— getting everyone on the same page —

When Juli Liske’s son, Ben, was diagnosed with autism when he was 23 months old, there were no immediate resources where her family lived in eastern Kentucky. As a result, the former dental hygienist did a lot of research and developed an intensive, multi-layered program for Ben (who is now 11, a National Young Scholar and an accomplished mathmatician, musician and visual artist). Along the way, she authored a book, In the Eye of the Hurricane: Finding Peace within the Storm of Autism (spiritbuildilng.com; $1995), and after moving to Nashville, she founded The Brown Center for Autism three years ago.

The Brown Center is a comprehensive therapy center for children anywhere on the autism spectrum whose approach is working with the entire family. The center works with families with children as young as 18 months up until they are developmentally ready to transition to kindergarten, with a one-year minimum. Currently, the center works with 16 children.

Liske says one of the unique aspects of The Brown Center is that all of the therapists are cross trained across different disciplines in order for “everyone to be on the same page,” thus creating a high level of consistency. Therapies include speech/language, occupational and social skills training, all within the framework of an applied behavior analysis approach.

Each child attends three hours a day, four days a week, working on two to five goals per week in both one-on-one and group settings. In addition, parents are given four hours of training per month, and counseling services are available as well. A Family Support Plan, similar to an IEP, is created each week. Staff therapists also lend training to parents in home and out in the community; for example, accompanying the family to a grocery store outing in order to train parents on how to handle difficult scenarios in public.

Another component of the center’s strong emphasis on working with the entire family is seen in the Observation Room. Here, parents can watch and listen via a live video feed from the treatment rooms exactly what the therapists and their child are doing. Additionally, each session is recorded for the benefit of parents who might not be able to stay at the center during their child’s day there.
The center’s rolling enrollment availability is first come, first served with a sliding scale fee based on the family’s income. Learn more about The Brown Center at 385-7994 or thebrowncenter.org.

More Autism Resources

ABA Nashville
442-7988 • abanashville.com
Offers home- and school-based services including assessment of basic language and learning skills, therapist training, behavior intervention plans, parent and family support, and more.

Autism & Behavior
Consulting Services
331-1141 • abcservicesllc.net
Provides applied behavior analysis (ABA) consulting services in home, clinic, school and community environments, including assessment, program development, training and individual therapy.

Autism Engagement Center
109 International Drive, Ste. 220, Franklin
550-3570 • autismengagement.com
Offers a broad range of services to help families navigate the world of autism spectrum disorders through a family-centered approach to both diagnosis and treatment of children with ASD. Services include interdisciplinary diagnostic evaluations, treatment (including family coaching, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, social skills groups, and behavior analysis and intervention), consultation and family support. The center also offers general consulting for schools, case coordination and program planning, advocacy services and more.

Autism Foundation of Tennessee
6515 Holt Road, Nashville
376-0034
autismfoundationoftennessee.org
A full range of services include behavior therapy, communication, self-help skills, socialization, family and school support, and more.

Autism Society of Middle Tennessee
385-2077 • tnautism.org
An information hub to help families on their autism journey. Also provides educational workshops for parents, advocacy and support services.

Bright Beginnings
Pediatric Therapy Center
209-B Castlewood Drive
Murfreesboro
898-7461 • brightbeginningsptc.com
Family-centered therapy services include treatment of articulation issues, language disorders, feeding difficulties, reading and more as they related to the autism spectrum.

Center for Understanding
120 Holiday Court, Ste. 4, Franklin
300-3369  
http://centerforunderstanding.net
Provides one-to-one individual and family systems assessment, training for families, recreational and support group programs. Future services will include parent respite retreat programs, after-school self-help skill training and more.

Faces of Hope Children’s
Therapy Center
185 W. Franklin St., Gallatin
206-1176 • facesofhopetn.com
Individualized therapies include speech/language, occupational and physical, plus a resource center.

HOPE Autism and Behaviorhal Health Services
7105 Crossroad Blvd., Brentwood
299-6332 • hopetn.com
HOPE offers development and supervision on in-home ABA-based programs as well direct therapy, parent/caregiver/teacher training, parents’ night out events and more.

Scarab Behavioral Health Services
3203 Brick Church Pike, Nashville
262-7822 • scarabhealth.com
Scarab's ABA program specializes in providing in-home support to children with developmental disability diagnoses, including autism. Accredited by CARF International, Scarab also offers school-based consulting for students and personnel, along with functional behavior assessments and family education.

Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center
1215 21st Ave. S., Nashville
936-5000
vanderbilthealth.com/billwilkerson/30033
Program for children 18 months through adolescence helps autistic kids establish an independent functional communication systems through which they can interact socially with their world.

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Treatment & Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD)
110 Magnolia Circle, Nashville
322-7565 • kc.vanderbilt.edu/triad
TRIAD provides specialized resources and services to both families and professionals. The institute offers clinical and diagnostic evaluations along with monthly parenting workshops, school-based consultations and more.

Find More Resources through the Tennessee Disability Pathfinder

The Tennessee Disability Pathfinder is the most thorough database for disability services in the state, operated through the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. It has become THE go-to place for families seeking assistance. Through the Pathfinder, you can search specific categories by county or regions for everything from autism and behavioral resources to early intervention and unique programs; access information on medical clinics, legal counseling, therapy resources and more; and gain access to the Disability Resource Library. Get connected at kc.vanderbilt.edu/pathfinder.