We've got the team to bring you #real, #raw, #relatable continuing education!
Click the buttons below to learn more about each instructor.
Amy DeFusco, MA, BCBA, ECSE
About Amy: Hi, I’m Amy! I was born and raised in a small town in Connecticut, but I have spent most of my adult life in Colorado where I currently live. I have been working in Early Childhood since 2011. Over the years I have had many roles within the field from teaching soccer skills, running fitness classes and working in both private pre-schools and public schools. As I was completing my undergraduate degree I concentrated on Young Children with Behavior Disorders and ADHD, this had a heavy focus on ABA, I went on to complete a complementary program for my Early Childhood Special Educator certification in 2015, that again had a heavy ABA focus. I then decided to go back to school for another masters in solely in ABA so I could become a BCBA, and graduated from ASU in 2020 and went on to pass my test in November 2021. As I was completing my course work and preparing for the test, I was already thinking about how I could begin to disseminate ABA into the special education world, and create those bridges we need to work together for our students. I am so excited to be a tiny part of the SNABA team!
Angela Reid, BCBA LBA-TX, CTP
About Angela: Angela Reid is a BCBA, LBA-TX and CTP (Certified Trauma Professional) for Paris Independent School District. Angela spent over 10 years in the special education classroom, seven years at Texas Education Service Centers and six years serving Paris ISD. She is a long term parent/student advocate after advocating for her daughter with Down syndrome. Angela also contracts as a special education court expert for capital crime court cases interpreting special education records and testifying to the long term implications of failing to identify, serve and support students with disabilities. She lives in Sulphur Springs, TX with her family, three cats and two Golden Retrievers.
Ashley Ochi, MA, BCBA
About Ashley: My name is Ashley Ochi, and I am a BCBA who’s had the privilege of working with older adults since entering the field of ABA as a direct support staff. I graduated from Westmont College in sunny Santa Barbara, California while working as an entry-level behavior interventionist and was given the opportunity upon graduation to enroll in a Master’s program and move up to a middle-tier supervisory role. With that opportunity, I stayed in Santa Barbara after graduation, where I continued to be given opportunities to work with adults and their caregivers, while supporting the direct staff. My love for the population and my hunger for more resources for the aging population both grew. When I became a BCBA, I knew I wanted to start creating the resources I always longed for while I was learning to navigate working with the aging population.
Ashley's Courses:
Caitlin Beltran, M.Ed., BCBA
About Caitlin: Caitlin is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and has her Masters in Special Education. She has classroom experience both as an aide and a special education teacher in a private school for students with autism. These experiences drove her to pursue her BCBA, and she currently works as a district behaviorist for a public school. In addition, she teaches part-time for Rutgers University in the Graduate School of Education. You can find her on Instagram @BeltransBehaviorBasics!
Caitlin's Courses:
Carlos Torres, BS
About Carlos: Carlos is a published author, coach, and Program Director of a young adult program for people with disabilities. Additionally, he creates curriculum and designs groups to develop social skills, vocation skills, leisure skills, and relationship skills. In his free time, he coaches special needs sports teams for the Miracle League of Wisconsin. Carlos has a degree in special education. He dedicates his time to help at risk children and young adults gain skills for independence.
Carlos' Courses:
Casey McDaniel, M.S., BCBA
About Casey: Casey is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Co-Teacher of our own Study Notes ABA Collective (i.e., weekly test prep sessions), and Co-Host of the Behavior Bitches Podcast. Casey went to the University of New Hampshire for her undergrad and got her Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis from Antioch University. Before joining the Study Notes ABA (SNABA) team, Casey spent 6 years working with Autistic Adults in center-based and community-based settings. Her passion is in seeing her clients learning skills to increase independence within their respective communities, and most importantly living their best and most authentic lives. At SNABA, Casey has used this passion to best support and help students to learn the tasklist and pass the test! She loves to tie in the importance of understanding the social significance and how it can impact specific clients in the short and long (until adulthood) term when it comes to task-list-related information. Casey lives in the beautiful state of New Hampshire (ask her about her tattoo to show her devotion to this state). She has a “wicked” strong New England accent that we constantly correct her on, but nothing seems to help. You can find Casey floating along a river, ocean, pool, glacier, lake, swamp, or puddle. If there is water, this girl will find it.
Casey's Courses:
Cassandra (Cassie) Leutenegger, MEd., BCBA, LBA Certified Special Education Teacher
About Cassie: Cassie is a behavior analyst on a mission! She loves to empower educators with innovative resources and research-based courses so that teachers like you can easily create a thriving special education classroom that runs on autopilot. As a former special education teacher with 8+ years of teaching. She spent 5 years working with students in a behavior support program and currently teaches middle school Math and Science in the Functional Academics program. Cassie is also a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and has experience providing ABA therapy in a private setting. She has a passion for working with students and using ABA strategies within her classroom. She is passionate about disseminating information to fellow special education teachers, general education teachers, parents, and other related service providers. You can find her on the 'gram @adventuresofabehavioranalyst
Cassie's Courses:
Dominique Shorter-Taylor, MA, BCBA
About Dominique: Dominique Shorter- Taylor is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), CEO of Shorter-Taylor Behavior Consulting and Co-Founder of Beyond ABA, LLC. Dom is most known for her Youtube channel Dom the BCBA Mom, where she creates vivacious content on real life situations as a BCBA, different career paths, and her unique journey as an Autism Mom. Dom received her certification from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She received a master's degree in clinical psychology in her hometown, Chicago, and she is a proud alumni of South Carolina State University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). She is also an Adjunct Faculty and Supervisor at Bay Path University. o Dominique has been working with adults and children with Autism and other neurological differences for 11 years. While working in the field of behavior analysis and navigating systems with her own child, she determined a need for accessible services specifically in communities that are traditionally underrepresented and underserved in the field of ABA. Dominique has made it her mission to collaborate with other professionals and disseminate the benefits of ABA in unconventional ways to all in need. o Dominique has been a presenter at the Women in Behavior Analyst (WIBA) conference three years in a row in the areas of diversity, inclusion, and leadership. She is presenting at the Black Applied Behavior Analyst (BABA) 2022 Conference. She has been invited to speak at a number of local radio and TV stations in the Chicagoland area sharing the benefits of applied behavior analysis not only to individuals with Autism, but to our entire community. o When she is not working, she enjoys spending quality time with her husband and 3 children (and one on the way), volunteering at community organizations like PTMAN and New Moms, and leading the media team at her local church. She loves creating content for her YouTube channel, Dom the BCBA Mom, and promoting a healthy work/life balance.
Dominique's Courses:
Emily Varon, MS, BCBA
About Emily: Emily Varon is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with a dedicated focus on sleep-related behaviors. She has worked in the field of behavior analysis since 2000 and has devoted her practice to improving the sleep habits of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder since 2010. By combining the science of behavior analysis with the science of sleep, Emily creates a consumable learning opportunity for BCBAs to enhance their practice by providing context for the way sleep and behavior both complement, and sabotage, one-another.
Jordan Litt, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA (NYS)
About Jordan: Jordan is a BCBA, LBA-NYS and the ACE Coordinator and Co-Founder of CEUs by Study Notes ABA. My start in our “world” wasn’t a straight shot to learning. In the beginning, I really struggled to find my footing until the day I was introduced to Verbal Behavior (the approach and book by B.F. Skinner). From then on, I’ve worked each and every day to cultivate my skills and knowledge of the science of behavior analysis. I’ve worked in a variety of environments that have taught me the true value of generalization. What truly lights me up is helping other people understand more from “simple” to advanced concepts, because I think that's also one of the barriers to being a good BCBA. Accepting the fact that concepts/ideas are advanced for a reason means that, I'm going to have to study it, it's not going to be cut and dry, there will always be things I don't quite understand, and so I must keep on learning. This is the hard part. But it’s also the fun part! The Behavior Bootcamp Series is my labor of love to all of those that are in the same, or similar situation I was. You want to learn, you want to do better, but maybe don’t know where to start. So, I invite you to join me, and let’s learn together! On the rare occasions when I'm not doing all things CEUs by SNABA related, you can find me hanging out with my baby Moose.
Katie Saint, PhD, LPC, BCBA-D
About Katie: Dr. Saint has presented locally and internationally on ACT therapy. Katie has had students come from around the world to observe her at her practice and study her application of ACT in ABA therapy. Dr. Saint works for an ABA company as the training director, has a private practice for mental health counseling and teaches in the ABA department at Pepperdine University. Katie has written college courses as well as published several books.
Kayla Perry, MA, BCBA
About Kayla: After a grueling year of treatment for anorexia and panic disorder, I found myself itching to dig sandcastles in the minds of other people as an attempt to help and heal. I graduated with my first Masters in Clinical Psychology, believing that I could bring an unconventional and less stuffy/sanitized approach to therapy by coming to people instead of forcing them into a generic, Pinterest-looking office. I stumbled into a therapeutic day school treating adolescents with severe mental illness, only to find that my eccentric approach was frowned upon by administrators and “the field” of psychology. How could this possibly be?! In a fog of resentment, I huffed and puffed into an autism classroom to cover for yet another social worker that had called it quits---only to find myself captivated by the principles of ABA! It seemed that behavior analysis really could be applied to all facets of life, not only children; how else could I callus my own emotional skin using this science? I immediately enrolled in The Chicago School’s ABA program, got my BCBA, and began working primarily with caregivers in off-the-wall places. I would meet them inside of Hobby Lobby and hold their hand (literally and figuratively) through the Christmas decorations aisle, as this specific lane of doom triggered thousands of hours of tantrums in their child’s past. I found caregiver coaching to be my niche area, which led me to write my book, Behavior Surge--- a compassionate, off-kilter manual for both caregivers and professionals to use as a guide in navigating their reality. I am now ankle-deep into my second book, one that addresses aberrant reinforcers, confrontation-seeking behavior, and different directions that ABA can take to better serve older populations with advanced verbal repertoires.
Keira Moore, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA
About Keira: Dr. Moore is the owner of Moore Behavior Consulting and specializes in the assessment and treatment of sleep problems and severe behavior problems. In addition to clinical consulting, she is an adjunct faculty member for Regis College, supervises BCBA candidates all over the country, and offers webinars and training to behavior analysts around the world. Dr. Moore has been working as a behavior analyst since 2004, when she began her career at the New England Center for Children. Since then, she has worked with individuals with autism and related disorders in every setting imaginable, has conducted and published numerous research projects including federally-funded grant research, and has been teaching in various behavior analysis masters programs since 2010. Dr. Moore received her Ph.D. in Behavior Analysis from Western New England University in 2015, and has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst since 2009.
Landa Fox, MA, BCBA, Certified Sexual Health Educator
About Landa: Landa is a BCBA and Certified Sexual Health Educator. She has formed a practice by merging her interests of teaching fundamental skills to folks of various abilities and sexual health and relationship education. She believes that access to inclusive, accessible, and accurate sexual health education is a fundamental human right that should be afforded to all. Areas of passion include: individualized teaching of sex education; teaching consent and body autonomy early; and access to pleasure for all.
Lani Lawson, M.Ed., BCBA
About Lani: Lani is passionate about coaching educators in how to get great school behavior. Lani was a self-contained classroom teacher for 5 years and later pursued her BCBA. She took those new skills back to the schools to figure out the best ways to help educators get better results. Her company is now trusted by over 40 school districts to provide behavioral services to their educators. Her goal is confident, happy educators who are optimistic about students who struggle with problem behavior.
Lani's Courses:
Liat Sacks, M.Ed., BCBA
About Liat: Liat is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), she completed her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Special Education at the University of Maryland before enrolling in FIT’s ABA Program. After graduation health sh** happened (#adultingproblems), and Liat found herself having to start from square one. Liat’s background spans from special education classrooms to clinics to potty training in homes to reading Cooper and studying for the past four years. Liat is most well known for creating drool-worthy (and hilarious) study notes, for teaching (and creating) a behavior analytic study method that doesn't #suck. She utilizes the principles of ABA in a very unique way to make sure people really grasp the material by making it real, raw, and relatable and also applies the principles across all of her businesses #OBM. Liat is passionate about sharing our science and making it accessible to anyone whether it regards needing to shape a friend’s post-breakup ice cream eating behavior or manipulating the environment to get a pal more likes on the gram. Basically, she takes the APPLIED part of our science very seriously. This is why she is the perfect person to teach a CEU on the dissemination of our Science! Liat is also the co-creator of CEUS by Study Notes ABA, the Study Notes ABA App. When it comes to the dissemination of ABA across a variety of tools, this chick does it all.
Liat's Courses:
Makenzie Danis, M.Ed, BCBA, LBA
About Makenzie:Makenzie is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst dedicated to providing child-centered and innovative ABA services. Makenzie holds degrees in psychology, and child development, along with graduate degrees in both special education and ABA. She has worked in the public school system for over 8 years ensuring students have effective behavior support plans and the skills to be successful in whatever life path brings joy and fulfillment. Additionally, Makenzie Danis is a Certified Sexuality Educator through the Sexual Health Alliance. She believes firmly that all individuals, including those with disabilities, have a right to comprehensive sex education. Makenzie is also trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in both small groups and individual therapy. She is the proud owner of Danis Behavioral Solutions, which provides affirming behavioral support to individuals and families, along with progressive supervision services to future BCBAs.
Mari Cerda, TI-BCBA
About Mari: Mari Cerda is a Mesoamerican Indigenous woman, wife, mom of 3, and board-certified, trauma-responsive behavior analyst who consults with teachers and schools to provide professional development coaching on various Neurodivergent-affirming topics. A former special education teacher, Mari has been working with public education for nearly 13 years. She is currently completing her doctoral dissertation on Examining the Effects of a BST Training Package for Public Educators Administering the VB-MAPP Assessment at Texas Tech University and is set to defend this spring. Mari is also the co-founder of The LEAP (Lighthouse of Equitable Access and Practices) Institute, a non-profit whose mission is to increase equitable access for marginalized and intersectioned groups entering the field of applied behavior analysis through quality supervision support and testing scholarships. LEAP is also working to shift the culture around the supervision relationship in the field of ABA. Mari currently sits on the advisory board for the Standard Celeration Society, Next4Autism Committee, TX-ABA Promoting ABA Committee, and BHCOE Person and Family Workgroup. You can find her dropping #real facts on her Instagram @autie.analyst
Mari's Courses:
Marissa Ayala, M.Ed., BCBA, IBA
About Marissa: My name is Marissa Ayala, M.Ed, BCBA, and I am a Latina I own my own remote supervision company, Local ABA. Where we specialize in helping individuals obtain their unrestricted hours in unique and creative ways! My area of focus is supervision and I love storytelling and teaching! I am striving to build a community of competent, culturally responsive, and well-rounded future analysts that encourage their supervisees to ask questions and build meaningful change in our ABA community. You can catch Marissa on the gram @marissalocalaba.
Mitalben Patel., M.S., BCBA
About Mital: bio coming soon
Mital's Courses:
Nicholas A. Maio-Aether, MAMFT, MSPSY, LBA, CSC, BCBA
About Nicholas: Nicholas owns Empowered: A Center for Sexuality in St Louis, where he and his occasional teams of partnered Universities' students work to assist humans with and without disabilities to achieve sexual access, sexual freedom, gender affirmation, and self-control of compulsive behaviors. Nicholas works throughout the US training BCBAs/Behavior Analysts so persons in Individualized Supportive Living (ISL) programs gain access to applicable and generalizable comprehensive sex ed and sexual opportunities. Nicholas provides Sexual Behavior Analysis, and has assisted polycules, kinksters, gay couples, trans and nonbinary humans, among others, on their journeys. Trained by GLSEN in 2003, Nicholas started Gay-Straight Alliances across Alaska while in high school, and provided them sex ed materials and trainings. Nicholas spent five years managing Hustler Hollywood in St Louis before moving into Behavior Analysis, and joined AASECT, where he currently sits on two committees. He then completed a Sex Therapy practicum under Linda Weiner, LMSW, CSTS, in 2019 before getting a second Masters in Marriage & Family Therapy, and meeting those hour requirements under Angela Skurtu, LMFT, CST, along with his LGBTQIA+ Family Systems Specialist certificate in 2021.
Nicholas' Courses:
- Learning Theory for BCBAs: The Giver as a Framework
- Sexual Behaviors in the Digital Age
- Sociosexual Behaviors Across the Lifespan
- Utilization of ACT methodology to assist with arousal-related sensory overload in Autistic clients
- Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Body: An ACT Approach to Sex
- Littles, Middles, and Bigs, Oh my! Getting BCBAs Acquainted with Adult Babies & Diaper-Lovers (AB/DLs)
- Affirming Sexual and Gender Orientations Through ABA Methodology
- Will I Lose My Dignity? ABA for HIV: A Powerful Need for A Powerful Therapy
Peggy Karwiel, BCBA, LBA
About Peggy: I initially discovered ABA when I took a position as a Special Education Teacher in the Hawai’i DOE. I worked with students with severe problem behavior, and we focused on communication, life skills, and community-based instruction. Once I became a BCBA, I continued to work in schools but gained additional experience in-clinic, in-home, as well as, in the community. Having a very challenging supervision experience myself, I partnered with Local ABA to provide quality, remote supervision. I’ve been providing remote supervision for the past two years. Additionally, I’ve recently started my own business called PK Behavior Consulting where I provide 1:1 therapy to individuals navigating challenging times in their lives, in addition to, providing parent training, education, and support. I am passionate about using ACT in my practice which has allowed me to step outside of the “traditional” ABA box.
Peggy's Courses:
Rachel Benson, M.Ed., LBA, BCBA
About Rachel: Rachel Benson (she/her) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and has been working with the neurodivergent population for over ten years in various settings including school, home, and clinic locations and water therapy. Rachel is currently under practicum for her Sexual Educator Certificate. Her current work is focused on sexual health, safety, relationships, and empowerment with both neurodivergent and neurotypical populations. Her philosophy is grounded in access to sexual health and sexuality for all and being able to obtain comprehensive and inclusive sexual education.
Rachel's Courses:
- Increasing the Likelihood of Clitoral Orgasms (recorded version coming soon)
Rosie (Rose) Jeffers, MAT, BCBA, LABA
About Rosie: Rosie Jeffers is passionate about three things in life-- food, behavior analysis, and cats. Her dissemination efforts can be found through her podcast Behavior Bites, instagram @rosie.eats.bx, and website rosiebx.com. Rosie is a member of multiple organizations including MassABA, BABAT, and an Advocate/Ally Member of BABA. Rosie’s work includes three CEU courses with Study Notes ABA (A DINK's Guide to Caregiver Coaching, Soft Skills – This Time, It’s Personal, and We Need to Talk: A Webinar on Ethics). Rosie lives and works in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Salena Davila-Schilling, M.A., BCBA
About Salena: Salena Davila-Schilling is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst from Chicago, IL. She is the creator of TheFullField.com—a website designed to help fellow behavior analysts find the right conferences related to their interests, research and read journal articles, and discover resources to help them explore The Full Field of Behavioral Analysis and Science. Salena is part of multiple organizations including the ILABA Legislation Committee, The Standard Celeration Society Values Committee, LABA Fast Track, and many other national conferences. She is also a consistent creator and voice in the field. Her work includes research for the Why We Do What We Do Podcast, Study Notes ABA, and Secretary for the Dissemination of Behavior Analysis Special Interest Group.
Shane T. Spiker, PhD, BCBA
About Shane: Shane T. Spiker is a BCBA in Ormond Beach, Florida. Shane received his MS of Psychology in 2012 and his second MS in applied Psychology in 2016. In May 2019, he graduated with his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a concentration on instructional design. He has been providing services in the field of ABA since 2010, with the majority of his experience with autistic learners and other disabilities. Shane specializes in working with teens and adults with dangerous problem behavior, sexual behavior, and medically complex individuals in home and community-based settings. Primarily, Shane serves as the Clinical Training and Safety Director at PBS, Corp. Shane previously served as the Vice President of the Sexual Behavior: Research and Practice SIG through ABAI. He has written and published several articles related to behavior analysis and practice. Additionally, he serves as a co-instructor at Florida Institute of Technology, Arizona State University, and Regis College, where he teaches graduate-level coursework. He enjoys reading and appreciates a really good cup of coffee. To keep up with his ongoing work, please feel free to check out the following resources:
- Instagram: @drshanetspiker, @WNDPress, @WWDWWDPodcast, @paperbackbehavior, @TeamPBS
- Podcasts: Why We Do What We Do and Paperback Behavior
- Websites: WNDPress.com (for books and publications), TeamPBS.com (for trainings).
Teressa Borrayo, MA., BCBA
About Teressa: Teressa Borrayo is a BCBA from Southern California. She has been in the field of ABA for over 10 years and is loving every minute of it. She is an experienced Program Supervisor with a demonstrated history of working in the remote learning industry. Teressa specializes in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Parent Education, Early Childhood Education, and Adaptive Skills. She is on the Disseminating Behavior Analysis Board and provides supervision for RBT's and potential BCBAs.