LoveU2Pieces is thrilled to announce the addition of Kim Gerth to the LoveU2Pieces team! Kim will be facilitating Social Connections groups at elementary and middle school level beginning in the fall. Kim’s professional and personal experience make her an ideal fit to work within the LoveU2Pieces organization.
Kim Gerth, M.A. CCC-SLP is a licensed speech-language pathologist who has worked in a school setting for over 25 years. Over this span, her most influential learning experience was becoming the mother of twin boys on the autism spectrum. At the time of their diagnosis 23 years ago, high-functioning autism was not as well-understood or recognized by professionals in related fields as it is today. Kim’s love of her boys and passion for her field merged as she drew upon her professional knowledge of communication development to formulate theories and strategies for teaching social skills to her boys within a fun, meaningful context. Since that time, she has created a social communication program for young children with autism that is based on her experiences with her boys. She is passionate about teaching her colleagues how to respond with empathy when students with autism struggle to make sense out of their complex emotions, and how to help children turn frustrating situations into opportunities for communication. Kim also frequently presents at state conferences on the topic of social communication skills in children with autism. In all conversations with parents and professionals, she stresses the importance of developing a trust relationship and a solid foundation before expecting children to acquire high-level skills and generalize them into peer interactions. Kim was named a PBS KIDS Early Learning Champion in 2018 and has been accepted into a leadership academy in her district for the 2019-2020 school year. She is thrilled to be joining the LU2P team!