Little Leaves of Columbia, MD

7150 Columbia Gateway Drive
Columbia, MD 21046

Hours: Mon – Fri 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Megan Orth

Center Director

About Little Leaves

Little Leaves is an intensive Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program for young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Designed for children up to age 6 who have been recommended for ABA therapy, Little Leaves effectively provides early autism services and behavior therapy to young children in need.

Entrance of a little leaves center in Columbia, MD

Playroom in Columbia, MD Little Leaves Center

Teaching room in Columbia, MD Little Leaves Center

Play room with outdoor toys in Columbia, MD

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Our Approach

Little Leaves provides high-quality, center-based ABA therapy for children ages 1 to 6 with autism. Our program is individualized, comprehensive, and designed to help each child build the skills they need to thrive. As a BHCOE-accredited provider, families can trust that their child is receiving care that meets the highest standards in the field.

Our extensive program includes:

School Preparedness
Preschool-Like Setting
Caregiver Training
Individualized Therapy Plan
1:1 Client-to-Clinician Ratio

Admission Requirements

Your child is under the age of 6
Your child has an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis
Your child has commercial insurance

Accepted Insurance

Hear From The Families At Little Leaves Columbia, MD

Learn how Little Leaves solutions, clinicians, and leadership have shaped and improved the lives of our clients and families.

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Little Leaves is such a hands on, wonderful experience for my son. He is learning new skills everyday and he enjoys being at the center. Little Leaves is amazing because they really love and care for their kiddos and it shows. Great job! Keep up the good work!

Columbia, MD
- Parent
It has been an amazing change in just a few months. Our son is more engaged and trying to communicate now. He loves going to Little Leaves.

Columbia, MD
- Parent
Our son started at Little Leaves just after he turned three and was not saying any words nor was he independent. We were very concerned with his future. That is until we found Little Leaves. While we still have our worries and concerns for what his life will be like, we have found so much comfort in the progress he’s made with his communication, ability to socialize with peers and become independent in many life skills. This credit goes to all of the behavioral technicians that have helped him along his journey, both in the short and long term. We appreciate and value each and every individual that has helped him throughout his journey. But the person we cherish most of all is Meg. There are no words to describe how grateful we are for Megs kindness, patience, expertise and willingness to teach us how to better support our child. She shows a true passion and love for the work she does as well as the children and families she supports. She is truly one of a kind.

Columbia, MD
- Parent

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Explore A Day in the
Life at Little Leaves

Imagine your child stepping into a warm, welcoming environment where every moment is thoughtfully designed to encourage growth, learning, and fun. From the moment they arrive, they are supported by caring professionals who guide them through a day filled with meaningful interactions, engaging activities, and structured learning opportunities.

Want to experience “A Day in The Life” in person?

Our Team

Our program is supervised by master’s- and doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and delivered by expertly trained therapists.

Within Little Leaves, we have created a model for our professionals to collaborate on treatment approaches, share best practices, and continuously learn from each other. Your child will be supported not just by his or her immediate team, but also by the decades of experience and expertise of all of our clinicians, many of whom have studied and trained in the finest ABA programs in the world.

Ty Franklin (they/them) is a dedicated human services professional from Denver, Colorado. They bring over 12 years of hands-on experience in supporting individuals within in-patient facilities and as a Behavior Technician. Since September 2024, Ty has served as the Office Manager at Little Leaves-Columbia, where they coordinate day-to-day operations, foster a warm and inclusive work environment, and ensure that every team member has the resources they need to provide compassionate care. Outside of work, Ty enjoys hiking, camping, reading, and writing, and feels honored to support a team committed to making a difference.
Melissa Spear is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over a decade of experience supporting children, families, and early childhood educators. She has specialized in early intervention ABA since 2013, earned her Master’s in Behavior Analysis from the Florida Institute of Technology in 2019, and became board certified in 2020. Her approach is collaborative, trauma-informed, and neurodiversity-affirming. Melissa believes in meeting children where they are and helping them develop meaningful skills that positively impact their lives and families. She finds joy in celebrating the small, everyday wins that reflect each child’s growth and deeper connection to the world around them. Outside of her professional work, Melissa is a toddler mom, a kids’ rock climbing instructor, and an outdoor enthusiast. She enjoys hiking, camping, weightlifting, and Pilates—activities that keep her grounded and bring balance to her life, a value she brings into her work with families.
Lauren Lewkowicz, M.A., BCBA, LBA is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in Columbia Maryland. She has worked with children on diagnosed with Autism Spectrum disorder and developmental delays since 2018. Lauren earned her Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Florida Atlantic University, Associates degree in Occupational Therapy and her masters degree in Special Education and Applied Behavior Analysis from University of West Florida. Lauren has worked at Little Leaves for the past 5 years and is dedicated to providing meaningful and compassionate therapy.
Megan Orth, MSEd, BCBA, LBA, is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Licensed Behavior Analyst and Special Education Teacher. She has worked with children and adolescents diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other developmental disabilities for over 10 years. Prior to joining the Little Leaves team, she worked at the New England Center for Children, in both their Boston and Abu Dhabi locations with students between ages 3 and 22 in day, residential, and public school settings. Meg holds a B.A. in Comparative Cultures & Politics and in Social Relations & Policy from Michigan State University as well as a M.S.Ed in Special Education from Simmons University and a Master’s Specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis from Western New England University. She has presented research at local professional conferences. She is currently pursuing her EdD at Johns Hopkins University.
Diana Le, M.A., BCBA, LBA, is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a Licensed Behavior Analyst in Maryland. She has worked with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other developmental disabilities for over 10 years in the home, school, and community settings. Diana holds a B.A. in Psychology from The University of Maryland, College Park as well as a M.A. in Professional Applied Behavioral Analysis from Florida Institute of Technology. Diana specializes in designing and implementing evidence-based interventions tailored to the unique needs of children and their families. She believes in a collaborative approach to ABA, involving families, caregivers, and interdisciplinary teams to ensure the best outcomes for each client emphasizing respect, cultural sensitivity, and empowering clients to achieve independence and improve their quality of life.

Our Credentials

committed to continuous improvement, BHCOE accredited 2022, 3-year accreditation

Little Leaves was recently awarded the highest level of accreditation by the BHCOE as a leader in high-quality, center-based early intervention resources for young children with autism.

Our Stats

44

Total Families Served Since Opening
76,000

Hours of Therapy Delivered
32

Full-Time Clinicians At This Location
2021

Year Founded

FAQs

Little Leaves primarily offers center-based services for young children with autism which are run in a preschool-like setting. At the center, each client works one-on-one with a trained behavior technician on individualized goals with a focus on social communication, social interactions, and school readiness skills. Our program runs Monday through Friday from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm. During the day, children have the opportunity to participate in individual therapy time, small group activities with peers, and activities of daily living. While many clients are at our centers for the full day, an individualized schedule is developed for each child based on his/her therapeutic needs. Little Leaves also works with clients in their homes, daycares, and preschools, most frequently when clients are ready to transition from a Little Leaves center into community setting.
Little Leaves serves children with Autism. With our focus on early intervention, Little Leaves works primarily with children from the time they are diagnosed until they enter kindergarten.
Little Leaves only provides ABA therapy but we regularly collaborate with a child’s speech and OT providers to ensure a coordinated team-approach to treatment. At our centers, we are usually able to accommodate outside therapy providers who would like to come in to see clients during the day.
Contact us to learn more about our services and if they are right for your family.
Little Leaves is in network with many insurance plans and fully supports families in accessing and using their insurance benefits. Not all insurance companies, however, cover ABA for the treatment of autism. Please visit our Insurance page to learn about our plans and how to research whether your plan covers autism. You can also feel free to reach out to us, and we can help you research your benefits.

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Contact Little Leaves of Columbia, MD

If you are ready to get started and meet the following requirements, please call us or submit the form below and a member of our Family Support team will contact you within 24-48 hours

Meet our
Center Director

Megan Orth

Center Director

Little Leaves of Columbia, MD

About Little Leaves