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    What's New at AOI

     

    Master Consultants

    Our master consultants have 5+ years of experience in the field with a Master's degree or higher with a BCBA.


    Michelle L. Hurst, M.Ed., BCBA

    Ms. Hurst graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from West Chester University. She began her career as a behavior specialist at a private school in Pennsylvania for children with learning disabilities, emotional disturbances, conduct disorders, autism spectrum disorders and pervasive developmental disorders. While pursuing her Master’s Degree in special education, Ms. Hurst worked as a teacher at the first center-based ABA program in Pennsylvania.

    After receiving her Master’s Degree, she moved to Virginia to supervise an ABA pilot program in Fairfax, Virginia. She was responsible for supervision and implementation of in-home ABA services for children diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorders and autism spectrum disorders. In addition, she began a private practice (Autism Outreach, Inc.) to service those families and children not eligible for school supervised ABA programs. She has served as a consultant to many families in the Northern Virginia, Virginia Beach, Maryland, Washington D.C., Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New York areas. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. In addition, Ms. Hurst has trained in several social skills programs.

    In 2008, Ms. Hurst was an adjunct professor at the University of Mary Washington which is located in Fredericksburg, Virginia.  She taught a course required for the BCaBA certification.   She was also appointed to the board of directors for the Autism Pathway Foundation (an organization that raises funds for families that have individuals with Autism living in Loudoun County, Virginia)

    In 2009, Ms. Hurst was appointed to the board of directors for the Autism Society, Northern Virginia Chapter.

     

    Leslie Smith, M.Ed., BCBA

    Ms. Smith graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in developmental psychology from George Mason University. She began her career as an ABA therapist working in a preschool autism program for Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia under Michelle Hurst. She went on to become the lead therapist for the program and began recruiting, hiring, and training new therapists and programming for the children. During this time, Ms. Smith earned a Master's Degree in education and has worked as a program consultant for Autism Outreach, Inc. She has been responsible for supervision and implementation of in-home ABA services for children with varying disabilities from ages 2-19. Leslie is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

     

     Jillian Austin, M.Ed., BCBA

    Ms. Austin graduated with a Masters in Education with licensure in Special Education (K-12), from James Madison University in the spring of 2007. Her student teaching was in an elementary classroom for children with autism and mental impairments. She has been an ABA therapist since high school and was promoted to lead therapist after high school. Throughout college, Ms. Austin taught therapeutic horse back riding lessons for adults and children with physical and mental disabilities, where she was also responsible for developing an “Image Enhancement” curriculum for students with emotional and behavioral disorders. She also attended and participated in multiple trainings, conferences and coursework to enhance her knowledge and experience with children on the Autism Spectrum. She was hired as a consultant for AOI in the Spring of 2007.

     

     

     

     

     

    Tammy Ferraco, MS BCBA

     

    Mrs. Ferraco graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology in 2004. As she completed her certificate in Elementary Education, she began working as a behavioral therapist to children and adults on the spectrum. She taught a year in South Carolina to fourth grade students as well as tutored at a learning center. On her return to Pittsburgh, Mrs. Ferraco pursued her Master of Science degree in Applied Developmental Psychology, with a focus on emotional and behavioral disorders. She returned to behavioral therapy, where she completed trainings on verbal behavior, sign language, CPR, and crisis prevention and intervention. In 2007, she completed her Master of Science degree with a program design for children with Asperger’s Syndrome. In February of 2008, she relocated to Virginia and was hired as a full time therapist at AOI. She is currently pursuing her BCBA.

     

    Senior Consultants

    Our senior consultants have 5+ years of experience in the field with a Master's degree pursuing a BCBA or a Bachelor degree with a BCaBA.

     

     

     

    Sarah Sullivan, M.Ed, BCaBA

    Ms. Sullivan graduated from the University of Mary Washington with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology in 2007.  During her time as an undergraduate, she completed coursework in developmental psychology, psychology of exceptional children, and developmental linguistics.  Ms. Sullivan completed a Master’s degree in Special Education at the University of Mary Washington in 2009 and is considered Highly Qualified to teach Language Arts.  Ms. Sullivan is a Board Certified assistant Behavior Analyst and plans to pursue her BCBA.   She has worked with children with autism since 2005, beginning as a therapist and lead therapist.  Ms. Sullivan was hired as a Program Consultant by Autism Outreach, Inc. in 2008.  She is currently our primary Program Consultant in Fredericksburg, Virginia and surrounding areas as well as our Therapist and Hiring Manager.

     

     Natasha Chey, MA, BCaBA

    Ms. Chey received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2003. This summer she has graduated with her Master of Arts degree in Comprehensive Exceptional Student Education with a specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of West Florida. She currently holds her Board Certified assistant Behavior Analyst and is also pursuing her BCBA. Ms. Chey has over 7 years of experience working with individuals with autism spectrum disorders. She has extensive training in Applied Behavior Analysis including Discrete Trial Training, Pivotal Response Training, and Positive Behavioral Support. Her background includes developing individualized play-based ABA programs, functional communication training, self-management programs, social skills training, parent education, and behavioral management support programs for individuals with ASD in homes, schools, and the community.

     

    Associate Consultants

    Our associate consultants have 5+ years of experience in the field with a Bachelor's degree pursuing a BCaBA.

     

    Erica Ouellette, BA

    Ms. Erica Ouellette graduated from Wheeling Jesuit University in 2006 with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology.  During her senior year of college, Ms. Ouellette interned at the Augusta Levy Learning Center in Wheeling, WV; an intensive ABA center for children with autism.  Upon her graduation in May 2006, Erica began working as a full-time ABA therapist at the Augusta Levy Learning Center where she provided 35 hours of intense 1:1 ABA therapy for many children on the autism spectrum.  Ms. Ouellette returned to the DC area and began working as a Senior Therapist for AOI in June 2008.She is currently pursuing her BCaBA.