Lynn Abelson is a speech-language pathologist and DIR model Program Manager at The Phoenix Center, a private, not for profit school in Nutley, New Jersey. This school serves students ages 5-21 with autism and other developmental disabilities. Lynn leads staff in integrating the DIR model approach into the classroom and community, with a focus on developing innovative programming in vocational training. Lynn also provides private DIR model-based intervention to children and their families, tutors professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of the DIR model, co-chairs the DIR/Floortime model Coalition of New Jersey, and served as a training leader at the ICDL Institute. Additionally, Lynn is an Affiliate Faculty member of the Center for Autism and Early Childhood Mental Health at Montclair State University and an Adjunct Professor in its Developmental Models of Autism Intervention graduate certificate program. Lynn is DIR model certified in speech-language pathology and occupational therapy and PROMPT® (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets) certified. In 2013, Lynn was awarded the Related Service Provider of the Year by NAPSEC (National Association of Private Special Education Centers).
Dr. Michele Havens is currently the DIR Consultant to the Imagine Academy, a school for children with ASD, utilizing DIR-Floortime and ABA. Dr. Havens is a full time Professor at Kean University in Union, NJ, and adjunct at Montclair State University, in Montclair, NJ. She works privately as an advocate for families of children with disabilities, and is also a speaker at numerous conferences on special education, Autism and early childhood development. Dr. Havens was previously the teacher/coordinator/parent group facilitator of the Verona Preschool Intervention Program, a preschool disabilities program in Essex County, NJ.
Susan Smith-Foley, OTD, MPA, OTR/L is a pediatric occupational therapist who specializes in family-centered and school-based O.T. / DIR-FCD services. She is passionate about supporting the integration of the DIR-FCD Model into public schools including working with multi-disciplinary teams and primary caregivers. Susan completed a post-professional doctoral degree in Occupational Therapy (OTD) at The University of Kansas Medical Center in December 2018. She is the founder and owner of Avon Occupational Therapy, Inc. located in Avon, NJ. Susan is an Associate Faculty member of Profectum Academy and a member of its International O.T. Working Group.
This workshop will address how to maximize the effectiveness of the virtual platform for therapists, educators, families, and students ages 3 – 21. Key considerations include caregiver support and coaching, addressing individual differences in sensory processing and regulation, fostering communication, and facilitating academic learning while targeting DIR-FCD IEP goals. Current research on virtual learning will be integrated into this workshop.
This workshop will address how to maximize the effectiveness of the virtual platform for therapists, educators, families, and students ages 3 – 21. Key considerations include caregiver support and coaching, addressing individual differences in sensory processing and regulation, fostering communication, and facilitating academic learning while targeting DIR-FCD IEP goals. Current research on virtual learning will be integrated into this workshop.
Although all providers in this directory have completed one or more of Profectum’s certificate training courses on the DIR-FCD model, the providers listed in this directory are independent contractors. Providers are not agents nor are they employees and nor are they under the control of Profectum Foundation. Providers are solely responsible for the quality of the services you receive.
