Empowering Children, Supporting Families, Changing Lives
LEAPS, Learning Effective Academic and Play Skills, is a culmination of over 25 years of research and practice of finding ways to help children with developmental disabilities gain skills and to participate in their communities. Serving children in rural communities in nine surrounding counties, our therapeutic services reach 600 children weekly. LEAPS staff spend time researching and receiving career development training to foster new approaches to help each child find their path to independence.
LEAPS Director, Ashley Faust, M.E. ECSE, began her career very early on in high school. She organized various programs for children with disabilities, including bringing the Miracle League to Trussville, Alabama. After attending the University of Alabama at Birmingham for undergraduate studies in social psychology, psychology, and a minor in social work, she completed a master’s degree in early childhood special education. After college, she began an exclusive mentorship with Dr. James Partington from Pleasant Hill, California, who is an expert and leader in the field of autism spectrum disorder and verbal behavior. While working as a private educational consultant for 14 years, Mrs. Faust provided services to children with varying disabilities in home, school, and community settings. She consulted with schools and families across the state in developing education programs, staff training, and more. She has worked with over 300 children in varying settings, while collaborating with families to help children reach their goals. In addition she ran a small therapeutic educational program for children with autism contracted by the local school system.
Once starting her family, she realized the importance of a therapeutic school program in Pell City. In 2010, LEAPS Academy was born from this need. LEAPS provides enrichment learning opportunities where children can experience small group settings with peers. Children can receive individualized academic support as well as learn social-emotional, language, play, and self-help skills. In addition to supporting the child, parents are given the opportunity to collaborate with LEAPS staff to help facilitate developmentally appropriate gains at home and in the community.
As LEAPS Academy grew, it became apparent that additional speech and occupational therapies were needed for her students and to those in Pell City and the surrounding areas. Along with a therapeutic learning environment, LEAPS now offers a full clinic providing Speech and Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy. There are currently two brick and mortar locations in Pell City and Sylacauga along with schools served in the surrounding area. Additionally, LEAPS is working with Cheaha Regional to provide speech and occupational services in all 15 Head Start locations. It is important at LEAPS to offer services in the surrounding rural counties to support the growth and well-being of those children, who have access to fewer resources that are provided in larger communities. LEAPS provides high quality individualized treatment by therapists, who have a master's degree specialty and is one of the few clinics that offers therapy to patients with Medicaid. LEAPS strives to build patient therapist relationships to foster growth and gain skills throughout childhood and we believe that children should be given the same therapeutic opportunities regardless of their socioeconomic status.
At LEAPS, our mission is to embrace all children in a nurturing environment, that enriches every aspect of a child’s life, so they may reach their fullest potential. A place where God is seen, love is felt, and lives are changed!
Join us on our mission to create brighter futures for children. Contact LEAPS Therapy Clinic at (205) 884-7621 today to learn more about our services!
