Nikia Dower
MS, CCC-SLP/L, BCBA ®
- President/Director of Dower and Associates, Inc.
- Speech/Language Pathologist
- Board Certified Behavior Analyst®
Ms. Dower has been in private practice serving Loudoun County since 1986 and in Prince William County since 1993. Her current staff of speech/language pathologists, ABA instructors and tutors specializes in the treatment of children and adolescents with language learning disabilities, speech/language delays/disorders and those with autism and other developmental disabilities.
Over the years, Ms. Dower found her niche in the treatment of children and adolescents diagnosed with Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, Down's Syndrome, and those with language based learning disabilities. She is responsible for consulting with families, school systems, private schools and agencies and training those who implement ABA/VB programs across the Commonwealth of Virginia.
She has been a Virginia licensed speech/language pathologist since 1986 and a nationally certified speech/language pathologist since 1988. In June of 2005, she became the first speech/language pathologist in Virginia to receive certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst®. Ms. Dower is on the Board of Directors for Commonwealth Autism Services and an Advisory Board member for Parents of Autistic Children – Northern Virginia (POAC-NOVA).
Cheri S. Holdredge, M.S.
CCC-SLP/L
- Speech/Language Pathologist
Cheri S. Holdredge, M.S. CCC-SLP/L, joined Dower and Associates, Inc. in September of 2003. Her background has been primarily in a private practice setting, although she brings with her, some public school experience as well. She has a great interest in therapy for children with learning disabilities as well as effective teaching procedures for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder specifically utilizing Applied Behavior Analysis with an emphasis in BF Skinner's analysis in Verbal Behavior.
In addition to providing speech and language evaluations, therapy and screenings for the practice, Cheri also is responsible for taking and returning intake calls, advising parents on need for evaluation / therapy, scheduling of evaluations and new clients for the director and all staff members of the office as well as mailing informational brochures and intake forms.
Her ability to multi-task for the practice is welcomed and an asset to Dower and Associates, Inc.
Lily Sins, M.Ed
BCBA® Candidate
- ABA/VB Consultant
- Senior ABA/VB Instructor
Lily Sins, MEd, joined Dower and Associates, Inc. in January of 2004 as a full time ABA/VB Instructor for children with autism. In January of 2005, she began consulting in home programs, training parents and other ABA/VB instructors in the principles of ABA, effective teaching procedures and natural environment teaching.
In addition to her interest and natural giftedness in working with children diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder, she holds her BA in psychology and her Master's in Special Education. Since 2002, her interest has been exclusively in the effective educational treatment of children with autism and related developmental disabilities utilizing ABA with an emphasis in Verbal Behavior. She holds a certificate in ABA from George Mason University and has completed her supervision requirements that make her eligible to sit for the BCBA® examination.
Lily is fluent in Spanish and recognized the vast need for ABA/VB services, ABA materials and information on autism to be translated into Spanish and for it to be disseminated widely within the Hispanic population of Virginia. As such, Dower and Associates, Inc. designated Lily to the project of developing Dower and Associates, Inc. ABA training manuals, ABA/VB PowerPoint presentations, data sheets, and other autism related information in Spanish.
Lily brings to the practice a natural talent for working with children and proficiency in American Sign Language. She adds yet another unique compliment to Dower and Associates, Inc.
Tina Emory
- Lead ABA/VB Instructor
- ABA/VB Teaching Procedures Trainer
Tina joined Dower and Associates, Inc. in 2004. She has been working with children with special needs since 2000 in a variety of settings and capacities. Since 2004, her interest has been exclusively in the effective educational and behavioral treatment of children with autism and related developmental disabilities utilizing ABA with an emphasis in Verbal Behavior.
Extremely gifted in understanding and applying the science and principles of ABA in both a classroom setting and in a home setting. She instructs early to advanced learners with autism with a range of communicative abilities from nonverbal to verbal. Tina also has natural gifts in program organization and data keeping. Upon finalizing her BS in Organizational Leadership at Mountain State University in West Virginia she intends to pursue her BCABA®.
She brings to Dower and Associates, Inc. tenacity in learning and precise application of her knowledge while displaying exceptional instructional skills to educating children with autism and training staff, parents and allied professionals in effective teaching procedures in the application of behavior analysis.
Jessica Miller
- Lead ABA/VB Instructor
- Social Skills Group Instructor
Jessica joined Dower and Associates, Inc. in August of 2004. She has been working with children with special needs in Loudoun County, VA since 2002 in a variety of settings. Since 2004, her interest has been exclusively in the effective educational and behavioral treatment of children with autism and related developmental disabilities utilizing ABA with an emphasis in Verbal Behavior. She is exceptionally talented in applying the science of ABA in both a classroom setting and in a home setting as she instructs early to advanced learners with autism with a range of communicative abilities from nonverbal to verbal.
She is finalizing her AAS Degree in Early Childhood Education at NVCC, as well as her general education requirements for a BA in Psychology with ABA Certification, which she anticipates completing at George Mason University. Upon completion of her BA, she intends to pursue her BCABA®.
She brings to Dower and Associates, Inc. a zest for learning and applying her knowledge and skills to educating children with autism
Krystle Hedrick, MEd
- Social Skills Group Coordinator
Krystle Hedrick, MEd, joined Dower and Associates, Inc. in 2004 as a home based ABA/VB Instructor with interest in the effective educational and behavioral treatment of children with autism and related developmental disabilities utilizing ABA with an emphasis in Verbal Behavior.
Her role in Dower and Associates, Inc. currently is to coordinate and lead semi-monthly social skills groups for children on the autism spectrum.
Krystle has her Masters in Special Education and a State-Approved Teaching Certification in Emotional Disturbance/Learning Disabilities (K-12). She plans to pursue the needed coursework and supervision to become a BCBA®.
Krystle brings to Dower and Associates, Inc. fluency in Signed Exact English and proficiency in American Sign Language. She adds another unique complement to the qualifications and training of Dower and Associates, Inc. staff members.
Margaret Santos, MST, CPA
- Academic and Remedial Math Tutor
Margaret Santos, MST, CPA, joined Dower and Associates, Inc. in 2004 to provide academic and remedial math tutoring for elementary aged students. Prior to having her children, her work experience was vast in the business world, specifically in accounting and financial analysis. Currently, she is not practicing as a CPA as she raises her children but has chosen to use her talents in math to assist children in acquiring math skills in one to one sessions. She is a welcome asset to Dower and Associates, Inc.
Jenny Lott, BS
- ABA/VB Instructor
- Academic/Remedial Tutor
Jenny Lott, BS, joined Dower and Associates, Inc. in June of 2006 as an ABA/VB Instructor for children with autism. Jenny has worked in both home programs and a school based setting. In addition to her interest with children diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder, she holds her BS in psychology. Since 2006, her interest has been exclusively in the effective educational treatment of children with autism and related developmental disabilities utilizing ABA with an emphasis in Verbal Behavior. Jenny brings to Dower and Associates, Inc. exemplary writing skills, organizational abilities and a very upbeat personality.
Leslie Andrews
- ABA/VB Instructor
- Social Skills Group Instructor
Leslie joined Dower and Associates, Inc. in June of 2006. She worked with children with special needs in Warren County, VA since 2004 in a school based setting. Her interest is in the effective educational and behavioral treatment of children with autism and related developmental disabilities utilizing ABA with an emphasis in Verbal Behavior. She is exceptionally talented in applying the science of ABA in both a classroom setting and in a home setting as she instructs early to advanced learners with autism with a range of communicative abilities from nonverbal to verbal.
She is currently attending Lord Fairfax Community College. She brings to Dower and Associates, Inc. high energy and the ability to apply her training, knowledge and skills to educating children with autism.
Ellen Bower
- ABA Instructor (Intern)/Camp Shadow
- Specialized Respite Care Provider
- Special Education Undergraduate Student
Ellen joined Dower and Associates, Inc. in June of 2005 while she attended Paul VI High School in Fairfax, VA. She currently is a sophomore at Lynchburg University where she is majoring in Special Education. Ellen has spent her past three summers and winter breaks assisting in Dower and Associates, Inc. office doing filing, spreadsheets, graphing, organization, making ABA materials and data sheet creation. During the summer of 2007, she began providing 1:1 behavioral support to a second grader in an all day summer camp in Middleburg, VA. An athlete at heart, Ellen was able to share her expertise in sports and apply the principles of behavior analysis when assisting the student in his summer camp as well as running his behavioral token economy plan. She attended Dr Carbone's three day Introduction to Verbal Behavior workshop in July 2007. Ellen always is upbeat and has a smile on her face. She is a joy to have on staff with us!
Jill Fuerst
- ABA Instructor (Intern)/Camp Shadow
- Specialized Respite Care Provider
- Speech/Language Pathology Undergraduate Student
Jill joined Dower and Associates, Inc. in June of 2007. She currently is a freshman at Loyola College (MD) where she is majoring in Speech/Language Pathology. During the summer of 2007, she began providing 1:1 behavioral support to two preschoolers in summer camp in Leesburg, VA. She attended Dr Carbone's three day Introduction to Verbal Behavior workshop in July 2007. She is exceptionally bright and has an innate ability to work with children. Jill is always cheerful with a smile on her face. She is a pleasure to have on staff with us!
Pam bower, MS
- Office Manager
Pam joined Dower and Associates, Inc. in 2007 to assist Ms. Dower with the day-to-day operations of a growing business. Although her background, educationally and professionally, is different from many of the Dower and Associates staff, she has the same goal that all children should be given the opportunity to be successful. This comes from years of working with both her children who have learning issues that they have been successful in overcoming.
Pam holds a BA in Sociology from LaSalle College (now University) and a Masters Degree in Community Planning (MCP) from the University of Maryland at Baltimore. Professionally, she worked in three local government planning departments in a variety of positions for almost 20 years: the City of Keene, NH, Stafford County, VA and Loudoun County, VA. Since leaving local government, she has worked part time which affords her the opportunity to be with her children after school.
She served on the Board of Directors of the Loudoun County Chapter of the American Cancer Society until it was dissolved as part of a national reorganization. During her tenure, she served as vice president and president and chaired the Daffodil Days fund raiser for many years. She also has chaired 11 Scholastic Book Fairs at her childrens school. During her tenure, profits increased over 100%. As a result of this success, Scholastic Books appointed her to serve on their National Customer Advisory Board. The charge of this Board is to provide direction to the Scholastic staff on ways they can better assist the Book Fair Chairpersons.
Pam is a welcome and much needed asset to Dower and Associates, Inc. as she assists the company in its expansion to serve more children with special needs.
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