Autism Parenting Summit / Register Today / May 12th - May 15th
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Blue Balloon has a multi-disciplinary team of Psychologists / Diagnosticians, Board-Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), Registered Behavioral Technicians (RBTs), Occupational Therapists, and Speech Pathologists to address all of your child's needs
Our multidisciplinary team will collaborate in the coordination of care in developing a comprehensive plan.
M.Ed, BCBA, LBA
Miriam Newmark BCBA, LBA is the Clinical Director of Blue Balloon ABA, overseeing the quality and care of each child. Miriam holds a Masters in Education from Grand Canyon University and attended Florida Institute of Technology to further her education in Applied Behavior Analysis. She is passionate about making meaningful impact to all children across the autism spectrum. In addition to verbal behavior, Miriam is certified in PEAK, and has taken courses on Accept Identify Move (AIM) curriculum, Social Thinking by Michelle Garcia Winner, and the Red and Green Learning System. Prior to joining Blue Balloon ABA, Miriam has created social skills curricula, provided school consultation, presented trainings to parents and teachers, and operated an ABA early intervention center. Miriam is passionate about applying organization behavior management (OBM) strategies to establish positive environments that engage and bring out the best in her team so they can provide the best quality of care. Join Blue Balloon ABA to be part of an energetic and passionate team of professionals!
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Catherine Friend (Witanowski) is the Early Intervention Director as well as a BCBA for Blue Balloon ABA. As EI Director, Catherine oversees daily operations in the clinic, as well as supports behavior technicians and families. As a BCBA, Catherine prides herself on providing functional and client-centered treatment to her clients with Autism, collaborating with parents to ensure families are supported at home and in the community through regular parent training. Catherine’s passion for ABA was sparked as a teenager, when she earned a reputation as a babysitter for children with Autism. This led Catherine to complete her Bachelors in Cognitive Neuroscience at University of Delaware, minoring in Psychology and Disability Studies. She went on to complete her Masters in ABA from Ball State University. Catherine’s related experiences include a unique opportunity to provide ABA therapy at The Ivymount School, located in Rockville, MD, which is a school nationally recognized for its programs for individuals with Autism. Since becoming a BCBA, Catherine has worked in clinic, home-based, and community-based settings, collaborating frequently with related disciplines (Speech, OT) and school-based providers, furthering her knowledge of related fields and advocating for her clients in IEP meetings. Catherine enjoys playing with her dogs, Mae and Dobby, making extravagant meals with her husband, and binge-watching Netflix!
See MoreMSEd, OT-RL, BCBA, LBA
As an undergraduate, Kathryn Ewell studied Occupational Therapy at UW-Madison. She moved to the Baltimore area to complete her degree requirements and became connected with Kennedy Krieger Institute (KKI). At KKI, Kathryn worked in a school setting providing OT services to students with autism 10-21 years of age. While at KKI, she earned her Master’s Degree in Special Education. Moving to a clinical setting, Kathryn expanded her therapeutic services to include early intervention clients. This is where she became interested in continuing her education in the field of ABA. In 2013, she completed her coursework at FIT and earned the credential of a BCBA. Combining her passion for occupational therapy and ABA, Kathryn provides therapeutic services to children birth – 21 in the home, school and community settings.
See MoreMS, OTR/L, ASDCS
Shira Kahn has worked in the field of Occupational Therapy since 2015. She received her undergraduate degree from Thomas Edison State College and her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Towson University. Her clinical experience includes working in hospitals, SNFs, and outpatient settings. She is passionate about working with children with ASD. Her goals are to help children and their families succeed and create client-centered treatments to help her clients in their everyday life. Her caring personality helps her connect with her clients and creates a great therapeutic environment. Shira has two young girls of her own and enjoys making projects, baking, and spending time with them.
See MoreMS, CCC-SLP
Lori is an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist with over 30+ years of experience working with infants through adults with a variety of disorders/disabilities. Lori earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from SUNY at Fredonia, summa cum laude. She earned her Master of Science Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Vanderbilt University. Lori has provided individual and group speech-language services in private practice, clinical/medical, and school-based settings. Lori has advanced and specialized training in many areas including motor speech disorders (including Childhood Apraxia of Speech) and social and communication difficulties related to a variety of disabilities/disorders including but not limited to: Autism Spectrum Disorders, Down Syndrome, and Language-Based Learning disabilities.
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BCBA, LBA
Lisa is passionate about providing trauma-informed care and educating others on how to do so. She believes in utilizing a collaborative...
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Hi, My name is Sera. I graduated with my bachelor's in psychology in 2016 from Albright College. I first stepped into the field soon after, supporting children diagnosed with autism in the school setting.
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Kirsten's journey into the world of autism intervention began during her studies at UMD College Park, where she focused on psychology and special education.
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RBT
I'm thrilled to be a part of this amazing team at Blue Balloon ABA. I have a passion for helping individuals...
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M.Ed, BCBA, LBA
Miriam Newmark BCBA, LBA is the Clinical Director of Blue Balloon ABA, overseeing the quality and care of each child...
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MA, BCBA, LBA
Catherine Friend is the Early Intervention Director as well as a BCBA for Blue Balloon ABA. As EI...
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MS, CCC-SLP
Lori is an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist with over 30+ years of experience working with infants through...
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BA, CMI
Jenny received her bachelor’s degree in general studies with a concentration in Psychology in 2018 and received a Medical Interpreting Certificate in 2019.
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MA, BCBA
Kristin is a Licensed Psychological Associate in North Carolina and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She has been working with children on the autism spectrum for nearly 15 years.
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RBT
I always had a passion working in the ABA field as an RBT in a School, Home and Center setting. Now I am thrilled to be helping therapists and families behind the scenes, working with them from beginning to end and supporting them every step of the way.
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PhD
Dr. Gustavo R. Halley is a dedicated Licensed Clinical Psychologist with a focused career in psychological testing and a deep interest in autism. His academic roles have included faculty positions in various universities in Puerto Rico and at Marshall University, where he imparted psychological knowledge to students and colleagues in the areas of psychological testing.
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BCBA, MA
My name is Allison Gaides and I have been in the field of ABA for 10 years! I began my journey during my undergraduate studies at Saint Xavier University in Chicago
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BA
Nikki is passionate about building strong relationships, and delivering the best patient care. She decided to get into the field of ABA after seeing the work her mother-in-law does as a special needs teacher.
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MS, BCBA, LBA
Kelly Bridgeforth MS, BCBA, LBA is the Clinical Director of Blue Balloon ABA Arizona, overseeing the quality and care of every child...
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