Our Approach
At Somewhere Over the Spectrum, we take a holistic, whole-child approach rooted in acceptance, understanding, and the belief that every child deserves to be seen in their fullness; we strive to see the whole story of every child.
Did you know that rainbows are actually full circles?
At Somewhere Over the Spectrum, our rainbow isn’t just a symbol; it's who we are, our intention, and a reflection of how we see the world. Rainbows are actually full circles, although they are usually viewed as only an arc because the horizon limits our ability to perceive their full totality. Sometimes, our children with Autism are perceived in this similar fashion, with society's perspective acting as the horizon that impedes the views of their brilliant totality. We strive to look beyond those boundaries, to witness the full brilliance, the full spectrum, of each child’s mind, heart, and spirit. Here, every gift is recognized, every strength celebrated, and every child’s unique light is allowed to shine, illuminating themselves, their families, and the world around them.
Behind our Arcs
The Arc of Compassion
Every family arrives with a story, a journey shaped by hope, challenges, and resilience. We meet you with open hearts, honoring the path that led you here. Our team understands that every path is unique and that no one should walk it alone. At Somewhere Over the Spectrum, we help you build your tribe, fostering a supportive community that walks beside you every step of the way.
The Arc of Home
Our center-based approach allows for our team to be truly present with each child and family within our home. Rooted in Scandinavian design, our space offers a calming, intentional atmosphere inspired by Early Childhood, Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and Waldorf philosophies. Thoughtfully curated materials and gentle rhythms shape a learning environment full of curiosity, purposeful exploration, and meaningful moments of discovery.
The Arc of The Whole Child
We believe every child is a beautifully layered individual, full of strengths, complexities, needs, and limitless potential. This arc reflects our commitment to seeing and supporting each child in their fullness. We look beyond any single behavior, milestone, or moment, embracing the many domains that shape development: communication, regulation, play, relationships, sensory needs, and the unique rhythm of each child’s growth. Through this whole-child lens, we connect with what we call the heart-mind, where emotion, identity, and learning intersect, honoring who each child is today and who they are becoming.
The Arc of Neuro-Diversity
Our neurodivergent-affirming approach is rooted in honoring the neurodivergent mind and respecting the many ways individuals process information and experience the world. Through our holistic, heart-centered approach to ABA, we support learning in meaningful, everyday settings, following each child’s innate curiosity as it leads them to explore, connect and engage with the world around them. We create a path to develop skills that help your child thrive in their own way, nurturing communication, independence, and emotional regulation, all while honoring their autonomy and identity.
Methodologies
Our team builds on the foundational principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), while integrating a variety of early childhood and cognitive learning approaches. Centered on the child, we use naturalistic, play-based, whole-child methodologies to create experiences that honor each child’s curiosity, strengths, and individuality. Through these approaches, we bring our arcs to life, supporting children in discovering a love for learning, fostering meaningful growth, and nurturing development for both children and their families.
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Learning with Authenticity
Learning happens with authenticity and originality when it is within the natural environment. Natural Environment Teaching (NET) and Incidental Teaching support children in learning through the context of play and other activities that are naturally occurring in their lives around them. When we follow a child’s lead, they naturally reveal their interests, sparking curiosity and full engagement in learning, setting the course for their programming ahead.
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A Communication Forward Approach
Through our communication forward approach, we view all behavior as a form of communication and place language at the heart of learning. Using a total communication approach, we support multi-modal communication opportunities including spoken language, gestures, visual supports, PECS, AAC devices and gestalt-based language strategies all with the intention to ensure everyone has a voice. Through naturalistic, play-based methods, we create authentic communication opportunities, guiding children to expand their language skills while empowering them to share their hearts and minds with those around them.
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Partners In Learning
Parents and caregivers are a child’s first and most powerful teachers. We empower families by building strong, collaborative relationships rooted in trust, transparency, and compassion. Through shared understanding, guidance, and support, we help parents feel confident in navigating their child’s unique journey. Our intention is to stand alongside families, honoring their knowledge, their advocacy, and their love, so they feel equipped and informed every step of the way. Together, we create a community where families feel seen, supported, and empowered.
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The Foundation of Learning
Our sensory system, or the way we perceive and interpret the world and information around us, forms the foundation for many cognitive, motor and fundamental learning skills. By creating a sensory-mindful environment, we provide a rich canvas and playful space for children to explore their senses, develop regulation, and strengthen the skills they need to navigate both learning and everyday life with confidence.
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Play is the Work of Childhood
We believe that play is the heart of learning. It is through joyful exploration, imagination, and connection that children discover who they are and how they fit into the world around them. By honoring neurodiversity and using mindful, relationship-based ABA, we create space for each child to learn naturally at their own pace, in their own way, and through experiences that feel meaningful and engaging. Play is not just an activity; it is the child’s language, their work, and their pathway to confidence, independence, and belonging.
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Systematic Learning
Discrete Teaching is a style of teaching specifically for children who are systematic learners and learn best in systems. Discrete Teaching creates and organizes information for the mind to be able to process for learning; without these systems in place language or learning can feel intimidating and chaotic. It is through this type of teaching that we can create a predictable framework and structure for learning, creating harmony for a systematic mind.
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Supporting Positive, Joyful Mealtimes
Our team uses a variety of methods and approaches including the Sequential-Oral-Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding, Food Chaining, Behavior Momentum and sensory play to help children explore new foods in a playful, low-pressure and supportive environment. We focus on building trust and comfort around eating, while sharing with our families practical tools to carry these strategies into their daily lives to create positive mealtime experiences.
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Relationship Focused Learning
Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) is a play-based, early intervention approach for young children with Autism. Through blending ABA principles, behavioral and developmental strategies, ESDM teaches social, communication, and play skills through natural, joyful, relationship focused interactions. ESDM focuses on a multitude of early learning foundational skills which supports growth as a child begins to scaffold and build higher-level skills.
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Inspiring the Mind
By integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math within our therapeutic centers, we provide children with diverse, hands-on opportunities to explore, create, and problem-solve. We recognize that our children have a variety of interests and splinter skills that should be explored and discovered, motivating their growth and development.
