Starting out

      A little about why I started a blog. I have been working in the field of Behavior Analysis for almost a year now (I took my boards in May 2013) and have seen and heard a lot of things that may be helpful to many families. I am a firm believer in sharing information and pass ideas along to my families all the time.  I am hoping that this blog will become a platform to reach more people with ideas that I have found helpful. 

      My background is in Special Education and Speech and Language. I received my undergrad degree in SLP and my Masters in Special Ed. I then went on to take post masters classes in ABA to enable me to qualify for the board exam.  I have worked in the special education field for over ten years, primarily with children with behavioral health issues of some type (juvenile justice, mental health and, most recently, ASD) and feel that I have a strength in the area of behavior modification. This is what led me to pursue the BCBA certification.  

      I wanted to use my skills in a way that was greater than simply the classroom. I have a passion for helping people increase or develop skills that are going to be relevant to their lives. These aren't always academic skills and I felt stifled in the classroom because of this. My new career allows me to help people improve a broader range of skills along the lines of leisure, vocational, daily living and self advocacy. In addition, I help them decrease any maladaptive behaviors that may have developed.