One of the roles of my new job was to provide cleaning services for a family who had multiple children with autism diagnoses. The child I was designated to the majority of the time was the most severely impacted by his disability. At age eight he did not have any speech or functional communication; he often engaged in extreme behavioural outbursts that were difficult to predict and manage. The experience was eye opening to say the least. Every area of the family’s lives was affected by autism on a daily basis; from speech and communication, to understanding instructions, to the ability to play, to feeding, sleeping, toileting, community involvement, and on and on. While his brothers were better able to communicate and function independently, they still demonstrated significant challenges with basic areas of development that most parents take for granted.

After years of supporting these incredible children as a Behavioural Interventionist, and many open conversations with their parents, I had learned so much about the many challenges for families with neurodivergent children and the breakdowns in the systems meant to help them. I had also been introduced to the science of Applied Behaviour Analysis thanks to an early influential mentor who trained and supported me. Thanks to his guidance, I was compelled to enrol in a Master’s program where I could enhance my knowledge and skills. I was also able to implement ABA principles with the children I worked with, and saw firsthand the amazing progress that could be achieved with a dedicated team and family.

In 2013 I moved to Edmonton, Alberta to continue my work with children with developmental disabilities and became certified as a BCBA in 2014. At this time there were only seven other BCBA’s in the province, and the field of ABA was largely unknown and gravely misunderstood by many. In the fall of 2020 Catalyst Behaviour Services was founded, and shortly after I was fortunate enough to enlist the help of Malorie Cardamone, a teacher and aspiring BCBA that I was fortunate enough to meet a few years prior. Malorie was driven, passionate, and a powerful advocate for her students with special needs, and our company truly would not be what it is today without her endless dedication and contributions.

Since those early days, Catalyst Behaviour Services has grown exponentially in both size and determination. We continue to help Albertan families recieve high quality, trauma informed behavioural supports for their loved ones. We are a recognized Family Supports for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) provider in many rural areas of Alberta, and we currently service over fifty families in the Edmonton region. We have an amazing team of skilled and dedicated BCBA’s and Behaviour Interventionists from all over the world. Catalyst team members have partnered with multiple school districts in the area to provide consultation for their students, and are active advocates for inclusive learning and supports for all children.

Our mission is to provide exceptional ABA services to each and every family who dreams of more for their children. We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to truly learn and be integral parts of their communities, and that every individual is capable of accomplishing tangible progress that will improve their quality of life at any age. As much as we prioritize our science and the evidence of change in all that we do, we are equally committed to the overarching values of dignity, respect and inclusion for everyone. As Catalyst Behaviour Services continues to grow and learn in this ever changing field, we are truly humbled and excited for the opportunity to facilitate real, unequivocal change and advocacy for all of our clients.

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