About Us
Mission Statement
Reaching Beyond Autism is dedicated to providing intervention services to children with autism based on the principles of applied behaviour analysis. Together with the child's family, we strive to maximize each child's potential using evidence-based practices in a supportive and safe environment.
Our Team
Leslie Vella, M.A., BCBA, R.B.A (Ont.)
Director & Founder
Hello, and thank you for visiting our website! I have had the honour of working with children and their families for over 26 years. I have worked in both the public and private sectors of autism services and within the school system as an ABA Specialist. My journey began at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, where I received my Honours Degree in Psychology. In my fourth year, I took a Behavioural Psychology course, which changed my life forever. Shortly after graduating, I worked with a three-year-old child with autism, which was an amazing and rewarding experience! I was so excited to be able to implement all my newly learned behavioural principles. A few years later, I received my Master’s Degree from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a few years after, I became a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA®). I am currently pursuing my Ph.D. in Psychology with a specialization in Behaviour Analysis. The knowledge and experiences I have gained through this doctoral program have further strengthened my love and dedication to this field!
Certifications and Trainings
Certified CPI Instructor
● Crisis Prevention Institute
Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) Introductory training
● UC Davis Health Mind Institute
Promoting the Emergence of Advanced Knowledge (PEAK) Level 1 Certification
● PEAK ABA Solutions
Accept, Identify, Move (AIM) Training
● Emergent Learning Academy
Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) Level 1 Training
● Pyramid Educational Consultants
CITI Training – Human Research Level 1
● Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative
Standard First Aid & CPR
● Canadian Red Cross
Amanda Rodgers, M.S. ED., BCBA, R.B.A (Ont.), OCT
Clinical Supervisor
Hello! My name is Amanda. I am a Registered Behaviour Analyst and an Ontario Certified Teacher. I have over 10 years of experience supporting children with a variety of strengths and needs. I received my Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree from Trent University. I then went on to receive my Master of Science Degree in Education. After graduating I had the opportunity to work in China, teaching children several high school courses using the Ontario curriculum. Upon my return, I started working at Reaching Beyond, where I saw the power of positive reinforcement. This led me to pursue my coursework in applied behaviour analysis (ABA) to become a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst. One of my passions is facilitating small group programs, and I am a certified facilitator for the Secret Agent Society® program.
The Team
Reaching Beyond would not be all that it is without the dedication and devotion of its team, which includes Senior Therapists, Lead Instructor Therapists, and Instructor Therapists! Our staff brings a wealth of education and experience to their roles! In addition, they all receive initial and ongoing training to keep their skills sharp and up-to-date!
Our Intake Process
An Introductory Chat: we’ll schedule a time that is convenient for you to discuss our services and answer any questions. We can do this by phone, Zoom, or in person.
Intake Meeting (just parents): if you would like to begin service for your child, we will meet to discuss your goals for your child and review the service contract. We’ll also take a tour of the center! (approx. 30mins).
Intake Assessment (parents and child): we will schedule a brief assessment of your child’s skills to identify initial goals and programs (approx. 1 hour).
Start of Service: we’ll schedule a start date for your child to begin their learning journey at Reaching Beyond!
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