National Autism Association of Maryland-Eastern Shore (NAAOFMDES) has brought new developmental disability services to the Eastern Shore. Recently, Karen Lombardi, MS. Ed. of Early Connections, LLC, who holds a combined Elementary Education /Special Education degree from University of Maryland with a minor in Psychology, and a Masters degree from Johns Hopkins University in severe disabilities, has expanded her services to Easton from Annapolis.
Lombardi serves not only autistic children, but also children with other developmental disabilities on both sides of the Bay. Lombardi has had extensive training in “Talk Tools” techniques, and Hanen Methods, and Di Gangi’s Play Based Therapy, and Greenspan and Lewis’s Curriculum. She uses positive behavioral methods in addition to, three step guided compliance, sign language, augmentative communication, phonemic awareness, sensory integration and Speech Box Program. She also has training in TEACCH, Picture Exchange, as well as Augmentative Communication. Clients of Early Connections include children who need help with speech clarity, children with verbal dyspraxia, communication and behavioral needs. She serves children who have mild cerebral palsy, dysgraphia, sensory integration issues, and children who are in the autism spectrum. Having recognized the growing demand for services and service providers for children with developmental disabilities on the Eastern Shore, Lombardi and Early Connections, LLC aligned with NAAOFMDES to help meet the need of this growing community.
Lombardi said, “I train parents to advocate for their children, and I create home programs which are family friendly. My goal is to empower families to help themselves.”
Jaime Langdon, Executive Director of NAAOFMDES said of Lombardi, “NAAOFMDES has been very selective about what kind of services to which we align ourselves. Having met Karen, her experience speaks for itself. She has dynamically served the autistic community and the even greater developmentally disabled community in both Anne Arundel County and Prince Georges County, for over 30 years, making her an amazing asset not only to children with autism, but also children with other developmental disabilities. Karen Lombardi and Early Connections, LLC is exactly who and what I have been looking for, she’s perfect for these kids.”
To Learn More: To learn more about National Autism Association of Maryland-Eastern Shore and Early Connections, please visit (www.naaofmdes.org) and (www.earlyconnections.com) and call 410.820.9005.