Westwood's Tracey Stoll Receives Margaret L. Bauman, MD Award

From CTIA Conference: Westwood resident Tracey Stoll was awarded the 2017 Margaret L. Bauman, MD Award for Excellence in the Autism Community in the category of EI Provider at the Current Trends in Autism Conference in Burlington, Massachusetts earlier this month.

The Margaret L. Bauman, MD Awards for Excellence in the Autism Community were established to recognize those who serve the autism community by exemplifying some of the qualities demonstrated by Dr. Margaret L. Bauman, a true pioneer in research and clinical practice.

“I am honored to accept the award for Outstanding Early Intervention Provider serving the Autism Community, within the great company of expert doctors, therapists, educators, family members and the amazing keynote speaker, Temple Grandin at the CTIA conference,” said Stoll. “Given my professional background and my experience as a parent, I am dedicated to supporting my clients’ journeys, each and every day.”

In 2009, Tracey founded Norwood, Massachusetts-based, Learning Solutions, LLC.

which helps children experience social success by working with individuals, groups, classrooms and communities. Today, Learning Solutions serves 80 clients per week experiencing social-emotional challenges (ranging from community peers to individuals challenged by attention deficits, language deficits, anxiety regulation and Autism Spectrum Disorder), aged 3-18 years. Learning Solutions has a staff of 10 with cross discipline licensure in Speech, Counseling, Behaviorism, Special Education and Social Work. For the past 8 years, Learning Solutions has provided Educational and Social-Emotional Learning Consultation to private families, and more than 18 school districts and community organizations. Tracey is the creator of “S.N.A.P. Social Notes About People®”, a social scaffolding curriculum; and the Social Fit® Program supporting social and emotional regulation and success within recreational community programs.

With a BA in Speech Communication from Ithaca College and a Master’s in Special Education at Leslie College, Tracey spent the first part of her career in Newton and Medfield public schools in integrated, Early Childhood classrooms (which included students with Autism and other special needs integrated into regular education classrooms). Since opening Learning Solutions, Tracey has pursued Board Certification in Special Education and Advanced Certification as Autism Specialist. Tracey and her husband Jim adopted their first child at birth in 2000 and noticed developmental delays starting around his first birthday. He was diagnosed with High Functioning Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder a few years later. Tracey and Jim went on to have two biological children. Their middle son was diagnosed with High Functioning Autism and in 2005, (their youngest son is typically developing). She decided to leave her public school position, given the challenge of raising children with Autism, and teaching children with Autism.

From 2000-2009, Tracey’s days were spent driving, providing, advocating, searching, working with therapists, educators and agencies to access necessary services for her sons. During this time, she bartered her social skills expertise to afford the expensive therapies they required. She also fielded many calls from colleagues, parents and friends for advice on supporting children needing help with social skills outside of the classroom. It was apparent to Stoll that there was a need for extra support and specialized instruction for kids, families, caregivers and professionals/community who work with them, so she decided to open Learning Solutions.

“Navigating the larger world is exhausting for both children and with challenges, and their family” she said. “By approaching each child’s obstacles and anticipating events one solution at a time, I strive to give them tools to empower functional independence, and ability to socially and personally become the best version of themselves.”

The Current Trends in Autism® Conference (CTIA) strives to present the most up-to-date, scientifically sound information in the field of autism research to people with Autism, parents and professionals who care for individuals of all ages living with ASD. CTIA encourages and facilitates parent-to-professional relationships through panel discussions, an ongoing vendor and information room, that accessorize two days of interactive autism learning. http://www.ctiaconference.org/ and http://www.learningsolutionsforme.com/

Photos courtesy of CTIA Conference