Disability Services and Supports

We help our neurodivergent ("disabled") peers build, maintain, and live their best lives.

Call: 512.487.5115 | Text: 512.931.1238

What's with the Name?

divergent (adjective) - different from others; there is also neurodivergent (different brain)
ability (noun) - power or skill needed to do something, or the fact someone has the power/skill

- Cambridge Dictionary online

Divergent Abilities (proper noun) - a collective of humans (and one self-proclaimed Vulcan), with different brains and ways of looking at the world, who have a passion for using their individual & unique skills to help guide and empower clients & their support networks to live whatever their version of a happy, fulfilled, and least-restrictive life looks like.

What Would You Say You DO Here at Divergent Abilities?

We are Behavior Analysts: we provide Behavioral Support to people with divergent abilities by using principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to teach and empower individuals and their support networks.

Our Behavior Analysts are clinicians: we utilize best practices in the field of ABA - that means we look to data, numbers & facts, research studies, and even the scientific method! - to help disabled children, teens, and adults (clients) develop a roadmap (positive behavioral support plan, or PBSP) and set, progress toward, and attain self-determined goals. These goals are individualized and meaningful to each person, no matter her/his age, disability(ies), or divergent abilities. We use evidence-based strategies to ethically and collaboratively help our clients and their support networks learn:

how to functionally communicate (that means in a way that everyone involved understands the best they can, and no one gets hurt)
skills to help lift up the client in living her/his life as independently as is (safely) possible
strategies to help caregivers support clients in ways that are most appropriate for each client

Unique Approach

Our combined experiences in various areas of the neurodivergent supports and services domain - from scholarship/academia at the university level to parenting divergent children while being divergent ourselves, and all the places in between - mean we have very unique perspectives on what works and what doesn't work. Our approach:

Collaborative
Creative
Dedicated
Ethical
Fact-based
Individualized

If you are more curious about the Divergent Abilities approach, we gravitate toward Contextual Behavior Science (CBS) [click the link to learn more]

Dedicated Advocates

We (the AbiliTEAM) are all divergent in some way or another (and some way more than others). Having divergent abilities ourselves means we are really big on individual rights, especially when it comes to our clients. Our clients and the people in their support network participate in the entire service delivery process, from assessment to discharge*, and we always strive to effectively work with and explain things to our clients in ways that are:

factually accurate
appropriately objective
respectful and protective of the client's rights
respectful of the client's way of learning and processing the world around her/him

After all, it's the client's life, not ours. We're not better than our clients; we just have a specialized set of skills (I see you, Liam Neesons!) and want to help others like we have been helped - and raised to help - in our lives.

Services & Events Coming Soon

In-person services @ Divergent Abilities HQ!

UPDATE 02.07.22: Both suites A & D are beautified and we have started seeing in-person clients multiple times a week. So excited! Curious about the process? Check out our pictures here!

UPDATE 01.24.22: We have set up our physical workspaces and are offering limited in-person services (clients who can safely navigate a less open space) @ Divergent Abilities HQ (Suite A only)! Unfortunately, due to some unforeseen and uncontrollable delays (even Renewminati couldn't prevent them), we do not expect Suite D will be client-ready by February 1. As we know more, we'll pass it along to anyone reading these.

UPDATE 12.12.21: We will begin offering in-person services @ Divergent Abilities HQ (Suite A only) in January! Suite D will be ready by February 1 at the latest.

ORIGINAL POST

We are finally moving into our physical spaces: 102 E Old Bowman Rd, Suites A & D. Renewminati has been hard at work getting Suite A ready for move-in by Dec 1st. Suite D will follow soon after, hopefully in time for a winter holiday party. Check out pictures of our Divergent AbiliTEAM and FRAMILY hard at work here.

Past Services & Events

Trunk or Treat for Special Needs Kids @ Seton-Williamson 10.23.21, 3:30-5:30 pm

UPDATE 10.23.21: Thanks to everyone who came out to help with and participate in the Special Needs Trunk or Treat! Check out the event pictures here.