Senior Therapist
cgervais@portialearning.com

Highlights of Qualifications

Master Applied Disability Studies candidate (Brock University)

B.A Honours Soc. Sc. Criminology conc. Sociology, University of Ottawa, 2005

Certified CPI (crisis prevention institute) Nonviolent Crisis Intervention instructor

Standard CPR level C and First Aid, Red Cross, Ottawa, 2004

T.C.I (Therapeutic Crisis Intervention) training and certificate, Ottawa, 2004

A.S.I.S.T (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) Certificate, Ottawa, 2003

Seven years experience with ABA, of which 3.5 years have been in Verbal Behaviour.Over three years experience working with autistic children as senior therapist, working with early and advanced learners in the home, school and centre based setting. Designing and implementing individual education plans.

Three years experience working with dual diagnosis youth in care that have a range of developmental disabilities and behavioural challenges. Including youth with asperger syndrome, ODD, OCD, schizophrenia, tourette syndrome, ADD, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders. Developing and implementing intensive behaviour intervention programs.

Member of the International Association of Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Certified Instructors (IANCICI)

Workshops / Training

2010 (Mar) Teaching children with developmental disabilities to speak: Current research and best practice, two day workshop, Speakers: Martha S. Burns, PhD, CCC-SLP, Nancy R. Kaufman, MA, CCC-SLP, Tamara S. Kasper, MS, CCC-SLP, BCBA, Sara Rosenfeld-Johnson, MS, CCC-SLP

2009 (August) Strategies to Address Executive Functioning: Executive Functions, Imitation and Autism, Dr. Bob Ellis, Penn State University, State College, PA

2009 (August) Transferring Control of the Mand to the MO, Dr.Vincent J. Carbone, Penn State University, State College, PA

2009 (August) Ask the ABA experts Panal, Jerry Shook, Dr. Vincent J. Carbone, Dr. Mark Sundberg, Dr. Janet Twyman, Cathy Watkins, Penn State University, State College, PA

2009 (August) Social Communication Interventions for Learners with Significant Challenges, Dr. Kathleen Quill, Penn State University, State College, PA

2009 (August) The First Official Guide Training for the Social Context Jungle, Carol Gray, Penn State University, State College, PA

2009 (August) Using Automatic Reinforcement to Develop Skills in Learners with Autism, Dr. Mark Sundberg, Penn State University, State College, PA

2009 (August) Teaching Independent Skills to Learners with Autism, Dr. Rebecca Morrison, Penn State University, State College, PA

2008 (October) Introduction to Oral Motor and Articulation Skills
Jacquee Glance, SLP

2008 (June) Food Acceptance
Half - day consultation with Mary Champagne

2008 (March) One day in-centre consultation with Dr. Mark Sundberg, Ph.D., BCBA

2008 (March) Twenty-two Language and Learning Barriers that can Affect Children with Autism:
Assessment, Analysis, and Intervention 1 day workshop
Dr. Mark Sundberg, Ph.D., BCBA, Ottawa, Ontario

2008 (February) Food Acceptance
Half - day consultation with Evelyn Sparks

2007 (September) One day in-centre consultation with Dr. Mark Sundberg, Ph.D., BCBA

(2007) Language Intervention for Children with Autism Based on the Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (The VB-MAPP) Dr. Mark Sundberg , Ph.D, BCBA, Two Full-day workshop (Ottawa)

(2007) Pivotal Response Training: An Evidence Based Practice for Children with Autism
Katherine Holman, BACB/CEU's/I/A. Half-day workshop (Pennsylvania)

(2007) Treatment of Automatically Reinforcing Behaviours
Dr. Brian Iwata Ph.D, BCBA. Half-day workshop (Pennsylvania)

(2007) Making Sense of Sensory Processing Differences in ASD
Stacy Szklut B/I One-day workshop (Pennsylvania)

(2007) The Role of the Reflexive Motivating Operation CMO -R During Discrete Trial Instruction of Children with Autism
Dr. Vincent J. Carbone, BCBA. One-day workshop (Pennsylvania)

(2006) Common Misconceptions in Behaviour Analysis
Dr. Jack Michael, Ph.D, BCBA. Half-day workshop (Pennsylvania)

(2006) Advanced Topics in Functional Analysis Methodology
Dr. Brian Iwata, Ph.D, BCBA. Half-day workshop (Pennsylvania)

(2006) Errorless Teaching: Pros and Cons
Dr. Patrick McGreevy, Ph.D, BCBA.Half-day workshop (Pennsylvania)

(2006) Beyond the Early Learner: Teaching Advanced Skills to Children with Autism
Dr. Vincent J. Carbone, BCBA. Half-day workshop (Pennsylvania)

(2006) What Typical Language Development can Teach us about Children with Autism
Dr. Mark Sundberg, Ph.D, BCBA. Half-day workshop (Pennsylvania)

(2006) Introduction to Applied Behaviour Analysis Principles
Lynne Thibodeau, M.Ed. Spectrum Intervention Group. One-day workshop (Ottawa)

Relevant Skills and Accomplishments

Program Supervision:

As a senior therapist (Consultant) of intensive (30-45 hours per week) centre and home based ABA programs my responsibilities have included:

Working effectively with a wide range of age and ability levels of children with autism:

children with autism ages 18 months to 9 years old

compliant and non-compliant children

verbal and non-verbal children

children with more severe and less severe cognitive impairments

Providing on-going clinical training and supervision to ABA therapists, through:

observation of sessions

minimum bi-weekly program review and team meetings

regular and frequent e-mail and phone contact with parents and therapists

Developing the program curriculum and writing of programs; Developing data sheets for various programs

 

Relevant Employment History:

Senior Therapist 2007 - Present
The Portia Learning Centre Inc.

Lead Instructor ABA Therapist 2006 - 2007
The Portia Learning Centre Inc.

Junior ABA Therapist 2006
Self-Employed

Behavioural Counsellor, Key worker 2003-2006
Bairn Croft Residential Services, Ottawa ON

Volunteer Teaching Assistant 2004-2005
Holy Spirit Elementary School, Stittsville ON

Telephone Volunteer 2002-2003
Ottawa Mental Health Crisis Line, Ottawa ON