not your typical approach to autism
Holistic, Apraxia-informed
Autism Support
We equip families and caregivers of apraxic individuals with practical strategies to support communication, regulation, self-advocacy, meaningful relationships, community participation, adaptive skills, and greater autonomy 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We’re breaking away from limiting expectations, breaking free from outdated approaches, and breaking through to a future where every autistic individual can…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 meets 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 does not happen in isolation, our courses and training also equip families and caregivers with the knowledge, tools, and practical strategies needed to support communication, regulation, participation, and independence across everyday environments. Together, we help create opportunities for greater connection, confidence, and quality of life.
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VIRTUAL INTENTIONAL MOTOR COACHING
Support for motor planning and purposeful participation - wherever you are.
Intentional movement doesn't always come easily. Our virtual coaching sessions support autistic and apraxic individuals in building greater awareness, coordination, communication access, and confidence through individualized motor-based support.
Each session is tailored to the individual's goals, interests, and daily life. Whether the focus is communication, self-advocacy, participation in meaningful activities, or increased independence, we meet each person where they are and build from there.
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COMMUNITY ACCESS SUPPORT
Support that comes to you, tailored to your rhythm and routine.
Our in-person support takes place in the environments that matter most - at home, in the community, during recreation and leisure activities, volunteer opportunities, appointments, and everyday routines.
We provide individualized support that promotes communication, regulation, safety awareness, adaptive skills, self-advocacy, and meaningful participation. Services are tailored to each individual's goals, interests, and desired level of independence.
Our focus is simple: helping autistic and apraxic individuals participate more fully in the life they want to live.
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APRAXIA FOUNDATIONS ONLINE COURSE
A clear starting place for families and professionals who want to better understand apraxic autism.
Our Foundations in Apraxic Autism course helps caregivers, therapists, and support teams make sense of the motor differences that can affect communication, movement, and daily participation. Instead of focusing only on behavior or surface-level strategies, this course explores what may be happening in the body and nervous system—and how that understanding can shape more supportive interactions.
Inside the course, we walk through key concepts related to motor planning, sensorimotor connections, and communication. Families and professionals learn how to view challenges through a motor-based lens and begin to see how motor differences may be the missing piece—shifting how communication, movement, and support are understood in everyday life.
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, nervous system safety, communication, emotional regulation, and the practical skills involved 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 supported living.
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.
Our courses, coaching, and training also equip families, caregivers, and professionals with the understanding and practical tools they need to provide consistent, person-centered support that carries over beyond a single session.
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 educator, coach, and longtime advocate 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.
SUNRISE Therapies
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 therapy 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 Therapies.
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
Neurodiversity-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 get to connect, collaborate, and learn 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
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