About Us

 
Kristina Blackledge, M.S.

   Kristina holds a Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, a Bachelors degree in Psychology, a specialized  
   certificate in Infant/Family Studies, and a post-graduate certificate in Positive Behavior Support (PBS).

   Kristina has extensive training from accredited training institutions and/or organizations in the areas of:

• Disabilities
  
• Educational Therapies and Interventions
• Disability Law
• Parenting styles and theories
• Applied Behavior Analysis and other Behavior Management theories
• Child Development
• Play Therapy
• Early Childhood Education
• Parent-Child Interactive Therapy
• Infant/Child Mental Health

Kristina has 13 years of experience providing special education advocacy and guidance.  She has participated in hundreds of IEP and 504 meetings helping parents obtain an appropriate education for their children.  She is undefeated in due process hearings, has negotiated mediations and settlement agreements that favor the student, successfully places an average of seven (7) students each year at private day schools at public expense for those who need it, and helps the rest be appropriately educated in their own least restrictive environment (LRE).

Kristina continuously expands her knowledge of current disability and special education law, trends, and research, and is actively involved in the disability and early learning community.  She is an active member of Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA), the Council for Exceptional Children, and the International Dyslexia Association.  Kristina was invited as the only parent representative in a group of 35 community leaders from around the state to participate on the First Things First Task Force to develop the Arizona Early Childhood Plan.  In May 2013, Kristina will be appointed as a member of the Board of Directors for the AZ Chapter of the International Dyslexia Association and she continues to serve as a Board Member for the Arizona Food Allergy Alliance. 

In addition, Kristina has over 20 years of experience in the field of Child Development and Early Education.  She has worked with the Parent Training Information Center for the state of Arizona (Raising Special Kids) and has worked as a Disability Specialist for Early Head Start, an Education Curriculum Specialist for Head Start, and as a Mental Health Consultant for First Things First. 

Due to her desire to help every student, Kristina has opened a small, private day school that is specialized to help those who learn differently.  Breakthrough Academy uses evidenced-based, multisensory, structured language programs and social cognition, executive functioning, and software curricula and interventions.  Please visit the website for additional information.

Kristina is also a talented public speaker and has provided workshops and trainings for numerous disability-related organizations including Raising Special Kids, MIKID, Head Start, Early Head Start, and DAN! in Arizona and for many organizations in California.  Click here to invite to speak at your training or event or to gain additional information.