Community Highlights: Meet Marissa Bevington of Discover Autism Support

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marissa Bevington

Hi Marissa, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was lucky to find the field of Applied Behavior Analysis when I decided to change paths in the last semester of my bachelor’s degree. I was planning on pursuing further education to become a counselor, but decided that wasn’t the best fit so I began looking for jobs in hopes of finding a different path. My fiancé at the time (now husband) found a job posting to work 1:1 with children with autism. I had never heard of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and knew very little about autism, but the job excited me and I had always had a heart for children.

Fast forward a few months and I began working at an autism center and quickly fell in love with ABA. Being able to play such a substantial role in a child’s growth and learning, while building a genuine relationship with them was so rewarding and fun. Over the next few years, I completed my Master’s Degree in Special Education, required internship hours, and passed the certification exam to become a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).

I have been lucky to have worked at two different amazing ABA companies that offer unique and effective approaches to the children and families that they serve. This allowed me to receive rare training that not many BCBAs have access to, which ultimately sparked my curiosity about what it might look like to combine these two approaches. This along with my continued passion to provide 1:1 support to children led me to leap in January 2023 to start Discover Autism Support.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I would not describe my path as smooth, but I would describe each step as rewarding. Becoming credentialed through insurance as a solo provider (i.e. not a large company) and reaching families who are looking for services have been the main obstacles that I have had to overcome.

I am lucky enough to have an amazing support system including friends and family, as well as other solo providers and entrepreneurs that have helped me tremendously. While there have been many obstacles, it has all been worth it and I am proud to be a part of the amazing autism community in Denver who provide such a wide range of support to individuals with autism.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Discover Autism Support provides in-home 1:1 support to children who have been diagnosed with autism to help them learn various skills including communication and language, play skills, social skills, addressing behavioral challenges, school readiness, safety skills, daily living skills, toilet training, and more.

I have experience working with children with autism ranging from 1 year to 7 years of age and have significant experience in caregiver training and support in the home and community.

What sets Discover apart from other ABA providers is that all services are provided directly by a BCBA, rather than by different staff members, to ensure accelerated progress and the highest quality of care. This allows there to be daily discussions about progress, quick progression through goals, and consistency for the family and child.

Discover Autism Support accepts Medicaid, Cigna, Aetna, and Anthem BCBS, and offers private pay options as well.

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
One thing that may come as a surprise is that I am an introvert. My work is very high energy with constant social interactions so I always make sure to schedule time to recharge so I am able to be my best self when working with the kiddos and families.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.discoverautismsupport.com