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Little Leaves of Silver Spring, MD


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

  • Abbigail Brown Headshot
    Abbigail Brown

    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.

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

  • Aetna
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Cigna
  • John Hopkins Employer Health Programs (EHP)
  • Kaiser Permanente
  • United Behavioral Health/Optum

Hear From The Families At Little Leaves Silver Spring, MD

Learn how Little Leaves solutions, clinicians, and leadership have shaped and improved the lives of our clients and families.
  • I like the routine and all the therapist/specialist that work with my daughter daily.

    Silver Spring, MD

    • Parent
  • I love that my son learns so much. He has made so much progress. The staff is phenomenal.

    Silver Spring, MD

    • Parent
  • I love seeing the positive progress that my child is making.

    Silver Spring, MD

    • Parent

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.

  • Daritza Lahoz, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA, is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst who specializes in working with children with Autism. She has worked with children with developmental disabilities for over 8 years in home and clinic settings. Prior to working at Little Leaves, Daritza served many families in the Prince Georges County region as a Psychiatric Rehabilitation Facilitator and a Group Leader at a Family Crisis Center. She was a part of the clinical team who piloted Little Leaves’ first center-based program in Silver Spring and has worn several hats throughout her time at Little Leaves as a behavior technician, training specialist, and behavior specialist since 2016. Daritza earned her M.Ed. in Special Education with a certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from George Mason University and holds a B.A. in Psychology from University of Maryland. She is also fluent in Spanish.

  • Krystal Nimox is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst specializing in working with adults and children with Autism. For over eight years, she has focused on early intervention, providing individualized services in school, home, and clinic settings. Before beginning her career in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Krystal worked as a preschool teacher for two years, where she developed a passion for supporting children’s growth and learning. Prior to that, she worked a Student Speech Language Pathologist Assistant for two years. Krystal holds a Master’s degree in Special Education and Applied Behavior Analysis from George Mason University. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Hampton University. Krystal is dedicated to using evidence-based practices to help individuals with Autism reach their fullest potential.

  • Abbigail Brown Headshot

    Abby Brown, M.A., BCBA, LBA, is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst with over 10 years of experience working with children with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities. Prior to joining the Little Leaves team, she worked at a behavior analyst at a clinic in Texas and previously worked at the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Neurobehavioral Inpatient Unit. Abby earned her B.A. in Applied Behavior Science and Sociology from the University of Kansas and her M.A. in Human Services Psychology with an emphasis in Behavior Analysis from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

  • Aliyyah Westry Headshot

    Aliyyah Westry serves as the Office Manager at Little Leaves Silver Spring, where she oversees administrative operations, including scheduling, staff coordination, and client support. With over four years of experience as a Registered Behavior Technician, she brings firsthand insight into the clinical realities of ABA therapy. That perspective shapes how she supports both the Silver Spring team and families, balancing empathy with structure and intention. Outside of work, Aliyyah enjoys exploring the subtle details of city life through photography, capturing moments of stillness, shadow, and story that often go unnoticed. Her approach, both professionally and personally, is guided by presence, clarity, and intention.

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

  • 83

    Total Families Served Since Opening

  • 160,000

    Hours of Therapy Delivered

  • 30

    Full-Time Clinicians At This Location

  • 2017

    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.


Contact Little Leaves of Silver Spring, 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

  • Abbigail Brown Headshot
    Abbigail Brown

    Center Director