Five years ago, I met Tom Caffrey while attending a training series on verbal behavior given by the Foundation for Autism Training and Education.  I am a speech language pathologist working in a school district.  I have always looked for ways to better help children with autism learn to effectively communicate their wants and needs.  I also wanted strategies on how to improve and build upon language skills.  Tom’s presentations were outstanding!  Each training session was informative, with Tom providing real life examples and scenarios that helped you visualize the techniques being taught.  I was able to immediately take the strategies provided and implement them into my sessions.  Not only can I use them for my students with autism, but also for students with mild delays to profound disabilities.  Tom showed us how to track progress and continually change interventions to meet the individual needs of each student.  I was impressed with Tom’s implementation of the principles of verbal behavior that I decided to study it further on my own.  I am now a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a much more effective speech language pathologist.  The video modules that Tom has developed will prove to be excellent tools not only for therapists but for parents as well.  I view Tom as an exceptional teacher who is always striving to improve the lives of special needs children and their families.

Lisa Ryan, MA/CCC-SLP, BCBA, Port Jervis, NY