Q:  What is the name of your business and what services do you offer?

 

A:  The name of our practice is Family Beeginnings, and we offer ABA therapy in-home and in our clinic. We also offer an Early Intervention and School Readiness Day program, parent coaching, and IEP/504 consultations. Currently we service Prince William, Fairfax, Loudoun, Stafford, and Fauquier Counties. Additionally, we have a new location in Charleston, South Carolina!

 

Q:  What was your inspiration for starting Family Beeginnings?

 

A:  I founded Family Beeginnings to provide high quality in-home and clinic based ABA therapy for families. We began in 2019 with just providing in-home therapy and eventually launched our day program, Little Beeginnings in January 2020. While working for other companies and providing services in the school setting and privately at home, I quickly learned that many child care facilities or preschools and even some public schools were not equipped to work with the population I was serving. I was hearing more and more stories about my clients and other children getting kicked out of preschools due to their behaviors and challenges that can come with an autism diagnosis. That just broke my heart, which really inspired me to create a program where children could come and learn without being turned away because of some of the barriers they may have when it comes to learning. Every child is so unique and therefore their accommodations can vary. Here at Family Beeginnings we believe that if the child can’t learn the way we teach, then we teach the way they learn. Additionally, I wanted to create a team of like minded individuals who are passionate not only about providing high quality care and treatment for children with Autism and related disorders, but also want to go the extra mile to support and educate families on learning the tools needed to support their loved one to reach their full potential. 

 

Q:  What would you like to share about yourself?

 

A:  My name is Isma Coleman and I am a board certified behavior analyst licensed through the Virginia Board of Medicine to practice Applied Behavior Analysis. I am a clinician who specializes in working with pediatrics and young adults with Autism and related disorders. I also have over 5 years of experience in OBM, organizational behavior management, with specialization in focusing on assessing and changing the work environment to improve employee performance and workplace culture. I am also a mom of 2 and I am married to my highschool sweetheart. I was born and raised in Northern Virginia and I feel honored to be serving my local community.

 

Q:  What are the most common concerns you hear from parents?

 

A:     

• Will my child be able to function like other children or peers his or her age? 

• Does my child understand me? 

• Will he or she be able to tell me what they need or how they feel?

 

Parents seek our support and services due to a wide range of concerns. This can be anywhere from the lack of or delays in communication, potty training, certain behaviors that are a threat to themselves or others, different forms of aggression or property destruction, as well as students on the verge of or those that have been suspended or expelled from school.

 

 

Q: Why should local families check out Family Beeginnings?

 

A:  We really are an organization that goes above and beyond to help our clients and their families. We follow a holistic approach and believe that it takes a village to raise a child. Therefore, we not only focus on the child we are serving, but also put a big emphasis on supporting, coaching, and empowering the entire family as well as the child’s teachers and other caregivers. 

 

 

Q:  Where can families find out more about your services?

 

A:  You can head over to our Facebook page (Family Beeginnings) or find us on Instagram @familybeeginnings. Our website also offers a lot of information and you can contact us directly on our website.

 

Get To Know Isma

 

Q:  What is/was one of your parenting challenges?

 

A:  Mom guilt. Feeling like no amount of time spent with your kids is enough or having to miss some of their day-to-day moments because you are out helping other children.

 

Q:  What family support services have you personally used that you would recommend to families?

 

A:  I personally used Infant and Toddler Connection (ITC) through Fairfax County and Prince William County for my daughter when she was a baby until age 3. As a new mom it was scary trying to navigate all of my daughter's doctor appointments and really trying to figure out where to start. They were able to guide me and provided my daughter physical therapy in our home setting.