Our Livingston, NJ center-based early intervention program is designed for young children who benefit from a structured, play-rich environment. Using naturalistic, relationship-based approaches—including the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM)—we focus on building communication, connection, and everyday life skills in ways that feel meaningful to your child.
Within Early Start Academy, your child receives support through a blend of individualized and social learning experiences:
Personalized support, built around your child
Your child works one-on-one with a therapist to build foundational skills at their own pace, with care tailored to their unique strengths and needs.
Learning alongside peers in a supported setting
In small, thoughtfully structured groups, children practice communication, flexibility, and shared attention while receiving individualized support.
Real connection through shared play
Children have opportunities to engage with typically developing peers in guided play experiences, helping them build social confidence and meaningful peer interactions in a natural way.
Collaborative, inclusive learning from the very beginning
Our preschool environment blends therapeutic support with early education, creating an inclusive space where children learn together. Grounded in the Group Early Start Denver Model (G-ESDM), this program supports social, language, and developmental growth through shared experiences and play.
Some of the most important learning happens in everyday moments—at home, at the park, during routines you already have.
We provide 1:1 therapy in your home and community, where your child can build skills in the places they matter most. Sessions focus on functional, meaningful goals—like communication, independence, daily routines, and participation in family activities—so progress feels natural and relevant to your everyday life.
Parent coaching is a core part of this work. We partner closely with you, helping you feel confident in supporting your child in real-life situations, not just during sessions.
This approach supports not just your child, but your whole family in feeling more connected, capable, and at ease.
When your child is in a private school setting, we work alongside educators to create consistency, understanding, and support throughout their day.
Depending on your child’s needs, we may place a trained therapist directly in the classroom to provide individualized support—helping your child stay engaged, build skills, and move toward greater independence within their learning environment.
This is paired with BCBA oversight and collaboration, ensuring strategies are thoughtful, effective, and aligned across home and school.
Our team works closely with teachers and staff to support your child academically, socially, and emotionally—so they can participate more fully and confidently in their school experience.
We partner with public school districts to provide thoughtful, individualized support within the school setting.
Our team can provide BCBA consultation and, when appropriate, trained therapists to work directly in classrooms—supporting both students and staff in real time.
We collaborate with educators and support teams to better understand each student’s needs, develop effective strategies, and create structured, supportive environments that promote learning, independence, and positive behavior.
Our goal is to work alongside school teams—helping students succeed while feeling understood, respected, and supported throughout their day.
Communication is at the heart of connection. When a child can express what they need, share what they’re thinking, or engage with others, everything else begins to open up.
Our speech therapy services are designed to support your child in ways that feel natural, supportive, and individualized to how they learn best.
Targeted support for meaningful progress.
One-on-one sessions focus on your child’s specific communication needs—whether that’s building language, improving clarity of speech, or supporting alternative forms of communication like AAC.
Practicing communication in real-life moments.
In small, supported groups, children practice using language with peers—building social communication, turn-taking, and confidence in a natural, engaging setting.
Supporting comfort, safety, and flexibility with eating.
We work with children who may have challenges around feeding, including limited diets, sensory sensitivities, or oral-motor difficulties—helping mealtimes feel more manageable and less stressful for your family.
Our speech therapy services are provided in collaboration with KidSpot, a speech therapy practice founded and led by:
Rachel Kirson, M.S., CCC-SLP, TSSLD
(Founder, KidSpot)
Rachel supports children with speech sound delays, apraxia, language delays, social communication challenges, and AAC. Her approach is warm, individualized, and focused on helping each child communicate in ways that feel successful and empowering.
Brenda Waldner, M.S., CCC-SLP
(Speech-Language Pathologist, KidSpot)
Brenda is part of the KidSpot team and specializes in working with young children, from early intervention through early elementary years. She supports language development, apraxia, feeding, and play skills, bringing a thoughtful, hands-on approach to each session. She is trained in PROMPT, AAC, DTTC, and the SOS Approach to Feeding.
Movement is a big part of how children explore their world. When a child feels more confident in their body, it opens the door to greater independence, play, and participation in everyday life.
Our physical therapy services are designed to support your child’s motor development in ways that feel engaging, supportive, and tailored to their unique needs.
Focused support for your child’s unique motor goals.
One-on-one sessions help your child build strength, coordination, balance, and functional movement skills at their own pace, with personalized guidance every step of the way.
Practicing movement alongside peers.
In small groups, children work on motor skills in a fun, social environment—encouraging participation, confidence, and shared experiences through movement.
All students take part in a weekly physical education class designed to promote active play, coordination, and inclusion. This group experience helps children build skills while feeling part of a larger community.
Our physical therapy services are provided in collaboration with Next Step Pediatric Therapy, LLC (www.nspediatric.com), led by:
Christopher Paserchia, PT, DP
(Director, Next Step Pediatric Therapy)
Chris brings a thoughtful, movement-based approach to helping children build strength, coordination, and confidence. He holds a Doctorate in Physical Therapy and has extensive experience supporting children in developing the motor skills they need for everyday life.
Every child experiences the world in their own way. When something feels harder—whether it’s getting dressed, playing, focusing, or managing big feelings—it can impact so much more than just that moment.
Occupational therapy helps us understand the why behind those challenges, so we can support your child in ways that truly make a difference.
Personalized support for meaningful daily skills.
Through one-on-one sessions, your child works on the skills that matter most to their everyday life—like fine motor development, sensory processing, regulation, and independence with daily routines.
Building skills through shared experiences
In small groups, children practice social interaction, play skills, flexibility, and regulation alongside peers—while still receiving individualized support within the group.
Our occupational therapy services are provided in collaboration with:
Bob Deary
(Occupational Therapist, Deary Therapy Services)
Bob takes a whole-child, development-focused approach—looking at how your child’s body, environment, and daily experiences all work together. He focuses on understanding what might be getting in the way—whether that’s sensory processing, motor coordination, or early developmental patterns—and helps uncover the “missing pieces” that support growth.
His work often includes supporting foundational skills like sensory regulation, motor planning, and early reflex integration, helping your child build a stronger base for everyday tasks like play, learning, and independence.
Through supportive, relationship-based sessions, Bob gently challenges children to try new things, build confidence, and develop the skills they need to navigate daily life with more ease and success.
