EARLY AUTISM PROJECT, INC.
NASHVILLE, TN

Early Autism Project (EAP), Inc., offers the highest quality of intensive, research-based behavioral treatment for children and young adults between the ages of 20 months and 21 years with autism spectrum and related disorders. EAP provides comprehensive services to children and their families in their homes, in EAP clinics and in schools throughout the country. , the nation’s leading provider of behavioral health and education solutions for children and young adults. We change the direction of children’s lives by offering them the opportunity to create successful, independent futures. Early Autism Project offers the highest quality of intensive, research-based behavioral treatment for children and young adults between the ages of 20 months and 21 years with autism spectrum and related disorders. EAP provides comprehensive services to children and their families in their homes, in EAP clinics and in schools throughout the country. EAP is a leading provider of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, which is widely recognized as an effective, evidence-based treatment for autism and is endorsed by the U.S. Surgeon General and American Academy of Pediatrics as the treatment of choice for autism. ABA therapy is covered by many private and government insurance providers. Mission Statement The mission of the Early Autism Project is threefold: to provide appropriate and effective ABA home and school programming that will enable each child in our care to reach his or her potential; to foster the close collaboration of parents and professionals who support the child; and to equip each child’s home or school team with the ABA training and supervision that will ensure high-quality and consistent teaching, error correction procedures and behavioral intervention. Ms. Eldridge is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with more than 20 years of experience designing learning environments for persons with autism and developmental disabilities. A co-founder and the Senior Clinical Advisor for Early Autism Project, Inc., she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Special Education from Southern Wesleyan University and a Masters Degree in Special Education from Clemson University. She also completed the Applied Behavior Analysis for Special Education Graduate Certificate Program at The Pennsylvania State University. For fifteen years, Ms. Eldridge was a Special Education teacher in the South Carolina public school system, and in 1996 she was recognized by the South Carolina Autism Society as that organization’s Teacher of the Year. Ms. Eldridge began her career in Applied Behavior Analysis in 1994, when the Wisconsin Early Autism Project (WEAP) served several children in her inclusive preschool class. In 1997, she began working as a consultant with WEAP and in 1999 she became a full-time consultant with the company. In July of 2000 Ms. Eldridge was named director of the South Carolina Early Autism Project, Inc., which at that time was the Southeast branch of WEAP. Ms. Eldridge has received extensive training in applied behavior analysis and autism from Dr. Glen Sallows, BCBA. Dr. Vincent J. Carbone, BCBA-D provided Ms. Eldridge with the training and clinical mentorship that led to her certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She has collaborated with Tammi Kasper, CCC-SLP/BCBA and Jennifer Godwin, BCBA to design individual ABA programs and speech protocols. While working in corporate America throughout the 1990’s, Ms. Butler worked to bring quality ABA treatment services to S.C. and the Southeast. She served as the SC contact for several organizations and provided information about autism treatment options to families with children with autism spectrum disorders. Ms. Butler began working with Ann Eldridge in 1994 and the Wisconsin Early Autism Project, Inc., (WEAP) in 1997. In 2000, Ms. Butler and Ms Eldridge started the South Carolina Early Autism Project, Inc. (SCEAP) which at that time was the Southeast branch of the WEAP. At SCEAP, she put her business background and experience in the field of autism and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to work to develop customized treatment models that could be used in both the school and home setting and worked closely with parents, organizations and agencies to identify funding sources that would allow all children in SC to access ABA treatment. In 2002 Ms. Butler and Ms. Eldridge expanded their clinical outreach to provide the highest quality ABA services to more families throughout the southeast and became the independent clinic now known as the Early Autism Project, Inc. (EAP). Mrs. Butler received a degree in Political Science with a minor in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina. She lives on Isle of Palms, SC. While completing her advanced degrees, Ms. Penland worked as a lead therapist, school shadow, and line therapist in ABA programs for children with autism. Ms. Penland began working with Early Autism Project, Inc. in 1999. Ms. Penland completed the necessary clinical coursework under Dr. Martinez-Diaz, BCBA-D, and a mentorship under Ms. Jennifer Godwin, BCBA to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Ms. Penland resides in Greenville, South Carolina. In her current position, she establishes and maintains contracts with School Districts, provides clinical oversight to BCBAs and other staff working in Districts, and manages the daily operations related to school district services. Mrs. Weichelt is currently enrolled in a Doctoral Program in Education for K-12 Leadership at Immaculata University in Pennsylvania. © 2018 Early Autism Project. All Rights Reserved. © 2018 Early Autism Project. All Rights Reserved. Mark K. Claypool and John M. McLaughlin are CEO and Director of Research and Analytics respectively for ChanceLight Behavioral Health, Therapy and Education, which provides services for at-risk students and students with special needs in 27 states. Their latest book is Patience, kindness, humility respectfulness, selflessness, forgiveness, honesty and commitment are the principles of servant leadership, and these words perfectly describe Board Certified Behavior Analyst Spencer Ramsey, M.Ed., our Servant Heart Award recipient for ChanceLight Behavioral Health. As a Senior Behavioral Analyst, Spencer uses Applied Behavior Analysis therapy to help children with autism reach their full