ROCKINGHAM — Two career educators cut the ribbon Wednesday afternoon on South Long Drive for Early Start Interventions, Inc., a therapy-based clinic for families with children with autism.
Dr. Amber Watkins, former director of the Distinguished Children’s Department at Richmond County Schools, and her husband, Derrick Watkins, Principal of the 9th Grade Academy, attended the unveiling ceremony along with their sons, Elias and Derrick Jr.
Early Start Interventions is the only Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) clinic exclusively for Richmond County residents.
Dr. Watkins said he had been thinking about opening the facility for about three years. It started when his son Elias was diagnosed with level 3 autism.
“Especially when we see the challenges of getting our own child services, where we are both leaders in education, we believe that it can support families, do more in our communities, and give parents We knew it was an opportunity to provide support that we didn’t. I don’t feel like we had when it came to community networking,” she said.
Early Start Interventions utilizes the Early Start Denver Model Therapy training program. Dr. Watkins says it’s naturalistic and play-based. She added that the facility will provide a range of community services and “create a safe place for families to know they can bring their children.”
Richmond County Commissioner Jeff Smart called the new operation “greatly needed.”
Echoing the words of Rockingham Mayor John Hutchinson and Richmond County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Christy King, he said: “I wish you all the best.
Dr. Watkins said their mission is to reach out to schools to best support children with autism, while also supporting families and children with challenges they may have at home and in the community. She also said Early Start Interventions will use services provided by Krystal Dawn Retreat, a local retreat center for families with special needs. rice field.
“Our goal is always to provide a treatment clinic and treatment model that is exactly what we want for our children,” said Dr. Watkins.
To support the Richmond County Daily Journal, subscribe at https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/subscribe or 910-817-3111.
Contact Matthew Sasser at 910-817-2671 or [email protected] Suggest a fix.
