Melanie holds a doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology with NCBLPC Board Eligibility; is a National Board Certified teacher, dually licensed in generalized and adaptive special education and has affiliation with local universities as an adjunct professor. She has 22 years combined experience working with children and adolescents with behavioral and emotional disorders and individuals within the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). As a professional, Melanie continues DPI trainings specific to autism through involvement with the GCS autism problem solving team, self-selected trainings such as ABA and other research-based treatments, as well as daily “life experience training”- as she meets and works with each new individual with ASD and their wonderful families. She is actively involved in consulting, planning, and training for quality programming and supports a “team” approach in problem-solving for the unique needs of each individual with ASD to provide optimal opportunities for individualization, integration, and self-determination.