​To gain employment as a paraprofessional in a New Hampshire public school, a person must have a high school diploma, or equivalent certificate, and a clean criminal records check. Paraprofessionals are staff members who work directly with students with special learning and behavioral needs, often with more direct contact hours than any other school staff member. While the specific education requirements of the paraprofessional are minimal, they are charged with a multitude of responsibilities. No two paraprofessional’s days would look the same, as the level of care, oversight and support varies on an individual basis per the students’ needs.  

Looking to soak up some rays or just beat the heat with your kids this summer?  Check out our Summer Bucket List for families with children who have specific interests and needs!!! We hope you enjoy these activities and the rest of this fun summer!

After surveying many professional Behavior Analysts and school personnel, we have put together the Top 5 Professional Development Workshops for the 2018 Summer and 2018-2019 School Year! To learn more about our on-site workshops, check out our page! 
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As we enter into summer, we realize families are faced with varied schedules, camps, BBQs, trips, hot temperatures, and lots of swimming! While these things all sound nice to many of us, it is crucial to understand that children with autism can often struggle when faced with breaks or inconsistencies in routines, chaotic or busy environments, cookouts in which their preferred foods may not be options, weather that they struggle to regulate or communicate overheating, and requests to get out of the pool or lake at times that cause tantrums and frustrations. This is not reason to avoid all summer activity though! It is crucial to expose children to these types of experiences to desensitize them to these various circumstances, help them learn to regulate and communicate when it’s most meaningful, and also to expose them to experiences that lead to richer social opportunities and language development in the long term. That said, there are quick tips to help ease these potentially hard experiences at first:

​                                        “Words are, in my not so humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic,”
                                                                                      - Albus Dumbledore
 
Of all the quotes referring to the power of communication, this one speaks to my heart. As a pediatric Speech Language Pathologist (SLP), I get to see the wonder in a child’s eye when we play with a new toy or share an experience outside. I get to hear the joy in a parent’s voice when they tell me about the first time their child said, “I love you,” or even when that same child won’t quiet down when it’s time for bed. What I do isn't magic, but their words are and I’m lucky enough to get to help them create their own form of magic.