Alumni Spotlight

Alumna ‘Soars’ to Success as Entrepreneur of Autism Clinic

Work with Center for Autism influences special education alumna to launch her own clinic

Photo of a girl standing in front of a colorful wall with her arms crossed.

Drue Joseph opened her own Autism Center (SOAR) shortly after receiving a master’s degree in special education from Oakland University. (Photo Credit: James Silvestri)

icon of a calendarJuly 15, 2021

icon of a pencilBy Trevor Tyle

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When Drue Joseph graduated from Oakland University’s School of Education and Human Services in 2017, she knew she wanted to make a positive impact in the lives of the people she worked with. 

What she didn’t know, however, was that what seemed like a cut-and-dry career path as a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) would ultimately lead to her starting her own business.

Joseph is the clinical director of SOAR Autism Center in Waterford, which she founded shortly after receiving her master’s degree in special education with a concentration in applied behavior analysis (ABA) from OU. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in child development with a minor in communication disorders from Central Michigan University.

“When I graduated with my bachelor’s degree, I knew I was going to have to pursue a master’s degree, but I wanted to ensure that I loved whatever I decided to go back to school for,” she said. “I started working as a behavior technician and fell in love with ABA. It was amazing to see kids make the progress they were making and it was also great to see the impact these changes had on their families’ lives.”

After completing her undergraduate degree, Joseph worked as a behavior technician for four years. Once she realized she wanted to further her studies, the White Lake native said OU seemed like a natural fit due to its knowledgeable staff and close proximity to her home. It was the opportunity to work in the on-campus ABA clinic, however, that ultimately solidified her decision.

“That hands-on opportunity to apply what I would be learning in my classes was invaluable,” Joseph said. “Through my practicum experience at OU, I was able to learn more about how ABA is facilitated through insurance companies. In addition, my experience prepared me to interact and collaborate with other professionals working with the same clients.”

In addition to her practicum with OU’s Center for Autism, she also worked with the OUCARES Pre-Employment Skills Training program for adults with autism and helped with data collection for other graduate students’ research and projects.

However, upon graduating, Joseph noticed that OU’s emphasis on the interpersonal component of her job was lacking in other autism clinics, ultimately influencing her decision to found SOAR.

“When I left [OU] to work at other agencies, I was disappointed that it didn’t seem like the client’s needs came first,” she said. “It was more about making money than it was about making a difference in each client’s lives. After getting frustrated with the current options, I decided to open SOAR.”

Since 2018, Joseph has utilized SOAR as a resource to positively impact individuals with autism, developing individualized treatment plans for each client that emphasize collaboration with families and caregivers. While her desire to make a difference has always loomed large over her work, she cites her time at OU, namely the “tight-knit” culture within the Center for Autism and the opportunities to network with other professionals in the field “outside of the clinical aspect,” as being particularly beneficial in ensuring SOAR’s continued success.

“I loved my experience at OU,” Joseph said. “What I learned through that practicum experience prepared me most for what I would encounter in the ‘real world’ as a BCBA.”

For additional information on the special education programs available at OU, visit oakland.edu/hdcs.

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