Little Learner Academy
21 Bowling Green Parkway
Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849
Monday-Friday | 7AM-6:00PM
Families in Flanders, NJ can access individualized ABA therapy inside Little Learner Academy at Hand Over Hand’s Lake Hopatcong location. Our program gives children a place to build useful skills with support from a clinical team that takes time to understand how each child communicates, learns, and participates in daily routines.
Each child receives care that reflects their individual needs, strengths, and personality. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) oversees treatment, reviews progress, and makes changes as new skills develop or priorities shift.
Flanders families may also benefit from:
Christine Wieladek
Christine Wieladek is the Regional Director of Hand Over Hand’s Denville and Jefferson centers. She has worked in the field of ABA since 2006 and earned her Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Caldwell University.
Christine became a BCBA in 2011 and has worked across public and private schools, group homes, home and community settings, and center-based programs. Her experience includes skill acquisition programming, behavior reduction programming, staff development, and parent training.
Outside of Hand Over Hand, Christine enjoys spending time with her family, including her two competition dancers and pets.
Melissa Simone
Melissa Simone is the Assistant Director of the Jefferson Center and has been a BCBA with Hand Over Hand since May 2024.
Melissa earned a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling in 2020 and later completed a Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Caldwell University in 2023. Her thesis research was published in the Journal of Behavioral Education in 2024 and presented at the Association for Behavior Analysis International annual conference.
Her background in mental health counseling and applied behavior analysis helps her approach care with attention to both the child and the family.
Every child is unique, and the support they need may look different at home, at school, or in the community. Hand Over Hand offers several service options so that treatment can address needs that come up at home, in preschool, or at school.
Flanders, NJ families can access center-based ABA services inside Little Learner Academy. Children receive individualized care that supports communication and play. Treatment may also focus on transitions, safety and greater independence.
Home-based ABA therapy helps children work on communication, routines, play, personal care, and other useful skills in a familiar setting. Sessions can focus on everyday activities so children can practice skills where they use them most.
Hand Over Hand also works with school teams through classroom observations, Functional Behavior Assessments, staff training, consultation, and program recommendations.
We absolutely love Hand Over Hand! Their team truly tailors their approach to meet the unique needs of each child and family. They use naturalistic teaching methods that help children thrive and succeed in meaningful ways. The staff is incredibly welcoming, flexible, and supportive, creating a positive experience for the entire family. We have seen tremendous progress in our daughter since starting with them, and we are so grateful for their dedication, support and care.
I was very nervous about my son being away from me for the first time but this center has been amazing. The staff is so friendly and really cares about him. He has had so much progress since he started. He really enjoys going there, loves all of the staff and runs to the door every morning.
Patient, kind and caring staff. I have such peace of mind knowing my son is in capable hands with this loving team. Our son is making progress and our whole family feels supported by Hand Over Hand.
Families do not need to know exactly what type of ABA service their child needs before getting in touch.
We can gather further information about the communicative level, skillset, routines, and other areas where learning may be required in your kid. The treatment is based on clinical assessment, family preferences, insurance considerations, and availability.
Call 973-722-9693 today to learn more about ABA therapy for Flanders families and what happens next.
Your journey with Hand Over Hand begins with a personal conversation. Our Family Liaison takes the time to connect with you, learn about your child, and answer any questions you may have before anything else begins.
Once we have connected, we will guide you through the necessary paperwork so that the logistics are handled quickly and easily. Our goal is to make this step as simple as possible so services can move forward without delay.
Before we begin, we contact your insurance provider to obtain approval to assess your child. Once authorized, we can move forward with scheduling the in-person portion of the assessment.
Our clinical team spends dedicated time with your child conducting an in-person assessment, while also meeting with your family to understand your goals and priorities. From there, we develop individualized goals and a personalized treatment plan built specifically around your child.
Once the treatment plan is complete, we submit everything to your insurance provider for authorization, handling the process on your behalf so there are no unnecessary delays before therapy begins.
With all the pieces in place, it is time for the most exciting step. Your child begins therapy and your family becomes part of the Hand Over Hand community.
We understand that starting ABA therapy comes with many questions and concerns.
Our team takes the time to understand your child’s needs, verify your insurance coverage, and make sure every detail is in place before ABA therapy begins.
Building trust and open communication from the start is our priority, so you feel confident and prepared for the journey ahead.
Families in Flanders can access Hand Over Hand’s Jefferson center inside Little Learner Academy at 21 Bowling Green Parkway in Lake Hopatcong, NJ.
The ABA assessment is used to find out what your child is currently capable of and how they communicate, what his/her routines, skills, and areas for additional education are. Feedback from parents is also very important.
It is possible to provide home-based services according to the clinical need, insurance coverage, staffing, family situation, and availability.
Therapy may focus on communication, play, transitions, self-care, social interaction, safety, school participation, daily routines, and independence. The specific areas addressed depend on your child.
Yes. Parents and caregivers can share information about routines, progress, and challenges outside of therapy. Family guidance can also help you understand the skills your child is working on and how to encourage them during everyday activities.
The clinical team reviews progress throughout therapy and can update goals or teaching strategies as your child develops new skills or priorities change
ABA therapy can help young children build social skills through guided practice, positive reinforcement, and everyday interactions with others. Social interaction comes easily to some
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A school day asks a lot of any child. Between following directions and moving through constant transitions, there is rarely a quiet moment, especially while
For many New Jersey families, yes, health insurance does cover applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy when a child has an autism diagnosis, and the treatment is considered medically necessary.
ABA therapy is a personalized approach that helps children build useful skills through teaching, practice, and positive encouragement.
