Verbal Behavior Clinic

The mission of the Verbal Behavior Clinic (VBC) is to provide high-quality and research-supported services to teach communication and social skills to individuals and their families.

The VBC opened its doors in January of 2011. The VBC is one of the clinics that compose the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL), Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities (CADD). The clinic focuses on caregiver training as an essential part of treatment. Services are delivered by graduate students enrolled in the UHCL Behavior Analysis master's program under the supervision of the Clinic Director, Dr. Sarah Lechago, BCBA-D, LBA.

Our Services

The VBC offers a variety of services to individuals and their families to teach communication and social skills. There is no diagnostic or age requirement to qualify for services.

After conducting assessments with the learner, the therapist develops an empirically-based treatment plan, implements it to ensure it is effective, and teaches caregivers how to implement the treatment plan with the learner.

Therapists work with caregivers to teach language and social skills including, but not limited to: communication (vocal speech, sign language, talk blocks, Picture Exchange Communication System – PECS, etc.), requesting for items and information, conversation skills, peer interaction, academic skills, recalling past events, and answering safety questions.

VBC services are provided at the UHCL Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities and in the community. Additionally, the VBC-Telehealth (VBC-T) offers online services via a HIPAA-compliant videoconferencing software. The goal of the VBC-T is to increase accessibility to high-quality and research-supported services to teach communication and social skills to individuals and their families by providing services using telecommunication technology in compliance with professional and legal standards.

Our Director

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the Verbal Behavior Clinic?

The Verbal Behavior Clinic (VBC) is one of the clinics that compose the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL), Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities (CADD). The focus of the clinic is to teach communication and social skills to individuals of all ages and their families. Services are delivered by graduate students enrolled in the UHCL, Behavior Analysis master's program under the supervision of the clinic director, Dr. Sarah Lechago, BCBA-D, LBA.

2. What types of services does the VBC provide?

• Assessments of language and social skills
• Caregiver training
• Teaching language skills
• Teaching social skills
• Supporting families at IEP meetings
• Teaching clients to communicate using a wide variety of modalities including vocal, picture exchange, voice output devices, and sign language

3. How do I sign up for services?

Please email the clinic coordinator at: vbclinic@uhcl.edu

Include the following information in your email message:

Client age:
Client name: 
Diagnosis (if applicable):
DOB:
Current form of communication:
Communication/social skills related goals you'd like to work on:
Problem behavior (if applicable):

Caregiver name:
Preferred email to be contacted:
Preferred telephone number to be contacted:
Current residence:
How did you hear about us?: 
Other CADD clinics the learner has received services through:

Interested in being contacted for research opportunities? Yes or No

4. What can my family and I expect to experience once enrolled in the program?

• First meeting:
  • We will get to know the learner and your family
  • Tell you more about the clinic and answer your questions
  • Obtain your consent for services
  • You and your therapist will select a language or social skills goal together
• Assessments will be conducted to evaluate the learner's language or social skills
• The therapist will develop a treatment plan based on the assessment results
• The therapist will implement the treatment with the learner to ensure it is effective
• The therapist will teach you how to implement the treatment plan with your learner
• Services are terminated when you feel confident implementing the treatment plan, and when we see evidence of learning with the learner

5. Who is eligible for services?

Anyone with a language and/or social skills deficit and caregivers. There is no diagnostic or age requirement to qualify for services.

6. What are the hours of operation?

The hours of operation are Fridays, from 11:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sessions are typically 2 hours in length and conducted on a weekly basis. 

7. What is the cost of services?

Our standard fee for services is $50 per hour. There is also a sliding scale for payments, which considers family household size and annual income. During the intake session, families can bring their proof of household income. Acceptable forms of documentation include the previous year's income tax return, W-2 forms, pay stubs, or a letter from an employer indicating salary.

8. Where are services provided?

VBC services are provided at the UHCL Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities and in the community. The VBC is an on-campus clinic of the University of Houston-Clear Lake. The clinic is located in the Arbor South Building (2700 Bay Area Blvd, Box 245, Houston, TX 77058-1002). Additionally, the VBC provides online services via a HIPAA-compliant videoconferencing software.

If you have any additional questions about the VBC that were not answered here, please contact us at vbclinic@uhcl.edu.