Meet Lea Anne Paskvalich of Next Steps Consulting in Boulder

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lea Anne Paskvalich.

Lea Anne, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
In 1998 we moved our family from Illinois to Colorado. When one of our children was diagnosed on the autism spectrum in 2000, I founded a support group for parents of special needs children a few months later. We met for dinner once a month and some of those parents became my closest friends. In that same timeframe, I met parent who spent hours sharing with me every bit of information she gathered when her son was diagnosed with autism. This was all happening before Facebook and Google searches. Those experiences led to my passion around the importance of sharing information and connecting through shared experiences when you have a child with special needs. I have seen first hand how one person can change the outlook of someone’s day and even their life.

Over the past 17 years, I became a connector extraordinaire by hosting support groups for parents and adults on the spectrum. At the same time, I became deeply involved in my children’s school district to advocate for special needs students and in several local nonprofits that serve people with disabilities. Through my work as Admissions Director at the Temple Grandin School in Boulder, I have been able to assist dozens of families in finding the resources and support they need for their children outside of school. After consulting with families at Temple Grandin School, advising my friends and extending that assistance to their friends, I began to think about how I could reach even more families. Next Steps Consulting is my answer to making sure more families and adults in this community have access to personalized resources and support.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I think the biggest truth of starting a new business is everything takes ten times longer than you think it will. I “knew” this going in and now I am experiencing it. For example, something as “simple” as getting a verified business listing on Google took three months, 42 emails and 10+ calls to India due to internal verification bugs at Google. Managing my full-time job while I am building my consulting business has been challenging, but I have committed time each day to my new business. I was anticipating the “lonely entrepreneur” phenomenon, so shortly after I launched my business, I organized meetings with two other women who have newly established businesses that serve people with autism. We share business and marketing ideas and information about the local autism community. Our group has now grown to eight women entrepreneurs in just a few months.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Next Steps Consulting – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
About one in 59 children today are diagnosed with autism. When children, and even adults, are diagnosed on the autism spectrum, that diagnosis seldom comes with any supportive next steps. Parents and adults feel lonely and lost on where to start. I work with them to find the best local resources and support to help them move forward and feel less alone. Moving to a new town with a child on the spectrum can be as challenging as a new diagnosis. Boulder County is seeing a huge increase in families moving here from across the country. All of those parents and adults have to “start over” in seeking resources for therapy and support.

I founded Next Steps Consulting to connect people with personalized resources and supports they need to thrive, not just survive. I am known as the “go to” person for everything autism in Boulder. My knowledge base was built through my experiences as an autism parent, teacher, school administrator, nonprofit board member and friend. My connection to autism in this community runs deep and I want to share it.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I love staying connected to the people I have helped in the past. In 2020 I plan to host “Coffee Connections” where past clients can meet with me and other parents to share experiences about raising a child on the spectrum.

Pricing:

• Hourly Rate $150

Contact Info:

• Address: 5277 Manhattan Circle, Suite 102, Boulder, CO 80303
• Website: www.nextstepsconsult.com
• Phone: 720-645-6888
• Email: leaanne@nextstepsconsult.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nextsteps4u/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nextstepsconsultingboulder
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/nxtstpsboulder
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/next-steps-consulting-boulder

Image Credit:
Brian Johnson Photo

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