Lina has extensive experience teaching ESL to toddlers and preschoolers and speaks both English and Arabic. She has also worked providing ABA therapy one-on-one, in group settings as well as in-school support as an educational assistant. Lina holds an Honours Bachelor of Science majoring in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Toronto, as well as a Master of Psychology from the University of Liverpool.

“I admire the goal of the ETS program, and the mixed skills and talents combined to provide the best possible support for autistic children. I truly believe this program will have a huge positive impact on enabling autistic children with the necessary skills to succeed in school. Working with so many skilled and knowledgeable individuals from various fields has benefitted me in terms of knowledge and practice and enabled me to perform my job in the best possible way.”

If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Maldives

If you could have any exotic animal as a pet, what would it be?

Monkey

What’s your favourite holiday?

Eid

This post is also available in: French

Allison is a bilingual Occupational Therapist Assistant working in the Entry to School program at ACT’s Pembroke location. She holds an Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant Diploma from Algonquin College and is certified in DIR/Floortime. Allison looks forward to furthering her knowledge by completing more courses and training in the field of autism.

“Knowing we are having a positive impact on the day-to-day lives of the children and caregivers is a very fulfilling feeling. Being part of the BOG team and witnessing the growth we are seeing in the children as a multidisciplinary team.”

If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Italy

If you could have any exotic animal as a pet, what would it be?

Sloth

If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Taco’s

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Caitlin has been a Registered Early Childhood Educator for nearly two decades. She holds a Bachelor of Psychology as well as a graduate certificate in Autism and Behaviour Sciences. Throughout her career, Caitlin has experience working in daycare centres and schools.

“I have a passion for working with young children. I have worked in full-day kindergarten for 10 years. Working in the Entry To School program allows me to help support these children where they are in their development and help prepare them for their upcoming school transition.”

If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Chocolate

What’s your favourite holiday?

Christmas

Are you a morning person or a night-owl?

Morning person

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Jennifer is a Registered Early Childhood Educator with more than 20 years of experience working with children. She is very passionate about her work with children and truly enjoys being a part of their development. Jen loves the outdoors and glamping at her trailer. You can always find her swimming or boating with family and friends.

“I love the entire program at ACT. The children, families, staff and management make it very easy to come to work every day.”

If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Hersheys Eggies

What’s your favourite holiday?

Christmas

Are you a morning person or a night-owl?

Morning person

This post is also available in: French

Lynne holds a Diploma of Early Childhood Education from St. Lawrence College. Before joining the ACT teams, Lynne operated a home-based childcare program for 16 years. Throughout this time, she consistently delivered developmentally appropriate enriching activities in all areas of child development. She then worked in the role of ECE educator with the Ottawa Carleton District School Board. Working alongside teaching teams, she had many opportunities to deliver developmentally appropriate enriching activities to school-age children in both the classroom and in the Extended Day Program.

“I love being part of a multi-disciplinary team and making a positive impact in the lives of these little people!”

If you could have any exotic animal as a pet, what would it be?

Monkey

If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Pizza

Are you a morning person or a night-owl?

Morning person

This post is also available in: French

Julie Tessier is a registered Occupational Therapist (OT) with the province of Ontario. She graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Kinetics and completed a Master of Health Science in Occupational Therapy in 2019. She provides Occupational Therapy services in both English and French. In addition to providing assessments, interventions and consultations in private practice, Julie is also part of many projects such as a registered PLAY consultant for the Play Project, a member of the supervisory team in the Entry to School (ETS) Program and a mentor for the Secret Agent Society (SAS) research project.

Julie’s love of helping kids has led her to acquire several years of experience working alongside experienced pediatric therapists. For the past eight years, she has worked with children on the autism spectrum in different settings. She has skillfully assisted with integration in day cares, has developed and led social groups as well as summer camps, provided respite services to families. She continues to pursue her passion as an Occupational Therapist with a special focus on working with children of all ages.

Julie aspires to help children gain independence in their everyday activities as well as work in an interdisciplinary setting. Julie provides quality interventions that emphasize promoting the child’s motivation and engagement within activities of their daily life. Julie is highly motivated to grow and develop as a therapist as she and completed various trainings.

In her spare time, Julie loves to travel, spend time outdoors, participate in various sports and being surrounded with her friends and family.

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Iceland

If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Stir fry

If you could have any exotic animal as a pet, what would it be?

Goat

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Vera has been an Occupational Therapist since 2005, working with children predominantly in school settings, but also in private practice.

If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Costa Rica, New Zealand

If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Chips

What’s your favourite holiday?

Christmas

This post is also available in: French

Kathryn holds a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy and has over 20 years of training and experience in pediatrics working in both school-based and community care. She has extensive experience addressing fine and gross motor development concerns, handwriting/written output, sensory processing and self-regulation.

In her spare time, Kathryn enjoys many outdoor activities including gardening, cross-country skiing and adventurous travel with her family.

“I am excited about being a part of the dynamic Entry to School Program team assisting each client in achieving their meaningful goals by working collaboratively with the children, their families, and their school team.”

If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be? 

I would love to paddle the Nahanni River in the Northwest Territories.

If you could have any exotic animal as a pet, what would it be?

A chameleon

If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Definitely rice!

This post is also available in: French

Helen holds a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and is currently working towards a Bachelor of Childhood and Youth Studies. She is fluent in both English and French. In her spare time, Helen loves cooking African food and blasting loud music to put some groove in the house!

“My passion is to work with children. The Entry to School program allows me to help the children by developing their skills and help them by preparing for the upcoming school transition.”

If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Africa, Carribean and Ireland

If you could have any exotic animal as a pet, what would it be?

Giraffe

If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

I love chapati with meat or any pasta dish

This post is also available in: French

Robyn is an Instructor Therapist with over four years of experience working with children with disabilities and 16 years of experience working with adults with a variety of disabilities. Robyn holds a Diploma of Recreation and Leisure as well as a Registered Behaviour Therapy certificate.

In her spare time, Robyn enjoys spending time with her children, walking her dogs and playing soccer.

“ACT Learning Centre is an inspirational company that is doing amazing things for children on the spectrum, and I am excited to be a part of such an inspiring team.”

If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Fiji

If you could have any exotic animal as a pet, what would it be?
Monkey

What’s your favourite holiday?
Christmas

This post is also available in: French

Deidre holds a Bachelor of Behavioural Psychology and has previous experience working in Long-Term Care in Recreation Therapy, as well as with children implementing different recreation/behavioural programs. Deidre is also a textile artist and plays the guitar, ukulele, piano and some banjo!

I have always had a passion for working with children. ACT is an amazing company that I am so grateful to be part of. I love the feeling that I am making a difference.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Europe

If you could own any exotic animal, what would it be?
Possum

If you had to eat one food for the rest of you life, what would it be?
Maple Mustard Tofu

This post is also available in: French

Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and has experience working with youth in residential settings who need various levels of assistance. She has also worked with individuals with developmental delays in a community setting, assisting them with their ADL’s, in their workplaces, in volunteer positions and socially, and with the senior community both in LTCs and in community drop-in centers.

If you could own any exotic animal, what would it be?
Armadillo

If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Mushroom Rice

What is your favourite holiday?
Halloween

This post is also available in: French

Laura is a Child and Youth Practitioner (Algonquin College, Advanced) who brings a wealth of experience working with children and youth to her position as a Classroom Facilitator in the Entry to School program. She prides herself on working from a strengths-based perspective, using compassion and connection to encourage the children she works with to reach their fullest potential.

This post is also available in: French

Rebecca has been working in the ECE field for about five years serving a wide range of programs including childcare centres, camps and school environments. She has always had a passion for inclusion and working with children who have special needs which led her to extend her field of work by doing respite care and working as an Educational Assistant within the school board.

“I chose to work with ACT Learning Centre because I believe that all children deserve to live a fulfilling life of love, learning and happiness. Having inclusive environments and a place for individuals to learn and grow is something I aspire for, which is what made the decision of working with ACT Learning Centre so easy.”

If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
TACOS

What’s your favourite holiday?
Christmas

Are you a morning person or a night-owl?
Morning person

This post is also available in: French

Emilie holds a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and is a Registered Early Childhood Educator. She has supervisory experience working with preschool-aged children and speaks both English and French.

“I work at ACT because I love the supportive team environment and professional development opportunities.”

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Bora Bora

If you could own any exotic animal as a pet, what would it be?
Lion cub

If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Pizza

This post is also available in: French

Adrienne has been working in the field of disability services for over 10 years and has graduated from the Developmental Service Worker program at Algonquin College. She has volunteer experience at a friendship group for adults with developmental and physical disabilities. Since then, she has supported individuals in community, educational and residential settings. Adrienne is fluent in English, French and American Sign Language.

“I like that ACT offers a variety of therapies and interventions. The diverse educational background enriches the environment for the staff and children.”

If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be?
The Bermuda Triangle

If you could have any exotic animal as a pet, what would it be?
Capybara

If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Pizza

This post is also available in: French

Lauren holds a Master of Health Science in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Toronto. She also has a certificate in American Sign Language (ASL), has completed continuing education on using Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC) with children who use echolalia and those who are non-speaking and is also an Individual Authorizer for Communication Aids with the Assistive Devices Program (ADP).

Since starting her SLP career, Lauren has worked with both children and adults with a range of developmental disability and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). She has a particular interest in Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC) and worked at an interdisciplinary General Level clinic implementing all forms of AAC. She has also had the opportunity to develop and deliver trainings to parents and clinicians. Previously, Lauren worked as an educator-therapist using the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) and has over 8 years of experience working with autistic children and adults. At ACT, she splits her time between private practice and the Entry to School Program.

In her spare time, Lauren enjoys discovering new places and new food. She always has a new creative project on the go and has most recently been learning to sew.

“Besides the great team of clinicians I get to work with, I love that ACT prioritizes family and child-centred care using an interdisciplinary approach. I believe developing a good working relationship with both the client and family is crucial to delivering holistic care that is specific to each individual.”

If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I would love to go to Iceland!

If you could have any exotic animal as a pet, what would it be?

Probably a sloth – we can just hang out and be lazy together

What’s your favourite holiday?

Such a tough choice! It’s a toss-up between Thanksgiving and Christmas

This post is also available in: French

Ana has been practicing in the field of Behavior Analysis since 2016, beginning her career as an Instructor Therapist in Dubai. She received her Board Certification as a Behavior Analyst in 2019, following the completion of a BCBA Verified Course Sequence at the Florida Institute of Technology. Ana holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Saint-Joseph University of Beirut, Lebanon, which she completed in 2015.

Specializing in Verbal Behavior and early intervention, Ana has experience working with children and youth with ASD in both clinical and school settings. She has collaborated with schools in the development of IEPs and has facilitated the integration of children with ASD into classroom settings.

Ana is passionate about training parents, caregivers, and therapists to implement personalized treatment programs that adhere to evidence-based practices. Her multilingual fluency in English, French, Arabic and Romanian enhances her ability to serve a diverse client base and her cross-cultural communication skills allow her to provide effective and empathetic therapeutic outcomes.

“ACT is renowned for its multi-disciplinary approach and for fostering a positive work culture, making it exciting to be a part of this exceptional team.”

If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Japan

If you could have any exotic animal as a pet, what would it be?

Ezo flying squirrel

If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Thai

This post is also available in: French

Shaylyn is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist in the province of Ontario. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psycholinguistics, specializing in Communication Disorders, with a minor in American Sign Language from Carleton University. Additionally, she holds a Master of Clinical Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Western University. Throughout her education, Shaylyn gained valuable experience working with diverse populations, including both children and adults, addressing issues such as voice disorders, aphasia, swallowing, fluency, literacy, articulation and language acquisition. Before obtaining her Speech-Language Pathologist license, Shaylyn served as a Red Cross swimming instructor and worked as a respite worker.

Shaylyn enjoys outdoor activities with her family and friends; however, she equally appreciates quiet nights in with her dogs and a good book. She is also passionate about giving back to her rural community through organizing community events. She describes herself as both compassionate and creative.

“I chose to work at ACT Learning Centre because their values align with my own. I believe that individualized therapy is immensely beneficial to clients and their families because we all have diverse learning styles and unique interests! I also appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with different professions, allowing for the highest quality of care for our clients.”

If you could have any exotic animal as a pet, what would it be?

An otter!

If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Surf and turf

What’s your favourite holiday?

Thanksgiving

This post is also available in: French

Emily holds a Developmental Services Worker Diploma and has extensive experience in the autism sector. She has previous experience as an educational assistant and an instructor therapist and has provided respite care to families with children who have complex medical needs. Emily has also previously taught cooking programs for Autism Ontario.

Emily has completed the ECE Child Developmental Course, Crisis Prevention Intervention and ASL Level 1.

“I work at ACT because I wanted to work at a multidisciplinary centre that offers and supports children’s early learning and childhood development. Having an opportunity to explore the world of education again in a new setting that offers a holistic approach to working with autistic children.”

This post is also available in: French