Melissa Donofrio is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) as well as a certified Special Education Teacher and Preschool through Grade 3 Teacher.  She has been working with children with Autism and Special Needs since 2000.  In 2004, Melissa completed her graduate degree at Teachers College, Columbia University.  During her time at Columbia, she was awarded a Graduate Assistant position in the school's center-based, early childhood program, the Rita Gold Early Childhood Center.  Melissa became a BCBA in January 2013.

 

She has experience as the Clinical Supervisor of a center-based ABA program for children with Autism.  In addition to overseeing the ABA programming for the learners in the center, she also coordinated these services with on-site occupational and speech therapy services, working in collaboration to best meet the needs of each child.  Melissa has also worked as a Program Specialist for Autistic Support in a PA public school, an ABA classroom head teacher, created and wrote curriculum for public school ABA programs, worked as a district-based BCBA, as well as consulted in private school settings.  During the first part of her career, Melissa spent her time working with ABA through in-home Early Intervention.  She has experience in a hospital-based setting, working in the NICUs at Bellevue and NYU Hospitals to transition families to Early Intervention and as the Volunteer Coordinator of the Kangaroo Care program. In addition she continually provides home-based ABA consultation, supervision, and direct services for children ranging in age from infants through 21 years of age. She also works with teams transitioning students of age into work programs with job coaches, as well as into community placement programs.  

 

Melissa understands and has experience with not only the needs of students with Autism, both verbal and non-verbal, but also with students diagnosed with Down Syndrome and BiPolar Disorder.  Her experience also encompasses the delicate dynamic and behavioral needs of educating students diagnosed with ODD, ADHD, ADD, and Sensory Integration Dysfunction.  She is passionate about helping families create a functional home environment in which everyone can be successful.

 

Melissa believes in a team approach to helping students reach their potential.  She has provided collaborative services with Occupational Therapists and received training in Sensory Integration Dysfunction. She has also collaborated with Speech Therapists and is formally trained in PROMPT, PECS, and American Sign Language. 

 

In her personal life, Melissa resides in beautiful Bucks County, PA with her family and is a mom to two wonderful young girls.  She enjoys daily CrossFit, baking, reading, hiking and anything outside on a sunny day.

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