Kathrine Koehler-Hak

Owner of LAARC, llc

Longmont CO | http://www.laarccottage.com

What does your business do?

psychoeducational services for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Services include counseling, play therapy, friendship groups and skills, Applied Behavior Analysis, advocacy, parent support, assessment and academic coaching

How would you use the grant money?

Grant money would be used to purchase assessment kits needed, including the Autism Diagnostic Observation System II (ADOS II). This assessment is considered gold standard within the field of psychological assessment for a diagnosis of ASD.

What would the grant enable you to do that you can't now?

I am trained on the ADOS and have been using an ADOS kit I have borrowed from another practitioner . However, to remain current, I would like to use the most recent and updated version of the ADOS II and have access to my own test kit. I am scheduled to attend a specific training for the ADOS II in June, 2015 and would be able to use the assessment immediately. On average I complete 1 to 2 assessments a month. With my own kit I could double the assessment provided to children in Boulder County and the northern front range of Colorado. I also have several requests to travel to other parts of the state to complete assessments. Having access to my own assessment will allow me to provide services to children in rural areas of Colorado.

If Idea Cafe's Grant helps your biz reach greater success, how will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?

I provide low cost assessment to families. Often I charge what they can pay or provide assessment as a community service to some families referred to me without a means to pay.