Sarah Heller

By Dr. Sarah Heller, Ed.D., BCBA, LBA-NY · Meaningful Metrics If you have a neurodivergent child, there is a good chance you have sat across a table from a teacher, a principal, or a well-meaning school psychologist and heard some version of the following: "It's interesting, because in school we really don't see that." And if you are the parent in that scenario, you have probably done one of two things. Either you smiled politely while something inside you quietly snapped, or you started to...

By Dr. Sarah Heller, Ed.D., IBA, BCBA, LBA-NY · Meaningful Metrics One of the questions I hear most often from families (whether we're meeting at a school table in New York or connecting via telehealth) is some version of this: "How do I keep learning after our sessions end?" It's one of my favorite questions, because it tells me the family is already thinking beyond our session time together. They're not just looking for answers in the room. They want to carry the work home, into the car,...

When social skills are taught from a compliance mindset, children may learn to mimic behaviors without truly understanding them. They may smile when they are uncomfortable, agree when they mean no, or mask their differences to avoid standing out. Over time, this can create anxiety, fatigue, and a sense of disconnection from their own identity. A neuroaffirming approach views social learning through a different lens. Instead of focusing on “fitting in,” it helps children understand...