About Shirley Aninias
Shirley Aninias, M.A., TSHH has an undergraduate degree in Communications Disorders and received a Master’s degree in Special Education from Teacher’s College at Columbia University. Her career began in the New York City public school system teaching learning disabled elementary students. She later accepted a position as a Special Education Itinerant Teacher (SEIT) and worked with developmentally delayed children aged 0-5 years at YAI/NYL Lifestart, a New York City based not for profit organization. Shirley went on to become a lead SEIT whose responsibilities consisted of designing individualized home and school curriculum and leading educational teams for early intervention and preschool cases. She worked intensively with speech pathologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists to design effective programs for each of her students. In addition to being a lead SEIT, she also provided 1:1 support for students attending mainstream preschools. Shirley then took on a supervisory role at YAI/NYL Lifestart as an ABA field specialist. As a Specialist, Shirley supervised home and school based cases for early intervention and preschool students for the Lifestart Program. Shirley's passion for teaching, and a desire to share her innovative LEARN-THROUGH-PLAY™ approach to social skills development, led to the creation of Ready, Set, Play! in 2007. Ready, Set, Play! is a therapeutic social skills playgroup for children with special needs in NYC. Shirley currently offers two programs through Ready, Set, Play! an integrated after school program and a Saturday social skills playgroup. Shirley continues to consult with families, provide private home/school-based therapy for children, and develop new and innovating teaching methods for Ready, Set, Play!’s LEARN-THROUGH-PLAY™ approach.