My consultation goal is to help children and young adults with autism spectrum disorders, or with blindness and atypical development, become more cooperative, communicative, happy, and independent at home, school, college or job sites. This is done by coaching the teams who work with these children and young adults to develop solutions to problems with communication, behavior, learning and social interaction.

       The process involves listening to the team's concerns and previously attempted solutions, observing in multiple contexts, demonstrating potential solutions and interventions, discussing the issues and explaining my recommendations, providing timely written summaries of specific suggestions and following up on a regular or as needed basis. Typically, my recommendations include accommodations to be made for the child and changes the child is expected to make with the team’s support.

       My priority is the development of the individual child or adult but my intervention suggestions consider the needs and limits of the family, teachers, service providers, employers and administrators. Interventions are more likely to be effective when the whole team is working together and expectations are reasonable for all.

        - Betsey Field