Dower and Associates, Inc.

17/04/2026

https://youtu.be/4gcvjHOa968

Tiffany Hogan, Ph.D., CCC-SLP defines developmental language disorder, DLD, as difficulty using and understanding language. Dr. Hogan discusses the need to s...

17/04/2026

Not all speech therapy is the same.

What makes the approach at Dower and Associates, Inc. different?

I am both a Speech-Language Pathologist AND a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. This dual certification allows for a unique, highly effective synergy where clinical expertise in communication meets the science of how we learn.

That means:

📝Language is assessed AND taught systematically: No stone is left unturned in identifying how your child communicates.

📊 Progress is measured, not guessed: Data drives every decision we make in the therapy room.

🗣 Maximum Responding: Sessions are structured to ensure your child is engaged and learning throughout the entire session.

🌍 Real-World Results: We focus on functional use, ensuring skills transfer from the clinic to your dinner table and the classroom.

This approach is especially impactful for:

✅ Autism & Down Syndrome

✅ Speech and Language Delays

✅ Developmental Language Delays/Disorders

✅ Reading and Written Language Challenges

If your child needs more than "just practice," the science of behavior combined with speech-language pathology matters.

☀️ Summer spots are limited and filling fast!
📅 Summer sessions begin around June 8
📍 Located in Leesburg on Red Cedar Drive.

Give your child the support they need to make the biggest gains this season.

📧 Contact me today: information@dowerandassociates.com

13/04/2026

https://coverva.dmas.virginia.gov/learn/premium-assistance/famis-select/

FAMIS Select helps families pay for employer-sponsored health insurance. The FAMIS Select program allows families to choose between covering their children through an employer-sponsored health plan or through FAMIS.

13/04/2026

The comments 😳😳😳😳

13/04/2026

Extended School Year (ESY) services are often misunderstood, but federal law makes clear that they are a critical component of a student’s right to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

ESY is not simply “summer school,” nor is it limited to a specific time of year. ESY services can be provided at any point when school is not in session, such as summer, winter break, spring break, or other interruptions … if a student’s needs require it. The purpose of ESY is not convenience or enrichment; it is to ensure that a student continues to receive meaningful educational benefit as required by federal law.

ESY is also not limited to group instruction or pre-set programs. Under IDEA, services must be individualized based on the student’s unique needs, as determined by the IEP team. This means ESY can include one-on-one instruction, related services (such as speech, occupational therapy, or behavioral supports), or other specially designed instruction tailored to the student.

Importantly, ESY is not based solely on whether a student shows regression and recoupment difficulties, although that is one factor teams may consider. Federal guidance makes clear that eligibility must be determined on an individual basis and may include multiple considerations, such as:
• The likelihood of significant regression during breaks
• The time it takes to regain lost skills (recoupment)
• The presence of emerging or “breakthrough” skills that could be lost without continued instruction
• The severity of the disability
• Interfering behaviors
• The need for continuity of instruction to make meaningful progress

In particular, “breakthrough skills” are explicitly recognized in federal guidance as a valid reason for ESY services. When a student is on the verge of mastering a critical skill, interrupting instruction could halt progress and deny the student meaningful educational benefit.

Ultimately, ESY is about ensuring that the services in a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) remain effective year-round when necessary. Schools cannot apply blanket policies (such as limiting ESY to certain disabilities, grade levels, or program types), nor can they restrict ESY to students who meet only one narrow criterion. Decisions must be individualized, data-driven, and aligned with the legal standard of providing FAPE.

In short: ESY is flexible, individualized, and legally required when needed … not a one-size-fits-all summer program, but a safeguard to ensure continuity of learning and progress for students with disabilities

12/04/2026

https://www.thescienceofmath.com/what-is-the-science-of-math

  What is the Science of Math? The Science of Math is focused on using objective evidence about how students learn math to make educational decisions and to inform policy and practice. To read an introduction to the science of math. see https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00400599221121721 and...

12/04/2026

How I spent my Saturday 📝

10/04/2026

😎 Summer can change everything.

☀️ Summer speech, language, and academic support is now open for scheduling.

If your child has been working hard all year but still needs support in:
• Speech sound production
• Language comprehension or expression
• Early reading and phonological awareness
• Academics: reading, math and/or written language
• Social communication

Summer is often when the biggest gains happen.

I offer:
• Speech-language therapy
• Specialized tutoring for reading, math, and language
• Focused, individualized sessions
• Short-term summer options (no long-term commitment required)

I am a dual-certified SLP and BCBA with 40 years of experience in Loudoun County.

📅 Summer sessions begin around June 8
📍 Located in Leesburg on Red Cedar Drive.

Message me to schedule a brief consult and secure a spot.

10/04/2026

Haha!!

10/04/2026

Please apply if you need financial assistance, share in your networks or tag someone who might be interested!

🚨 Reminder: Don’t miss this opportunity to support families in accessing high-quality care.

SPABA’s Family Scholarship is now accepting applications and we need your help to spread the word.

💰 $500 award
📅 Deadline: April 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM PT
🔴Open to families in the United States at this time.

This application is more than a form. It helps us better understand your current needs and how financial support can increase access to meaningful, collaborative, and evidence-based care.

At SPABA, we are committed to advancing evidence-based practices and expanding equitable access to services that improve lives. This scholarship is one step toward that mission.

👉 Apply or share with a family who could benefit: https://tinyurl.com/FamilyScholarshipSpring2026

📣 Know someone who might qualify? Tag them. Share this post. Help us reach the families who need it most.

09/04/2026

https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/kristens-kitchen-commonwealth-autism-april-9-2026