Our Approach

At Orchid Academy we promise to:

  • For nearly two decades, our founder, Dr. Autumn Flick, has developed the Orchid Way: an intensive intervention designed to create meaningful social interactions, highlight critical academic skills and provide enriching activities such as yoga and music therapy.

    At Orchid Academy, parents are partners in this journey, and we ensure that we learn alongside each other to maximize life-changing outcomes.

  • Dr. Autumn and her team have supported children in a wide array of environments: self-contained classrooms, full inclusion programs, private schools, daycares, transition programs, preschools and home ABA programs.

    Dr. Autumn began Orchid Academy with the understanding that the environment greatly affects the impact on a child’s experience and programming. The environments she has created incorporate all the positives she identified while working across these varying environments, setting Orchid Academy apart from other providers.

  • Orchid Academy is dedicated to hiring and retaining highly skilled team members who share in our mission and values.

 

We understand the journey of having just received a diagnosis or attempting to juggle various therapies.

Our team is here to help you navigate what is best for your child and provide enough information that you feel confident in the choice you make for the next chapter of your child’s care.

Not only do we weight your child’s needs, but also the needs of your family – your insights help our team develop the best programming for your child to be an active participant in your family life.

 

The Orchid Way

The founder of Orchid Academy, Dr. Autumn Flick, has been helping children for nearly 20 years and is dedicated to developing a team who provides therapeutic services through holistic, child-centered approaches.

We utilize a framework that creates the most lasting improvements in the lives of children in the shortest amount of time through intensive programming.

OUR 5-STEP APPROACH:

  • You don’t have to worry anymore! The Orchid team will help your child grow and bloom within weeks of starting our Core Intensive Day Program. A board -certified Behavior Analyst (BA) will work closely with you to develop goals and put a plan in place to change the trajectory of your child’s life.

  • Get ready to hold back tears the first time your child says, “I love you,” uses the toilet, or reads. At Orchid we cherish the moment your family recognizes the incredible transformation happening in your child. In the Intensive Day Program our team focuses on skills such as how to work at a desk or sit criss-cross, toilet training, pre-academics, communication and beginning social skills. ​

  • We believe that you are the expert of your child and it’s our job to share what we know about autism-related strengths and struggles with your family. Once we have learned what tools work best with your child, we will begin parent-coaching sessions to share the key elements of our program that are responsible for the transformation you are witnessing in your child.

  • Once your child and you have graduated to our Intermediate Intensive Day Program, we will focus on increasing independence in individual, small and large group settings in preparation for school and community environments. Additional emphasis is placed on social skills and academics. We will also work on ensuring your child has a variety of interests which can be developed into hobbies and future job skills.

  • Our team is excited for the day your child meets their final treatment plan goals, indicating they are ready for independence in a private or public school setting. We will work with your child after school to help with the transition, providing supplemental support in social skills, executive functioning, academics, and hobby development.

 

Our Services

  • Intensive Day Program

    From 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, this program provides a structured, nurturing environment where each child receives personalized attention and evidence-based instruction.

    Designed to foster academic, social, and life skills, our curriculum incorporates innovative teaching materials and a variety of enrichment opportunities, all aimed at accelerating your child's developmental trajectory in a supportive community setting.

  • In-Home Services

    Bring our expert care and personalized autism support directly to your family's doorstep. This program is ideal for families seeking one-on-one intervention in the comfort and privacy of their own home.

    Tailored to meet the unique needs of each child, our in-home therapy focuses on critical areas of development, including communication, social skills, and daily living activities. Our dedicated therapists work closely with families to create a supportive, inclusive environment that encourages growth and learning at every step.

  • In-Academy After School Programs

    This program is designed to complement your child's daytime education by reinforcing learning and promoting skill acquisition in a structured yet flexible after-school setting. This program offers targeted behavioral interventions and social skills training aimed at improving functional abilities and promoting independence.

    By focusing on positive reinforcement and personalized goals, we help children with autism build confidence and success in both academic and social realms, ensuring continuity of care and learning beyond the school day.

  • Introduction to ABA

    Our Introduction to ABA Services is a unique program running from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the academy, designed specifically for families new to ABA therapy. It offers a comprehensive introduction to the principles and benefits of ABA, through direct involvement and observation of initial progress.

    This program aims to build a strong foundation of understanding and trust in ABA methodologies, demonstrating the effectiveness of our approach in fostering developmental growth and encouraging families to explore further support options.

Choose Your Perfect Fit Program

Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA)

We like to think of ABA as a toolbox, and we have extensive experience knowing which tools to use and when. The good news is that many parents and skilled teachers are already using utilizing ABA strategies. Have you ever

  • Told a child to do something before earning a reward?

  • Waited for a child to say “please” before giving them what they wanted?

  • Written out a schedule for your child’s morning or daily routine?

These are all ABA strategies.

At Orchid, we have a team of experts ready to help you and your child achieve greatness through out strategic programs. We will work together to:

  1. Set GOALS

  2. Track progress daily

  3. Celebrate victories

  4. Quickly move on to the next goal

  5. Teach parents all about our tools and strategies

 

What makes Orchid Academy different?

While many ABA service providers focus on behavior, Orchid Academy focuses on all behaviors such as literacy, communication, fine motor, math and social skills.

We have seen how academic goals lead to improvements in problem behavior as children can better engage in school and community settings. ​We believe in blending the most researched-based strategies and curriculum to improve outcomes for all of our students.

 

  • Traditional literacy approaches are often linear, moving from letter identification to letter sounds, etc. We believe in exposing all of our clients to many aspects of literacy, from letters to phonemic awareness to beginner-level books.

    We have found that each child accesses literacy differently, and we support and work hard to build upon their interests. We have had clients with severe problem behavior make huge gains once they were able to read. ​

  • The key to preventing problem behavior is to give children the ability to communicate. We use a mix of Picture Exchange Communicate System (PECS) and an iPad program called Proloqo2Go to promote communication skills.

  • We have frequently been called into classrooms to observe problem behavior in typically developing children. Teachers have often said that math was the child's "trigger." Upon observation, we have frequently discovered that it wasn't math that caused the problem, but when students were asked to write out how they came to a solution that the behavior erupted.

    Writing is challenging for children with autism who often have low muscle tone. We prioritize helping children develop fine motor skills that allow them to zip their coat, correctly grasp a writing utensil and so much more.

  • We are always pushing children to develop math skills, as many of our clients enjoy math and it's an area where they can feel successful.

    For example, while not exactly math, telling time is critical to preventing problem behavior. We teach children as young as three to tell time because they then have a better understanding of when work is done and play begins.

    Children with autism (and typically developing children) do well with schedules and routines, so we give them the keys to the kingdom when they can tell time.

What might an ABA session look like?

A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) who has gone through extensive behavioral education, training and testing will meet with your family, and evaluate your child's strengths and areas for growth. They will then collaborate with you and other providers to write a behavior plan that increases your child’s adaptability in their current environments as well as teach skills that will allow them to function in less-restrictive environments. A Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) will work with your child throughout the week in teaching skills while receiving supervision from the BCBA.

ABA will look different for every family based on specific needs, the child’s age and the setting in which services are provided. Your therapist may work with your child at home, at school, or in the community. Therapists may work at a table or on the floor, teach age-appropriate chores around the home, provide academic support at school, or accompany you to community outings in which difficult behavior occurs.

 

Is ABA for you?

Some things to consider to determine if ABA and Orchid Academy is a good choice for your family:

  • Do you ever avoid going to places or events because you’re worried it might be too difficult?

  • Is your child falling behind developmentally in the areas of communication, social and/or emotional skills, adaptive or academic skills?

  • Are you experiencing difficulty in your family life due to your child’s behaviors?

  • Is your child’s behavior impacting their ability to learn at school?