P.L.A.Y. Project Home Consultant Laura Zdravkovski was recently crowned Mrs. Michigan, and will be using Autism: Connecting the Missing Pieces as her platform to promote autism treatment options as she prepares to compete in Mrs. America on August 28 in Arizona. We asked to her to answer a few questions about herself and her role as a P.L.A.Y. Project Home Consultant:
We wish you the best of luck in Mrs. America, Laura!
What do you do professionally and how long have you been working with children with ASD?
- Limited Licensed Psychologist working with people with developmental disabilities
- Senior child therapist specializing with autism at Macomb-Oakland Regional Center and in private practice
- Individual therapy for children and adults in my own private practice, Horizon Counseling Services, in Royal Oak
- P.L.A.Y. Project Home Consultant
- Previously Mrs. Macomb County America 2013 advocating for autism treatment in Macomb County, Michigan
- Just crowned Mrs. Michigan 2013 and am advocating for my platform, Autism: Connecting the Missing Piece state wide
- I have been working with children with ASD for 7 years
How do you plan to use your role as Mrs. Michigan to promote autism awareness? There are many organizations promoting autism awareness, and I feel that we are all too aware of this epidemic. Instead of promoting autism awareness, I will be focusing on autism treatment: “connecting this missing pieces.” I will be working state-wide to bring awareness to the various treatment options children with ASD have, which include, but are not limited to, The P.L.A.Y. Project, Sensory Integration Therapy, Neurobiofeedback, Speech Therapy, Assisted Technology, and dietary needs. I will be utilizing media to reach people who may not know of these services otherwise. I also am working with local autism support chapters to connect families with their local resources.
What in particular drew you to The P.L.A.Y. Project model? The ability to utilize play, which is the language children speak and understand on every level, in a very scientific way to move them forward fundamentally. I believe that ABA and other therapies are not as effective at engaging children and allowing them to come out of their comfort zones. The P.L.A.Y. Project, on the other hand, has been the only tool I’ve found that can not only get children to come out, but to stay out and grow developmentally!
What do you like best about The P.L.A.Y. Project model? All of it! Honestly, the whole model works amazingly with engaging my kids (my ‘clients,’ but I call them all my kids). It allows us to watch them build confidence in the world and step out. It is magical when parents are able to do this themselves!