special needs living – sponsor of the month By Maria Smietana
Michelle Hennessee Sears believes in a family-centered approach when treating children on the autism spectrum. “Family involvement is vital to the long-term success and growth of our patients,” she said. “We work with families to assess and discover the goals and skills that are of highest priority, knowing that the family unit is what makes an ABA therapy program successful. We will create an ABA therapy program that will work for your child and your family.”
A native of northwest Indiana, Sears earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Southern Indiana. After working in the mental health field for nearly a decade, she decided to pursue her master’s degree in applied behavior analysis (ABA), graduating in May of 2015. She and co-owner Kelsey Pumel opened Autism Center for Enrichment (ACE) in May of 2016. Sears became board certified in behavior analysis 18 months later.
32 Special Needs Living • April 2021
ACE moved to its first permanent location in 2019 in Greenfield, but continues to offer services in the home and in community settings as well. Currently, ACE serves families in Hancock, Marion, Johnson, Hendricks, and Hamilton Counties. In addition to Sears and Pumel, who also holds a master’s degree and is board-certified in behavior analysis, the clinic has an analyst who holds a doctoral degree in ABA. The practice additionally employs an operations manager and trainer. Sears encourages parents of children on the spectrum to learn as much as they can about autism, and continuously advocate for themselves and their child. “Teach others how to get into your world and the world of your child to facilitate a better understanding of the special needs community,” she advises. A perpetual student, Sears readily shares that she is always trying to learn new techniques for working with patients, reading the latest research in the ABA field, or participating in continuing education courses. She is happy to support Special Needs Living magazine
