History of ELCA
ELCA, Inc. was founded in the year
2000 by Elizabeth Bart (Cutforth), Jennifer Herbert (Peckham)
and Juanita Traver. They were long-time friends and
colleagues who began sharing information and ideas with
each other. As they collaborated, developing positive
behavioral programming and curriculum, they found they
shared similar philosophies. The more information they
shared, the more they grew to respect each other professionally.
As each brought more creative ideas to the team, ELCA
was born. In 2000, they began to officially develop
the constantly evolving and individualized ELCA curriculum.
At that time, they also began providing programs under
the ELCA name. ELCA became incorporated in August 2002.
ELCA, Inc. received its NPA (non-public agency) status
through the state of CA in April of 2003. At that time
the staff of Consultants, Supervisors and Jr. Therapists were hired.
ELCA strives to continuously develop novel curriculum
and programming, utilizing current literature in combination
with the knowledge and creativity of its staff to optimize
the learning environment for its clients.
Consultant Bios
Elizabeth Bart (Cutforth)
is a founder, director, and behavioral consultant with Enriching the Lives of Children with Autism, Inc. Liz developed an interest in autism while studying psychology at San Jose State University. She began working in the field of ABA in 1995 and quickly discovered the joy of helping children with autism reach their maximum potential. Things began to move very quickly for Liz, as she learned about the field through both experience and education. Her passion for learning and compassion for children inspired her to continue her work and her education in psychology. She worked with children with autism in a variety of settings using a variety of teaching strategies. Liz spent much of her education focusing on autism and behavioral literature, and conducted research on the effectiveness of treatment for autism and behavioral strategies. She graduated with a Master's Degree in Experimental Psychology in 2000. Shortly thereafter, Liz, Jennifer, and Juanita founded ELCA. She now uses her education, experience and resources to design and implement highly individualized programming for children with autism and related disorders. Liz is most passionate about creating innovative curriculum and truly individualized program designs for children. She is currently working toward her BCBA and is the mother of two.
Jennifer Herbert
is a founder, director, and behavioral consultant with Enriching the Lives of Children with Autism, Inc. Jennifer has been working with people with autistic spectrum disorders since 1994. While working towards her BA in Child Development at SJSU, Jennifer worked in a group home for young adults with autism. After graduation, she began working as a behavioral therapist. Her knowledge of autism and interventions grew over the following years, as she began to work with many children in a variety of different types of intervention programs. Jennifer became a classroom teacher in 1999, teaching for a class of children with autism, K-2nd grade. During that time, Jennifer entered the Master's program in Special Education, which she completed in 2001. In 2000, Jennifer went back to her love of working one on one with children and families. Jennifer enjoys developing and implementing individualized programs as well as conducting a variety of trainings for school districts, private schools, San Jose State University students, and other professionals. Jennifer continues to educate herself by attending conferences, reading, collaborating with other professionals, as well as learning from the children and parents she works with. Jennifer is a wife and mother as well as a director and behavioral consultant with ELCA, Inc.
Juanita Traver
is a founder, director, and behavioral consultant with
Enriching the Lives of Children with Autism, Inc. Juanita
developed an interest in autism while working towards
her bachelor’s degree in psychology at San Jose
State University. Juanita has been working with people with autistic spectrum disorders
since 1993. She was able to blend her love of education
and psychology by completing a master’s degree
program in Educational Psychology in 1996. She has previously
worked for the Center for Autism and Related Disorders
(C.A.R.D.) where she received her formal training in
applied behavior analysis (ABA.). She has worked in
a variety of settings including, home, school and the
community. Within these settings she has worked as a
Therapist, Senior Therapist, and Program Director/Supervisor. She
has also volunteered with Dr. Bryna Siegel at the Pervasive
Developmental Disorders Clinic at UCSF. Because of her
continued passion for learning, educating and firm belief
that each child truly is individual and should be treated
as such, she continues to educate herself on the latest
research in the field of autism and approaches autism
treatment from an integrated and comprehensive manner.
She feels that her combined experiences, education,
love of children and knowledge of autism and interventions have
developed into a lifelong passion of serving children
with autism and related disorders.
Erin Griswold
is a behavioral consultant with Enriching the Lives
of Children with Autism, Inc. Erin began working with
children with autism in 1999 while working towards her
B.S. in psychology at Santa Clara University. Erin worked
with and received her ABA training from the directors
of ELCA. After graduation in 2000, Erin continued working
with children with autism as an ABA therapist in a variety
of settings including home, school and community and
as a one-to-one aide in a classroom. Her consistent
desire to want to learn more about how to help children
with autism and their families led her back to Santa
Clara University where she worked toward earning her
Masters in Special Education, Early Childhood Education
and her Early Childhood Special Education teaching credential
to be completed in 2005. In her masters program Erin
gained significant experience in working not only with
children with special needs but also in working with
their families. Furthermore during her student teaching
she gained an understanding of how to work with young
children with autism in a classroom setting. Erin has
also volunteered with Dr. Bryna Siegel in the Pervasive
Developmental Disorders Clinic at UCSF for two years
and continues to work with her in the newly developed
Jump Start program aimed at working with and educating
the families of young children who have recently received
an autism diagnosis.
Educational Requirements of Staff
Jr. Therapists
All ELCA Jr. Therapists either have or are working toward
a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, Special Education,
or a related field.
Supervisors
All ELCA Supervisors have at least a Bachelor’s
Degree in Psychology, Special Education, or a related
field. They are required to have worked in the field
of autism for a minimum of 3 years and have a variety
of experiences with a wide range of children.
Consultants
All ELCA Consultants have a Master’s Degree in
either Psychology or Special Education, or have completed all Master's Degree coursework and are equipped
with at least 6 years of experience in the field of
Autism. Currently our consultants have the combined
experience of over 35 years in the field.
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