Biography

Who we are . . .

Autism Services for Kids (ASK), is a private consulting agency that specializes in an ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) , VB (Verbal Behavior), and play therapy approach to teaching children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and other behavioral and/or learning disorders.

ASK staff members have worked with over 300 children and adolescents with autism and other developmental disabilities and have accumulated over 15,000 hours of direct service working with their clients and their families. ASK is also a provider for the Ohio Autism Scholarship Program.

What we do . . .

ASK uses a variety of curricula to implement in-home learning plans in all areas of development including, communication, play, socialization, academics, self-help, leisure, and daily living skills. The approach is designed to address the specific needs of families who seek individualized education for children with disabilities.

First Steps . . .

Call for a free initial consultation
Kari Marx, Consultant
Kate Vanderplough, Consultant
216.921.5251
info@autismservicesforkids.com

Team Members

Kari Marx

Kari is a Consultant for ASK. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1984. A mother of a son with autism, Kari began her ABA training under Jackie Winn, an ABA consultant from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), from 1993 through 1995. From 1995 through 1999, she continued her ABA training with John McEachin, a clinical psychologist from Autism Partnership at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Kari has also received training from Bridget Taylor, an ABA consultant from the Alpine Learning Center in Princeton, New Jersey. Before opening ASK in 2001, Kari was the Outreach Coordinator for the Cleveland Clinic Center for Autism in Cleveland, Ohio from 1999-2001.

Kate Vanderplough

Kate is a Consultant for ASK. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from The College of Wooster in 1999. Kate began her ABA training in 1995 with Caroline Habib, an ABA consultant from the Lovaas Institute, UCLA. From 1995 though 1999, she received ABA training from Wendy Prime, an ABA consultant also from the Lovaas Institute. Additionally, Kate had extensive training in autism and ABA from Kari Marx. Kate was a behavior therapist for several children with autism from 1995 through 1999. Before joining ASK in 2001, Kate was a Team Leader for the Cleveland Clinic Center for Autism from 1999-2001. In addition to her extensive ABA training, Kate received her certification in the Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS) from Andrew Bondy and Lori Frost in 1998.

Carena Brittain

Carena is a lead therapist for ASK. She has worked with several children with autism since joining ASK in 2003. Carena obtained a bachelors of science in psychology from Baldwin-Wallace College. She is currently working towards a Masters degree in Advanced Applied Behavior analysis as well as her board certification in ABA.