Looking for support in social communication and play? JASPER is a UCLA-developed, play-based autism intervention for joint attention, social communication & self-regulation. At Saltwater Speech, sessions are led by a JASPER-trained clinician with roots at the lab where it was created.
JASPER Autism Intervention in Manhattan & Brooklyn
What is JASPER?
JASPER (Joint Attention, Symbolic Play, Engagement, and Regulation) is a play-based intervention developed at UCLA specifically for autistic children and children with social communication delays. Saltwater Speech offers this research-backed approach through Nicole Kramer, a clinician trained at UCLA where JASPER was built under researchers who created it.
Unlike drill-based approaches, JASPER meets children through play, the environment where communication naturally develops! Sessions are designed to build:
Joint attention: Sharing focus and experiences with another person (pointing, showing, following someone's gaze)
Symbolic and pretend play: Using toys and imagination to represent ideas, a foundational skill for language
Engagement: Sustained, meaningful interaction rather than passive or scripted responses
Self-regulation: Managing emotions and arousal so a child can stay engaged and learn
Signs Your Child May Benefit From JASPER:
JASPER is designed for:
Autistic children or children suspected of having autism
Children with social communication delays
Children who are still developing joint attention skills
Children with limited play skills
Children with regulation needs
Our Approach to JASPER
Nicole began her clinical career at UCLA's Kasari Lab, the Center for Autism Research and Treatment where JASPER was developed, and contributed directly to JASPER research during her time there. She holds JASPER Levels I and II training, so families are working with someone who learned this model at its source, which is not often the case with other play therapies.
In practice, that means Nicole follows your child's lead within a structured framework built around real research, rather than a loosely play-based session with no underlying method. Every session includes a clear debrief afterward, including what was targeted, how your child responded, and how you can support it between visits, so that goals and progress are clear.
Frequently Asked Questions
JASPER was developed for autistic children but is also effective for children with broader social communication delays who need support with joint attention, play, and engagement.
Is JASPER only for autistic children?
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She trained directly at UCLA's Kasari Lab, under the researchers who created and developed JASPER, and holds Levels I and II certifications, meaning her use of the model reflects the rigorous protocol developed at UCLA.
How does Nicole have a personal tie to JASPER?
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JASPER is specifically a play-based, relationship-focused intervention targeting joint attention, play, and engagement, developed and researched at UCLA. It's often used alongside other supports as part of a child's broader intervention plan.
How is JASPER different from ABA or other autism therapies?
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Sessions are currently held in-home and in-clinic on the Upper East Side, as well as across Brownstone Brooklyn: Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, DUMBO, Fort Greene, and Park Slope.
Get in touch to discuss speech therapy for your child or to set up an evaluation.