An Intro to Ally
Hello there, and welcome to my little corner of the internet.
You might be wondering who is the face behind Ally, and I’d like to share a little bit about me. First, my name is Alyssa. My late grandmother had Schizophrenia, which was my first introduction into unique minds. I love meeting new people and hearing their story, because everyone’s story is beautiful.
In middle school, I enrolled in the Buddy Program and got paired up with a very sweet and talkative girl and all I remember is the time we made funnel cakes together. It was so much fun! In college, I majored in Human Development and Family Studies, and one semester I completed an in-person case study with toddlers of different abilities. The highlight was when I participated in one of their “weddings” as a flower girl!
I always thought I would be a teacher, or maybe a psychologist, or maybe a photographer. I have always wanted to find ways to interact with people that would highlight their strengths, uplift them, and make a genuine connection.
Once I learned about ABA, I shadowed a clinician for two weeks and instantly fell in love with a group of autistic children. They taught me to focus on details, we shared many laughs, and it was magical seeing them learn and grow each day, and become more confident in themselves.
Wondering how to grow professionally, I enrolled in the Special Education Graduate program and went on to pursue my Behavior Analyst certificate. Through the past decade of working in this field, my absolute favorite parts were walking alongside
parents as we problem solve together, and also celebrate together. To be invited into a family’s village is an absolute honor. This field allows me to use the creative and analytic parts of my brain in conjunction; it is the perfect fit.
Becoming a mother myself, I wanted a schedule that allowed me to continue pursuing my professional career and also be present with my daughter more than typical BCBA schedules allow. I wanted to find a way to connect with families outside of just being on my caseload.
Enter Ally.
Currently, I offer parent coaching, online workshops, have an online toy shop, and more to come. It is exciting to expand my capacity beyond wearing a clinician hat. My closet is big enough for many hats. I hope you enjoy following along on my journey, and thank you for being here.
Alyssa