not your typical approach to autism
Holistic, Apraxia-informed
Autism Support
Apraxia-informed support that helps autistic individuals be seen and supported to be a part of the community, build autonomy, and engage more fully in everyday life.
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Apraxia Informed
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Growth Mindset Approach
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Strengths-Based
We’re breaking away from limiting expectations, breaking free from outdated approaches, and breaking through to a future where every autistic individual can…
R I S E
We believe real growth happens in real life—at the grocery store, in the kitchen, on the hiking trail—and in your community. Our naturalistic, person-centered approach focuses on supports for your loved one where they thrive (not where they’re expected to “perform”). We don’t want them to simply go through the motions. We want them to build confidence, autonomy, and practical life skills that carry over into everyday life and support meaningful participation at home, in relationships, and throughout their community.
That’s the Sunrise way.
Because meaningful support extends beyond the individual, we also provide education, training, and ongoing support for families, caregivers, and support teams. Whether we're working alongside you in person, connecting virtually, or guiding you through our courses and membership, our goal is the same: to equip you with the knowledge, confidence, and practical strategies to support your loved one in everyday life.
Together, we create more opportunities for connection, confidence, and a fuller quality of life, so every individual has the support to rise.
Sunrise Support
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COMMUNITY INTEGRATION (California)
In-person support for
whole-body apraxia.We work alongside individuals and their support teams in the places where they live and participate — at home, in the community, during appointments, recreation, and everyday activities — to support communication, movement, regulation, independence, adaptive skills, and self-advocacy. We help individuals find ways to navigate everyday life, participate in the things they enjoy, and have greater access to the activities, interests, and goals that are important to them.
Learn how our in-person services can support you →
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APRAXIA FOUNDATIONS (Online Course)
A foundational self-paced course on apraxic autism.
This foundational course helps parents, caregivers, therapists, and support teams understand communication and behavior through a motor-based lens.
For many nonspeaking and unreliably speaking autistic individuals, motor differences are mistaken for behavior or limitations in cognitive ability.
This course explores how motor planning and intentional movement can affect communication and behavior, and how understanding these motor differences can change the way we interpret and support a person’s abilities and needs.
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MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP (+Personalized Support)
Ongoing resources and support for the journey.
The Sunrise Membership gives parents, caregivers, therapists, and support teams ongoing access to resources that build on the foundations of apraxic autism.
Inside the membership, you’ll find printable guides, videos, tools, and training replays to help you understand motor differences and apply what you’re learning in everyday life.
Members also have access to monthly Q&A sessions and opportunities for more personalized coaching, feedback, and guidance from Erin.
WHAT WE DO
What does apraxia-informed, naturalistic support look like?
When support is disconnected from everyday life, it can be difficult for skills to carry over in meaningful ways. Our approach begins with the whole person—their body, communication, nervous system, relationships, goals, and the life they are working toward.
Apraxia-informed, naturalistic support is a foundations-first, person-centered approach to education, coaching, and training. We help autistic individuals, families, caregivers, and support teams better understand motor planning differences, communication, self-advocacy, regulation, and the practical skills that support participation in everyday life.
Rather than focusing on repetitive or age-inappropriate activities, we build learning around meaningful experiences: intentional movement, self-care, household routines, hobbies, relationships, community participation, fitness, mindfulness, and whatever else matters to the individual and their family.
Because real growth happens in real life, support is shaped around the places and routines that matter most—at home, in the community, and throughout the person’s day. The goal is not independence at all costs. It is greater autonomy, stronger self-advocacy, meaningful connection, and more opportunities to participate in daily life on their own terms.
Apraxia-informed education and training for parents, caregivers, educators, and support providers
Sunrise Resource Hub
There is no one-size-fits-all roadmap for supporting an autistic person with apraxia, nor should there be. Every individual has their own way of moving, communicating, connecting, and experiencing the world.
That is why everything inside the Sunrise Resource Hub is designed to help you look beneath the surface, understand what may be happening in the brain and body, and respond with support that is thoughtful, practical, and deeply personal.
We’re rewriting outdated rules and reimagining what's possible, revolutionizing Autism support for non- and minimally speaking individuals.
Here’s how we’re making it happen:
Foundations in Apraxic Autism Course
This is the heart of our work and the place we recommend beginning. The self-paced course offers a fresh, foundational understanding of apraxia, autism, and behavior through the lens of motor planning, sensory differences, regulation, and nervous system safety.
Created for parents, caregivers, educators, and support providers, the course gives you a clearer framework for understanding the person you love and support—and making more informed decisions about what they need at home and throughout everyday life.
Educational Membership Library & Coaching
Our membership provides ongoing apraxia-informed education, caregiver training, and practical support that builds on the Foundations course.
Members receive teaching videos, guided learning, actionable strategies, sensory-motor coaching tools, downloadable resources, special-topic trainings, webinar replays, and live opportunities to ask questions and work through real-life situations.
Visit the Resource Hub to learn more!
“We’re always evolving, creating, and expanding what we offer because this work is vital, and this community deserves the best we have to give.”
– ERIN CLARELLI
Learn more about SUNRISE
Meet Erin Clarelli, Founder of Sunrise.
Meet Erin Clarelli, founder of Sunrise—an occupational therapist, educator, coach, and longtime ally for autistic individuals, apraxic communicators, and the families who know there has to be a better way.
Erin has built her work around paying close attention to the people she supports and learning to recognize communication in all its forms. What is the body trying to communicate? What happens when we stop treating behavior as the whole story? What becomes possible when we slow down, presume competence, and truly pay attention to the person we’re supporting? Those questions shape the way Erin teaches and coaches, helping families and support teams recognize the motor challenges that are so often missed.
Our Core Values
Our values shape everything we do—from the way we support our clients to how we show up in our community. Behind every training session, every course, and every connection we build, there’s a purpose.
Press play to hear Erin share the core values that shape everything we do at Sunrise.
Our San Diego & Long Beach Support Team
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Amy Williams, M.S., OTR/L
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Angelica Smith, M.S, OTR/L
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Erin Clarelli, M.S., OTR/L
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Jessica Jordan, M.S., OTR/L
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Minji Lee, M.S., OTR/L
WHAT WE DO BEST
Our APRAXIA &
AUTISM SPECIALTIES
Apraxia-Affirming Care
Co-Regulation Strategies
Mind-Body Disconnect
Motor Coaching
Sensory Integration
Growth Mindset
Yoga & Meditation
Polyvagal Theory & Nervous System Safety
Support for Non-Speaking & Unreliable Speakers
COMMUNITY and collaboration
Partnering with the Text-Based Communication Community
We’re proud to collaborate with organizations and trusted colleagues across the country to offer specialized motor coaching, immersive assessments, and community-based support for autistic individuals and their families.
The silver lining of social media and the “World Wide Web” is that we’re able to connect and collaborate with various professionals, parents, and advocates in this space.
We know how difficult it can be to find someone who truly understands apraxia, presumes competence, and recognizes the motor piece that is so often missed. That’s why we’re always glad to share professionals who have completed our coursework, have been part of this community for years, or are committed to learning alongside the families they serve.
The Heart of Sunrise—In Their Words
LATEST on the SUNRISE BLOG
