projects include working with the Hawaii Department of Education to build capacity through the development of Centers of Excellence, over a decade of professional development training for the Arkansas Department of Education in the implementation of interventions based on (ABA), and a contributing partner with the National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDE) & Office of Special Education Program (OSEP) to develop National Teacher Competencies for Autism (adopted by Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) and the creation of the Autism Collection.
While at SARRC, Sheri co-authored the FRIEND program, an approach to supporting
individuals with autism and their peers in inclusive settings during lunch and recess.
Sheri is certified to provide mindfulness training using an evidence-based curriculum from Mindfulness Without Borders.
inn
She is a longtime resident of Phoenix and enjoys weekend hikes and new adventures with with family and friends.
HAPPY PEOPLE
I so appreciate all you did for the Think Asperger’s project. You were indeed a driving force and it was so wonderful for me to have such a crusader for Asperger’s on my side.
- Parent
Sheri is a forward-thinking educator who prides herself in humanizing best practices so that families, school communities and organizations can create ‘win-wins’, where individuals with autism and their peers can thrive.
- Executive Director, Non-profit
Mindfulness saved my life.
- Adult with Autism
I had always been interested in mindfulness but did not have a full grasp of how it worked or the benefits. My “Ah-Ha” moment came when I realized that when I used the strategies learned in Sheri's workshop I could manage a problem instead of always feeling it. Learning how to use mindfulness to change my response to this problem was an unexpected surprise!
- Clinician, Licensed Behavior Analyst
Sheri helped us plan and organize the services our daughter needed. Finding the right schools and therapists is tough and scary. Sheri was knowledgeable and helped us get things in place. Sheri has become a trusted advisor that we talk to whenever we have to make changes.
- Parent of a young child with autism
CONTACT
CALL
LOOK FOR UPCOMING MINDFULNESS SKILLS CLASSES
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Mindfulness Workshop Series for Parents + Educators + Professionals + Businesses
Contact me for information: 1:1 and Group Facilitator