Hi, I’m Ashley!
Child Development Specialist, Clinical Researcher and Parent Coach
I believe that every child develops through relationships. My passion is helping autistic children thrive by supporting the people and environments that shape their everyday experiences.
As the founder of Bloom Developmental Center in League City, Texas, I partner with families to foster children's social-emotional development, communication, emotional regulation, and engagement through relationship-based, child-centered intervention. Grounded in advanced training in Infant, Child, and Family Mental Health and the DIR®/Floortime™ model, I help parents understand their child's unique developmental profile while building the confidence to become their child's greatest source of growth.
I also mentor therapists, educators, graduate students, and other professionals who want to deepen their understanding of relationship-based developmental practice. Through consultation, lectures, and reflective thinking, I help professionals strengthen their observation skills, therapeutic presence, and clinical reasoning so they can move beyond scripted interventions and create authentic, meaningful interactions with the children and families they serve.
As a member of research teams at Texas A&M University and Prairie View A&M University, I study how autistic children's social and emotional development is influenced by both the physical environment and the relational environment. My research explores how thoughtfully designed spaces, responsive caregiving, and meaningful interactions work together to support engagement, regulation, and developmental growth. This work continually informs my clinical practice and professional teaching, allowing me to bring emerging research directly into the work I do with families and clinicians.
Whether I'm working alongside a family, mentoring a professional, or contributing to research, my mission is the same: to create the conditions that help autistic children feel connected, understood, and empowered to reach their fullest developmental potential.
My Cousin Hailey
Everyone's childhood experiences shape their adulthood. For me, it was my cousin Hailey who ignited my passion for my work. As a young girl, I saw how her condition affected not only her but her entire family. I distinctly remember the moment at age nine when my heart was broken for children with autism. That experience made me realize that my life’s journey was a faith-driven mission to support children who, though uniquely different, are wonderfully created by the Lord’s design.
My passion for working with children with additional needs and their families is a gift from the Lord. I am living out my calling each day with the children and families I get to support.
Hailey planted a seed in me that took decades to fully bloom. What started as a broken-hearted nine-year-old watching her cousin struggle became a calling I couldn't walk away from. Every child I play with is someone's Hailey. And every parent deserves to know what I know: connection is always possible!
If you're ready to find that connection with your child, I'd love to walk alongside you.
Meet the Team
At Bloom, family is at the heart of everything we do. We lead our relationship-based approach by example, through our own family. Ashley’s husband, Dorian, is a retired school teacher with a degree in early childhood education and a postgraduate degree. He spent 16 years in public education working with learners of all abilities and backgrounds. Together, as a family, we made a commitment to support families raising children with additional needs.
We believe that learning happens best within families. It is through everyday relationships, play, and meaningful interaction that children grow. As a family, we work together to model what we teach by valuing connection, communication, and shared experiences. This is what Bloom is built on.
Our mission is to walk alongside families. We believe families deserve a team that feels like family, a team that listens, supports, and empowers them through connection and shared values.
Ashley considers Anson her protégé. He loves playing with the children and interacting with families. Anson is homeschooled, and when his studies are complete, you can often find him learning how to use Floortime with autistic kids.
"Thank you for helping our family. I am so grateful. You and your husband truly have a God-given gift and heart for our kids. I am praying your business truly blooms and blesses other families, especially those who just need the confidence and tools you gave us. Thank you for validating how I was feeling and helping me overcome it so I can help my child. Thank you for believing in Lukas. You have a beautiful soul, Ashley."
-Jenelle
Global Bloom Project
Ashley’s 501(c)(3), Global Bloom Project, started in 2017 with the mission of empowering people around the world to find joy in connecting with autistic children. Through partnerships with NGO’s and faith organizations, we work to expand connection-based support and create meaningful, lasting impact.