Heather MacEwen
Director, Occupational Therapy

Heather MacEwen, Director of blueballoon Health Services Occupational Therapy, graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a BA. in Psychology, and a M.Cl.Sc. in Occupational Therapy. She has since practiced in the USA and Canada in Paediatrics within both educational and clinical settings. With extensive experience in a range of therapy principles, strategies and techniques, her main areas of expertise are Sensory Integration, Therapeutic Listening, Clinical and Social Programming and supervising Clinical and Occupational Therapy programs for over 8 years. Heather is also SIPT (Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests) certified.

In her spare time Heather practices yoga, hikes and travels. She also enjoys listening to music and spending time with family. She is passionate and dedicated to providing services to children in fun and exciting ways.

  

  

 Maeghan Fennell
Occupational Physiotherapist Assistant (OTA/PTA), Behavioral Therapist (BT)

Maeghan Fennell came to blueballoon 2 years ago after completing the Occupational Therapist/Physiotherapist Assistant program at Humber College. Upon graduating with Honours, Maeghan was awarded with the Presidents letter, the F.A. Davis award and also taught curriculum on practical and development skills to OTA/PTA's. Her portfolio also includes Honours and Presidents letter from Humber's Performing Arts Program where she studied music, language and movement.

Maeghan has taught in numerous group environments which include assisting school boards developing programs to teach kids about self confidence, social skills and body works. She worked for several years in integrated overnight camps with music, arts and outdoor programs. She has experience with Handwriting, Occupational(OT)/Behavioural(BT), Occupational/Music(MT) and Physio(PT)/Music Therapy Groups.

 Maeghan demonstrates her dedication to a holistic and interdisciplinary model by working on the PT , OT and BT teams. Her PT training was enhanced by such workshops as Moving With Music, Shoulder Stabilization Through Pilates, and Assisted Movement and has experience instructing physical education to young adults.

Maeghan's OT knowledge extends to Sensory Integration Techniques, fine- and gross-motor training and life skills. She has also been trained in Handwriting without Tears and Therapeutic Listening.

Being a member of the Behavioral Team at blueballoon, she has several hundred hours of practical experience using behavioural teaching methodologies including Verbal Behaviour, implementing behavior management programs and using Direct Instruction Programs (Language for Learning, Connecting Math, Language for Thinking, Reading Mastery and Spelling Mastery) in natural environments. Maeghan has also been trained in Crisis Prevention Intervention(CPI).

 Maeghan's extensive clinical experience and training has enabled her to develop into a strong therapist with a great passion and dedication for working with children. She enjoys the work that she does and continues to further develop her clinical skills working within an interdisciplinary model and maintaining her knowledge of current clinical research.

  

  

 Jess Robinson
Clinical Site Lead, Occupational Therapist

Jess Robinson arrived in Canada in 2008, shortly before joining us on the BlueBalloon team, having attained her Bachelor of Sciences in Occupational Therapy (Honours) from the University of Derby, England in 2005. Since graduating, Jess has worked with children and young adults across a range of clinical, educational and community settings. Her areas of expertise include assessment and treatment of sensory processing, fine & gross motor skills, and life skills.

Jess has completed various postgraduate courses including Therapeutic Listening, Sensory Tool Kit, Tools for Teens, the Child Occupational Self Assessment, and has begun her Sensory Integration training. She has experience in facilitating a variety of specialist programs including NeuroFeedback, Vision Therapy, Brain Gym, and Astronaut Training, a sound activated vestibular-visual protocol. Experienced in working within a broad multi-disciplinary team, including Behavioural Optometry, Jess is a committed team player. She hopes to further develop her clinical expertise here at BlueBalloon and to complete her certificate in Sensory Integration and Praxis Test.

Jess’s inspiration for her choice of profession comes from her younger brother, now a young adult who has autistic spectrum disorder and difficulties with communication, sensory processing, motor skills, and learning difficulties. In her spare time, she enjoys cross-country backpacking with her dog, is a keen scrapbooker, and loves to play a range of musical instruments. Whilst very much an English rose at heart, Jess is learning to love the Canadian way of life.

  

  

 Dina Kalales
Occupational Therapist

Dina Kalales, Occupational Therapist at BlueBalloon, recently graduated from the University of Toronto with a Masters in Science, OT.  Dina’s past experience includes clinical placements with Mount Sinai, Bridgepoint Rehabilitation Hospital, the Toronto District School Board, and the Toronto Rehabilitation Hospital.  She has been working with children for the past ten years, six of which have been with children with disabilities.

Currently Dina is working on publishing her Occupational Therapy Masters research study in conjunction with the University of Toronto and The Hospital for Sick Children.  The focus of the research is developing technology to assist children with autism to develop daily living skills.  Dina was also recently part of an autism documentary, “The Worlds Within”, for her work with a 13-year old girl who is now able to type and share with the world what it is like to have autism.

At blueballoon Dina likes to take a more holistic approach and integrates various therapies into her OT practice.  She has been trained by various therapists and is also trained in Sensory Integration and fine motor skill development.  Dina’s future goals include to continue learning more about the various therapies and to take the “Handwriting Without Tears” work shop.

Dina’s biggest accomplishments include graduating with a Masters in Occupational Therapy and assisting children communicate and develop new skills.  Through her work, Dina hopes to continue to change the lives of the children and help them to become independent and successful adults.

  

  

 Diesje Hiltemann
Occupational Therapist

Born and raised in the Republic of South Africa, Diesje graduated from the University of Durban-Westville with an Honours Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (1995). With work placements, during the course of her program, both in South Africa at Cape Recife High School (a pre-K to 12 special education school) and in the Netherlands working with children in a clinical setting. While in Africa she also had other community placements. Her passion has been the pediatric population. After graduating in 1995 she accepted the position of Occupational Therapist at Cape Recife High School (South Africa), where she worked till March 1999 in a very strong multi-disciplinary team setting, within all aspects of the students’ curriculum. She was very involved in sports for the disabled as coach in track and field, as well as swimming for the physically challenged. She also accompanied the Eastern Province team to the National Games in Johannesburg, South Africa.  Furthermore, Diesje excels at computers and adapting theses for students with physical disabilities, and was instrumental in setting up a suitable computer room for the physically and mentally challenged students as well as providing education to the staff and students. She was also involved in attending and presenting many interdisciplinary in-service education opportunities, including feeding for which she attended a suck-swallow-breathe workshop. In South Africa, Diesje attended a workshop on Neurodevelopmental Techniques and Sensory Integration presented by Erna Blanche of America.  Since coming to Canada she has worked mainly in the community and school health setting with clients ranging from Junior Kindergarten to senior citizens, as well as in the insurance industry with clients involved in Motor Vehicle Accidents. Her passion is children with special needs and assisting them and their families to achieve functional independence. Having recently completed a course on Sensory Diets she hopes to pursue this area of Occupational Therapy and to work towards becoming SIPT certified.

Being around children is her greatest joy, and this inspires her creativity and enthusiasm.  Diesje loves walking, riding her bike and spending time with her husband, as well as participating in various craft activities.

  

  

 Keltie Morrison
Occupational Therapist

Upon receiving her Bachelors degree in Kinesiology Keltie went on to earn her Masters in Science in Occupational Therapy from Dalhousie University’s renowned Occupational Therapy program in 2008. Since then her primary focus has been pediatric programs for children and infants age 0-7 focusing on fine motor, visual motor integration, and development of gross motor coordination. Keltie’s treatment experience encompasses both clinical and school based settings as well as home visits. In her time as a therapist Keltie has developed a specific interest in working with infants with developmental and sensory needs. Keltie has completed additional training in Augmentative and Alternative communicative devices, and is a certified authorizer with the Ontario Assistive Devices Program.  Keltie’s passion for working with children has involved her in many volunteer opportunities working with children with disabilities, including being a therapeutic riding instructor and taking part in the S.M.I.L.E program using swimming as means to provide children sensory and motor experiences. One of her most memorable experiences was running two successful annual Kid’s Day programs at Dalhousie University which aims to integrate and engage children with disabilities with fun games and challenges that focus on motor stimulation. Keltie continues to pursue work with therapeutic riding programs as well as the therapeutic dog program. As an Occupational Therapist, Keltie emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach and focuses on combining therapy techniques and other disciplines as needed to create a unique program for each client. She has extensive experience in fine motor programming and actively applies her Kinesiology background to emphasize gross motor skill development as well. Keltie plans to attend training in Sensory Integration as well as earning her CME Level 1. In her spare time, Keltie enjoys practicing Bikram Yoga, horseback riding, and spending time up north with family and friends.

  

  

Kristen Rourk just recently moved back to Canada after spending 20 years in the US, having traded her rural roots for cities like New Orleans, Atlanta and New York.  She graduated with Honors from Middle Georgia College in 1999 with an Associate of Science, Occupational Therapy Assistant degree. Kristen has worked in diverse clinical settings with clients from birth to senior adult.  She has a particular passion for helping children learn and grow through safe, fun and engaging experiences.  Kristen has been working and volunteering with children for over 20 years.  She has experience in
supporting, designing and leading children's activities and programs for childcare centers, churches, group homes, athletic clubs and preschools. Kristen and her husband spent 2 summers in Belarus teaching ESL and sports camps and organized a medical camp with Children of Chernobyl in the US.  Kristen enjoys volunteering in her son and daughter's school, cooking and baking with her daughter, hiking and exploring the city with her family.

  

  

 

  

  

  

Physiotherapy Team

 

 Simona DeMarchi
Director, Physiotherapy, Founder, blueballoon Physiotherapy

Aralia has worked with children all her life including teaching gymnastics to children ages 2-14 for the past 12 years at private gyms and for the City of Toronto. She has also worked with special needs children and has done support care work with children with Spina Bifida in Munich, Germany. Currently she is working as a Community Physiotherapist with the pediatric population, and at BlueBalloon. Aralia has had clinical experience working at Bloorview Kids Rehab, and also in various hospitals and clinics in the Toronto area. She also completed an international clinical internship in a Spine Clinic in Lima, Peru.  A little known fact about Aralia is that she is originally from Peru and speaks Spanish fluently.

  

 

 

Stephanie Bulk recently graduated with a Master’s of  Science in Physical Therapy from the University of Toronto. She also holds a Bachelor of Health Sciences Honours Degree from McMaster University. Stephanie has always gravitated towards paediatrics and her clinical placement experience in physiotherapy at the Hospital for Sick Children confirmed her passion for paediatrics.  During the course of her physical therapy degree, she also completed a research project in conjunction with Bloorview Kids Rehab evaluating questionnaires that measure life satisfaction for use in paediatric rehabilitation.

During her undergraduate degree, Stephanie worked for a number of years as a research assistant in the Paediatric Department at McMaster University Medical Centre and has gained great knowledge and experience working with children with a range of disabilities. She has also had experience working with children in the community as a hospital volunteer, day camp leader and a tutor. As an international volunteer Stephanie also spent a month in the Philippines living with a local family, participating in and assisting with daily activities.

With the blueballoon team, Stephanie hopes to help children to participate in life to the fullest. Her future ambitions are to further develop her clinical expertise here at Blueballoon and to become certified in Cuevas MEDEK Exercises.  She plans on completing CMEI (Introductory level course) this December, 2009.  In her spare time she enjoys being active with hiking, running, playing sports and always welcomes a new challenge. She recently completed a half marathon with future goals of a full marathon. She is also in the process of becoming a certified Body Combat fitness instructor.  

   

 

Mandip graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto and a Masters of Physiotherapy from D’Youville College in Buffalo, New York. Mandip has participated in courses such as Hippotherapy, NDT and Functional Exercise and Strength Training for the neurologically impaired child.

Mandip’s interest in working with the paediatric population children was sparked in university when she worked as an IBI therapist for children with autism. She has experience working with the school age population with special needs. Mandip’s focus was to assist school staff in allowing their special needs students to function fully in the school setting and to ensure accessibility.

In her spare time she enjoys participating in tai chi and is pursuing her interests in holistic medicine. She also loves to cook and is completely hooked to the Food Network.  Mandip is looking forward to becoming certified in CME I and CME II and building her clinical skills at blueballoon.

  

 

 

 

 

  Music Therapy Team

 Noreen Donnell
Director, Music Therapy, Burlington

Noreen (Kirwin) Donnell, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Music (1986), a Bachelor of Music Therapy (1988), and a Master of Music Therapy (2003), all from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, ON. She is accredited with the Canadian Association for Music Therapy (1991), where she served on the national board as Vice President (2004- 2009). Noreen has over 20 years working clinically with a variety of populations including children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities, psychiatric and emotional challenges, and children with ASD. She is co-founder of Music Express, a unique, music-based group intervention programme that combines music therapy and speech/language pathology to improve communication skills in children. Her article “Messages through the Music” was recently published in the Canadian Journal of Music Therapy. Vol. XIII, No. 2 (2007). She is a member of the Canadian Music Therapy Association, the Music Therapy Association of Ontario, Laurier Centre for Music Therapy Research, and the Songwriters Association of Canada.  Noreen is currently writing for and co-producing a second CD of clinical songs, as well as a children’s book about autism. Before joining BlueBalloon, Noreen operated a private practise, Halton Music Therapy Services in Oakville for ten years. She has worked as a music therapist at Southwest Regional Centre in Blenheim, Ontario, the Prism Centre in Chatham, Ontario, and St. Joseph’s Mountain Healthcare, in Hamilton, Ontario. Noreen is a proud mother of 3 active boys.

 

 

 

 

 

 Erin Hiuser
 Music Therapist

Erin Hiuser is a graduate of Wilfred Laurier University’s Bachelor of Music Therapy and an active member of the Canadian Association of Music Therapy. She has enjoyed practicing music therapy for a year and half working with a variety of populations. These populations include adults with mental illness and /or dementia and adults and children with developmental and physical disabilities. During this time, she was entrenched many different settings including hospitals, schools, group homes, nursing homes and day centres. Her background also includes a year of teaching English in South Korea accompanied by her husband.

Erin describes herself as caring, fun-loving and hard working and states her biggest accomplishment so far as living abroad for a year. Her colleagues and friends say she is fun, silly and creative which all shines through in her role as a Music Therapist. In the future, Erin hopes to run her own music therapy clinic within a small community. She hopes to transfer her belief in the power of music along with the strong client-therapist relationship she embodies at BlueBalloon Health Services to continue to help people achieve holistic health while upholding the qualities of care and respect for the individual.

In her spare time, Erin can be found spending time outdoors and listening to live music. She also enjoys relaxing by watching movies and spending time with family and friends. A little know fact about Erin is that she has her first degree black belt in taekwando.

 

Robert Harris obtained his Honours - Bachelor of Music Therapy degree from Wilfrid Laurier University (2003). During that time Robert received four years of intense classical training in voice. His other skills include proficiency on the guitar, piano, percussion and blues harmonica. He also has a keen ability to utilize clinical improvisation and structured song-writing to obtain specific aims of treatment. Robert possesses a strong ability to adapt and incorporate a client’s spontaneous contributions into a meaningful and powerful form of expression. More recently, Robert completed a Masters of Music Therapy degree in September of 2007.

Robert completed his 1000 hour internship under the direct supervision of Noreen Donnell, MTA, MMT, owner of Halton Music Therapy Services and with Speech Pathologist Kim Pace M.Sc., S-LP(C), Director of BlueBalloon Health Services Speech Language Pathology, Burlington and Founder of Express Yourself!During his internship Robert provided music therapy services for children and adults. He gained knowledge and experience working with individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down’s syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Acquired Brain Injuries, Developmental Delay and Speech Communication Difficulties. Working side by side with a speech pathologist, Robert has also co-led Music Express, an interactive speech and communication group. This unique model of therapy combined the motivating and aesthetic qualities of music with speech objectives to obtain specific communication outcomes. During his internship Robert also had experience in working with geriatric populations during his employment at Forest Heights Long Term Care Center in Kitchener (2005-2006). His clients were primarily senior and elderly residents experiencing: dementia, Alzheimer’s and physical disabilities related to stroke and long term illnesses as well as psychiatric issues. His work at Forest Heights also involved a degree of palliative work as well.

Today Robert is working in several different cities with diverse populations. In the Kitchener area he is working for Expressions Music Therapy Service under Angela King B.M.T MTA. This position involves work with children, adolescents and adults with various challenges in the areas of: communication, cognition and physical and social difficulties. This work takes Robert to various locations in and around the KW area. His travel includes the city of Guelph where Robert works one day a week at The Village of Riverside Glen, a long term care facility. In addition to Expressions Music Therapy Services, Robert is also employed by Noreen Donnell, Clinical Director, Music Therapy, Burlington for BlueBalloon Health Services . Primarily his work there is with children and young adults with similar challenges.

Currently Robert has completed the necessary 1000 hour internship for his MTA (Music Therapist Accreditation) and is in the process of compiling the necessary paperwork to submit to the CAMT (Canadian Association of Music Therapy). He is a member in good standing with the CAMT (Canadian Association for Music Therapy and the MTAO (Music Therapy Association of Ontario). His hobbies include coffee roasting and the fine art involved in espresso preparation. Robert also enjoys the challenge of song-writing and sound engineering from the comfort of his own recording studio.

 

 

 

Sandy Sebastian has 15 years of experience working as a music therapist in Canada. She is a graduate of the Honours Bachelor of Music Therapy Programme, at Wilfrid Laurier University, in Waterloo, Ontario.

In 2007, Sandy began music therapy work in South Africa and in 2008, founded A Peace of Music, an organization that uses donations to fund music therapy projects and music initiatives for individuals and groups with special needs, orphans, and people living with HIV/AIDS. In recognition of this project, Rotary International granted her an Honourary Membership into the Centurian Rotary Club, of Pretoria, South Africa.

Through her private practice work Sandy has developed clinical and consultative services specializing in areas such as developmental delays, acquired brain injuries, infants at risk and long-term and palliative care. As a certified doula and midwife’s assistant, Sandy also offers a labour support program combining traditional comfort measures for women in labour and delivery with music therapy assisted childbirth techniques. Her musical training is diverse and includes saxophone, piano, flute, native flute, acoustic and electric guitar and percussion.

Sandy has worked on treatment teams including psychologists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, infant development specialists, social workers, physiotherapists andmedical professionals. As an experienced student supervisor and workshop facilitator, Sandy has been a guest speaker at Wilfrid Laurier University, and Conestoga College, in addition to co-chairing the 2003 Canadian Association for Music Therapy Conference.

 

 

 

Speech Language Pathology Team

 

As a speech-language pathologist, Kim Pace has experienced many challenges and successes in her career.  Pace does not measure her success by an award from her colleagues or status in her community, but by the individual accomplishments of each child that she helps.

Through her love of language and her commitment to children, Pace has had many opportunities to enjoy the successes of her hard work and perseverance.  Pace recently discovered an article about a girl that she had treated.  The girl had a severe speech disorder when she was a preschooler.  The article was an announcement of a scholarship the girl had won to a university in the United States for being an advocate on the subject of ethnic diversity.  This girl had made it and through her success, Pace measures her own.  In a similar situation, Pace worked with a young boy for many years.  He began to receive speech therapy at the age of 2 years due to severe speech difficulties and by grade five he won a public speaking contest at his school.  Pace said, “I measure my achievements through the children.  Every success – no matter how small – is a celebration!”

Pace discovered speech pathology almost by chance.  While studying linguistics at the University of Ottawa she lived in a residence next to a child development centre.  One day on her way home from class she discovered a little girl, not more than five years old standing on the curb outside of the centre.  “I approached the little girl and asked her what she was doing.  She told me her name was Claire and that she was waiting for a taxi ….. I remember just being furious that someone had left her outside alone,” Pace said.  “I walked into the centre …. it turned out that Claire had selective mutism and had never spoken to anyone other than her mother and older sister.  The therapists had put her in a crisis situation to see how she would react.”  Pace had found her calling.  She said, “I went the next day to find out what I had to do to become a speech-language pathologist.”

Pace is the Clinical Director of Speech Language Pathology at blueballoon Health Services in Burlington and Toronto.  She believes in an integrated approach to therapy. Pace credits the children for being her inspiration to continue educating herself and building her practice.  She said, “it is the children that keep me interested … they are so honest and so willing to learn.”  Her commitment and passion for her profession is evident in everything she does.  Pace believes that the key to success with children is to engage their wonder and curiosity.  Her philosophy is that, “If you are bored, they are definitely bored.”.  She is also a proponent of flexibility and understanding in her profession.  She said, “If a child is interested in the plant, then you have to figure out a way to make the plant a part of your game plan.  If you clearly understand your goals for the child, then you can teach those skills in any activity.”

Through all of her experiences - from doing gender therapy with transsexuals in Vancouver, to performing stuttering therapy by phone in North Bay, to working under the tight budget of an Ontario school board, to opening her own private practice – Pace would not change a thing.  She said, “I would do everything exactly the same.  The best things that could have happened to me did."

 

 

 

Shelley Ortved M.A. CASLPO is a registered Speech Language Pathologist. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Western Ontario and her Masters degree at the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Shelley has worked with children from the ages of 12 months to 18 years who have had a variety of communication needs. She has a special interest in Autism Spectrum Disorder, genetic disorders, and cognitive delays. Her use of a combination of therapies tailored to suit the needs of the individual patient has helped children who have had language delays, social communication delay, apraxia, articulation, and oral motor difficulties.

 

 

Tara has expressed an interest in the field of speech and language  since attending a carreer fair in highschool. At that point, she started to volunteer to solidify her decision to pursue a career in  the area of communicative disorders.  Tara graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 2003 with an Honors Batchelor of Arts  in Psychology and completed her Senior Honors Thesis, The Understanding of Emotion In Speech. She later graduated from the  Communicative Disorders Assistant post-degree program at Durham College in 2004.

Upon graduation, Tara accepted a job with a private school for children with learning and language impairments, and 3 years later,  became a dedicated member of the blueballoon staff. Tara is in the process of pursuing her desire for continuing education, as she has 
applied for a masters program in Speech  Language Pathology. Tara excells in planning and implementing creative therapy for children with various communicative needs and abilities. She enjoys faciliating small group therapy as means to solify one on one therapy goals, and 
to target generalization into new settings and more naturalistic experiences.  To date, Tara has planned and implemented small group therapy sessions targeting articulation difficulties, social language skills and practical language skills involved in everyday conversation. These 
groups have been a success.

Tara is dedicated to her family, her husband and her 17 year old cat Winnie. Growing up in a small town, Tara values agriculture and nature and feels at home when escaping from the business of the city. Tara loves to dance, cook, read and finds serenity in watching the waves crash from her favourite park in Burlington, called "The Window on the Lake".

 

 Amy holds a Bachelor of Arts honors degree in Linguistics from Brock University and a Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of New York – College at Fredonia. She is a registered member of the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologist of Ontario (CASLPO) and a Hanen certified speech-language pathologist.

Amy has been working in the area of paediatrics since 2004. She enjoys working with children with a variety of communication difficulties including articulation, oral motor, expressive and/or receptive language disorders, voice and stuttering. Amy has spent most of her young career working on a collaborative team and is thrilled to continue this approach here at blueballoon! In her work, Amy hopes to continue to grow clinically and professionally as well as to stay current with the latest treatment methods and assessment tools. As a young professional in the field, Amy says her biggest accomplishment so far has been obtaining her Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology. She recently has taken on a new position at blueballoon Health Services as Clinical Site Lead for the Burlington site.

Outside of the office she enjoys baking, spending time with friends and family and of course, being outdoors. Others would describe her as, fun-loving, compassionate and outgoing!

 

 Carolyn has a Masters in Science in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Alberta and a Bachelor of Science in Speech and Language Therapy from the University of Manchester, UK. With 17 years of experience, Carolyn’s area of expertise is language delay and disorders, early language development and school age language and literacy. With her work she hopes to be able to do research that will give her the ability to discover and teach new techniques in her field. Carolyn describes herself as adventurous with a love of traveling which is understandable when you discover that she has lived in 14 different countries.

Currently living in St. Catherine’s, Carolyn describes raising her two children, 14 and 18, as an only parent as her biggest accomplishment.

 

 

Irene graduated from the University of Toronto in 2000 with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Exceptionality in Human Learning and Linguistics
and later earned a Post-Graduate Diploma in Communicative Disorders Assistant from Georgian College in 2001.

With over seven years of experience working as a Communicative Disorders Assistant and five years as a remedial tutor, Irene’s area of expertise is working with children with a variety of diagnoses: autism, down syndrome, developmental delays and learning disabilities. She specializes in implementing direct and remedial speech/language/reading and writing programs and works collaboratively with SLPs, MTs and OTs to deliver music/speech/gross and fine motor therapy to individuals with special needs. In addition, she provides individual direct instruction for comprehension, reading and spelling. With her work, Irene hopes that she will be able to make a difference in children’s lives and the lives of their families. She believes that every child deserves the opportunity to communicate, whether it be independently or with aid. Married for five and a half years, Irene and her partner have a 2 and 1/2 year old son, and a baby on the way. In her spare time, Irene enjoys spending time playing with her son, reading, cooking and spending time with family and friends. She also admits to having a slight addiction to chocolate and Soduko puzzles.

She has been described as an individual who is dedicated to her profession and her family. Irene describes herself as a person who is passionate about her work, organized and responsible. She states her biggest accomplishment as being one that she is constantly working on: raising her toddler to become a fine young man. In the future Irene would like to continue building her clinical skills through educations in order to help children with exceptionalities reach their full potential.

 

Karen Thadani, a graduate of the Masters of Clinical Science, Speech-Language Pathology program at the University of Western Ontario brings a broad range of practical clinical experience to BlueBalloon Health Services. Her most recent graduate work at Halton Healthcare included the full range of assessments, therapy and counseling in speech, language and cognitive disorders. Karen's placement at H.A. Leeper Speech and Hearing Clinic in London allowed her the opportunity to treat clients with Aphasia and related neurogenic disorders and fluency (stuttering) disorders. She also provided voice and articulation therapy during that placement. Her work at Thames Valley Children's Centre provided her the opportunity to work in both a clinical and school setting with pre-school and school age children with a variety of speech and language disorders.

Karen proudly highlights a research project she was contracted to lead in March 2007 with the Canadian Interprofessional Health Collaborative (CIHC). An updated synthesis of Interprofessional Education and Core Competencies was completed in May of 2007 under Karen’s lead which synthesized competency literature and statements and identified continuing gaps in research and literature related to IPE competencies.

Karen is a registered member of the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO).  She is also certified through the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (CASLPA) and is a Hanen certified Speech-Language Pathologist. Karen is also trained in Sara Rosenfeld Johnson’s (Level 1)
Oral Motor Therapy for Speech Clarity.

Rebecca graduated with a Masters of Clinical Science in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Western Ontario.  Prior to this, she worked as a communicative disorders assistant (CDA) with preschool and school age children in her hometown of North Bay, Ontario.  Working as a CDA solidified her passion for helping children with communication disorders reach their full potential and motivated her to pursue her Masters in speech-language pathology.  As a student clinician, her placement work at blueballoon Health Services and TykeTalk in London, allowed her to experience working with children with a variety of communication difficulties, including articulation, oral motor, expressive and/or receptive language disorders.  Rebecca joined blueballoon in August 2008. Rebecca’s particular interest includes working with children with oral motor/articulation disorders, and those with oral language disorders.

Rebecca is a registered member of the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO).  She is also certified through the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (CASLPA) and is a Hanen certified Speech-Language Pathologist. Rebecca is also trained in Sara Rosenfeld Johnson’s (Level 1)
Oral Motor Therapy for Speech Clarity. Outside of the office, Rebecca enjoys exercising to keep fit, scrapbooking, cooking/baking, and spending time with family and friends

  

Kimberly earned her  Masters in Science degree in Speech- Language Pathology from the University of New Hampshire and a Bachelors in Science in Biology from Northern Arizona University. As a student clinician she worked in a variety of settins including Stepping Stone rehabilitation center in Portsmouth, NH where she facilitated social and langauge based group activities for individuals with brain injury. She also led a summer stuttering camp and social skills group for youths. Her master thesis examined how sentence complexity relates to the incidence of stuttering as children develop in grammar.

Kimberly's passion for research inspired her to pursue a doctoral degree with an emphasis in stuttering. Upon graduating from UNH, she transitioned directly into a doctoral program with Speech-Language Pathology department at the University of Toronto. She chose this school because of the opportuntiy of working with Dr. Luc De Nil, who is a world renowned specialist in neuroimaging and stuttering. Her research interests include studying the pereptual-motor learning abilities in people who stutter. Her doctorate studies include conducting a pre- and post- treatment study with the Speech and Stuttering Institute in Toronto Ontario. With this study she will be investigating the interindividual differences in motor learning in adults who stutter and its relationship to long term treatment outcome.

Kimberly teaches the Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders course at Talboit University. She has also presented her research at a number of different conferences including the annual American Speech Hearing Association (ASHA) and the Rehabilitation Sciences Research day at University of Toronto.

She is currently undergoing her clinicial fellowship hours with the ASHA and the Canadian Assocation of Speech-Language Pathogists of Ontario (CASLPO).  Kimberly is dedicated to her husband and her 2 year old daughter, Addison. She enjoys outdoor activities including hiking, camping, kayaking and sailing.

 

 

 

Crystal holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, and an Honours Bachelors of Arts degree in Linguistics - both from the University of Ottawa. She recently completed a Masters of Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Toronto (2008) and is currently awaiting certification.  Crystal joined the Blue Balloon team in January 2008. As a Junior Therapist, her many years of work experience with children with autism and their families, has provided a good foundation for her current work at Blue Balloon. Crystal has collaborated with other Speech -Language Pathologists and Behaviourists in providing therapy to clients based on the principles of Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) and Verbal Behavior Therapy.  In the course of her work, she developed home-based ABA and language programming targeting social and academic skills. Crystal has also volunteered her time and skills at the Rehabilitation Centre Stuttering Clinic in Ottawa. Her particular interest includes working with children with oral motor/articulation disorders, and those with oral language disorders that may affect literacy, academic and social development.  Crystal’s flexible and interdisciplinary approach to intervention allows her to focus on the needs of the child in order to maximize and reach their treatment goals.  Crystal is excited about working with such a dynamic team to provide the best care for each child at blueballoon!

 

 

Brooke Thornton has a Master of Clinical Science in Speech-Language Pathology degree from the University of Western Ontario (2005) and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Huron University College (2001). She came to blueBalloon in 2009 with four years of pediatric experience in the Peterborough-Northumberland area, where she was raised. Having worked in a Children’s Treatment Centre, Brooke brings with her a strong knowledge of the public preschool speech-language system, experience participating as a team member within a multi-disciplinary approach, and a passion for family-centered care.

Brooke is a registered member of the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO), the Ontario Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (OSLA), and is a Certified member of the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (CASLPA). Brooke is Hanen® certified in It Takes Two to Talk® and Target Word® and has been trained in many therapy approaches including Lidcombe (stuttering treatment) and PROMPT (oral-motor techniques).

Currently living in Guelph, Brooke considers herself a “foodie” and outside of work enjoys time with friends and family on, in or near the Kawartha Lakes.

 

 Laura holds a Bachelor of Arts honors degree in Psychology from York University and a Master of Health Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Toronto.  She is a registered member of the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologist of Ontario (CASLPO) and a Hanen certified speech-language pathologist.  Laura is also trained in the Lidcombe Program of Early Stuttering Intervention, a behavioural treatment for young children who stutter.

Laura has recently returned to Toronto after working in the Vancouver area for the last three years.  In British Columbia, she gained valuable experience in working with young children who had a variety of communication difficulties including expressive and/or receptive language disorders, articulation and oral motor disorders, social communication difficulties, and stuttering.  Laura also had the opportunity to work collaboratively with social workers, public health nurses, infant development specialists, and interpreters to support children and parents who were new to Canada or who were identified to be at higher risk for language and learning delays.   As well as providing individual and group therapy, Laura spent a significant amount of time in BC planning and leading parent training programs, in order to teach parents strategies and techniques to improve their children’s speech sounds and early language skills at home.

Although Laura will miss the beautiful mountains and beaches of BC, she is happy to be back in Toronto and thrilled to be part of a team that values and supports family centered care, creative approaches to intervention, and collaboration with other professionals.  She feels that speech and language therapy should be a fun and positive experience for children and their parents, and that the most valuable communication goals are developed in consideration of a client’s social, occupational and recreational needs.

 

 

Janine Zantingh
Communicative Disorder Assistant

 Janine’s passion for serving others with communication impairments first resonated with her when she took the introductory course to Speech-Language Pathology and had the opportunity to help her first client, affected by a stroke, be able to functionally communicate with her husband. Janine chose to pursue her studies and 4 years later, graduated from Calvin College University located in Grand Rapids, MI in 2007.  She worked as a Communication Disorders Assistant for 2 years in London, Ontario before recently joining the team at blueballoon and becoming a resident of Burlington, ON.  She is very thrilled to have joined such a diverse multidisciplinary team and is excited to collaborate and learn more about each profession.

Janine has worked with a variety of populations including children with autism, acquired brain injuries, stuttering, articulation, expressive/receptive language disorders, and Down syndrome, as well as adults with voice disorders, apraxia, aphasia and acquired brain injuries.  Janine enjoys working with children in helping them to develop early literacy skills, social skills and language development.  In her work, Janine hopes to continue to grow both clinically and professionally with the hope of someday pursuing her Master’s degree.

Recently married, Janine loves spending time with her husband enjoying the outdoors doing activities such as kayaking, hiking and camping. She cherishes the time she gets to spend with family and enjoys playing soccer and volleyball.  Others would describe her as outgoing, genuine and enthusiastic.

 

Brittany has been passionate about working in the field of speech and language since she began volunteering in the field a number of years ago. Brittany holds a bachelor of arts degree in Psychology from Carleton University in Ottawa and a post graduatediploma in Communicative Disorders Assistant from Georgian College in Orillia. Brittany finished the program on the Dean's list and received the Bernafon Canada Ltd Award for outstanding student in her academic year.

Brittany enjoys working with children in all areas of speech and language. She enjoys working in both group and individual settings. Brittany is creative, well
organized, efficient and entirely committed to the work she does.  Brittany hopes to grow professionally with blueballoon and continue her education
with courses in the field. She is very excited to be a part of a multidisplinary team where she can learn and work as a team with other professionals in the health
services field.

When not working, Brittany enjoys spending time at her cottage or farm with her family. Brittany believes in strong family relationships and spending quality time
with one another.  She also enjoys running, ball hockey, swimming, reading andcooking. Brittany is hoping to purchase her first house within the next year and
 will look forward to the decorating and gardening adventures that lay ahead. 


 

Jill has been working toward a career in the speech and language field since first discovering  that it was the perfect way to combine her passion for language and linguistics with her desire to work in a health care setting.  She attended the University of Western Ontario and graduated with a double major in Health Sciences and Linguistics in 2008.  She graduated with a Communicative Disorders Assistant post-graduate diploma from Georgian College in 2009.
Jill has been volunteering in the field for more than 5 years and has experience working with children on articulation and language based goals in one-on-one and
group settings.  Her experiences also include working with adults in a post-stroke communication program and working in the deaf and hard of hearing program with a school board. In her spare time, Jill enjoys attending yoga and pilates classes, spending time with family and friends at the cottage and playing with her border collie, Millie."

  

  

  

  

  

 

 

 

 

Psychology Team

  

 Dr. Revital Ben-Knaz is the Director of Psychology at BlueBalloon Health Services. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Developmental Psychology from York University and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in providing evidence based practice to children, youth and their families. Dr. Ben-Knaz received her clinical training from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), the Hospital for Sick Children and Hamilton-Wentworth Child and Adolescent Services. Until recently, Dr. Ben-Knaz led the Psychometry Service of the Child, Youth and Family Program of CAMH where she was responsible for the psychological assessments of children with an array of cognitive, academic, social, and emotional challenges. Dr. Ben-Knaz skillfully and compassionately uses her expertise in diagnostic, psycho-educational, and psychosocial-emotional assessments to create recommendations for home and school, and to implement treatment plans that support healthy development and success for her clients.

 

 

Dr. Rona S. Atlas
Psychologist

Dr. Rona Atlas is a registered clinical psychologist at blueballoon Health Services with a Ph.D. in Clinical Developmental Psychology from York University. Dr. Atlas has extensive experience and knowledge related to children’s cognitive, social, and emotional development. She completed her clinical training at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and has been working for several years in a private practice setting. In her clinical practice, Dr. Atlas works with school-aged children, adolescents and their families conducting psychological, diagnostic, and psycho-educational assessments. Additionally, she provides consultation and counselling (e.g., cognitive behavioural therapy and parent/child counselling) for children and youth experiencing difficulties related to anxiety, depression, social interaction with peers as well as problems related to bullying. Dr. Atlas’ goal is to support and help her clients maintain and enhance emotional, social and interpersonal functioning.

 

 Dr. Joanne Cummings is the Director of Clinical Training, Psychology at blueballoon Health Services with a Ph.D. in Clinical Developmental Psychology from York University. Dr. Cummings’ clinical expertise is working with infants, toddlers and preschoolers and their parents. She conducts assessments for behaviour problems, aggressive behaviour, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and unusual patterns of development and provides family focused treatment and parent counselling. In addition to her clinical work at BlueBalloon Health Services, Dr. Cummings is the Partnership Manager of Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence (PREVNet) and a lecturer in the Infant Mental Health Certificate Program at York University. Before joining BlueBalloon Health Services, Dr. Cummings was an Ontario Mental Health Postdoctoral Fellow and subsequently a researcher clinician in the Infant Psychiatry Program of the Hospital for Sick Children.

 

                              

Dr. Yifaht Korman
 Psychologist (Adult) 

 Dr. Yifaht Korman completed her doctoral training at York University and is a Registered Member of the College of Psychologists of Ontario. Dr. Korman received her clinical training from the Hamilton Program for Schizophrenia and the Counselling and Development Centre at York University. She completed her internship at Toronto East General Hospital. Dr. Korman has broad clinical experience working with adult individuals and couples. She has extensive training and clinical experience working with adult individuals who are experiencing depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, grief, relationship difficulties, infertility, and serious chronic illness. She has a particular interest in working with parents of children with special needs. Before joining Blueballoon Health Services, Dr. Korman was a psychologist at St. John’s Rehab Hospital where she worked with individuals who experienced profound loss due to an illness or an accident which changed their life trajectory and resulted in a new perspective on life. Dr. Korman also held an active private practice in midtown Toronto and was a course director at York University teaching undergraduate courses in abnormal psychology and personality theory.

 

 

 

 Dr. Andrea Spooner, Clinical Psychologist, received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology: Applied Developmental Emphasis from the University of Guelph. Since 2005, she has been working at ROCK: Reach Out Centre for Kids, an accredited children’s mental health agency in Burlington, as part of their Zero-to-Six team. Dr. Spooner brings a wealth of experience providing comprehensive psychological assessments for children with developmental, cognitive, academic, social, and emotional difficulties, as well as family therapy, CBT-based group and individual treatment for anxiety, and parent-child attachment therapy. Dr. Spooner received her clinical training from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), McMaster Children’s Hospital, the Upper Grand District School Board, and the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board. She joins blueballoon to assist with individual, family, and group therapy.

 

 

Dr. Abby Goldstein
Psychologist (Adult)

Dr. Abby Goldstein is a registered clinical psychologist who works with adults and older adolescents. Dr. Goldstein received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from York University. She has extensive experience conducting comprehensive cognitive, academic and psychological assessments for adults. Dr. Goldstein received her clinical training from the Hamilton Program for Schizophrenia and North York General Hospital and completed her internship in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour at Brown University. In addition, she received post-doctoral training in Interpersonal Psychotherapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan and further post-doctoral training in therapy and assessment at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Dr. Goldstein is currently an Assistant Professor of Counselling Psychology at the University of Toronto where she teaches graduate courses and supervises students in assessment.

 

 

Dr. Vicki Rombough is a registered Clinical Psychologist at blueballoon Health Service with special expertise in infant, preschool and child development. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Developmental Psychology at York University and was part of the research team at The Hospital for Sick Children’s Autism Research Unit. Dr. Rombough also received her clinical training at The Hospital for Sick Children where she gained extensive experience in developmental assessment and intervention, neuropsychology and cognitive behavioural therapy for children and adolescents with anxiety, depression, selective mutism and obsessive compulsive disorder. Dr. Rombough’s career has focused on supporting children with developmental, social, emotional and learning challenges and their families. She feels passionate about helping to identify the individual strengths and needs of children in order to best support them in reaching their highest potential. She was part of the founding Autism/PDD Resource Team for the Toronto District School Board and is involved in ongoing research related to Autism Spectrum Disorders. In addition to her work at blueballoon, she is a member of the Child Development Team at North York General Hospital and gives lectures and training workshops on special topics in child development for community professionals.

 

 

 

 

Behavioural Therapist Team

Natalie Elms
Director of Behavioural Therapy

 Natalie Elms is a Behaviour Specialist at BlueBalloon Health Services. Natalie has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Developmental Psychology. She has experience working with children who have a variety of diagnoses in their natural settings including school, community, and home to increase appropriate behaviours. Natalie has collaborated with teams consisting of Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, Mobile Therapists, Teachers, Case Managers, Clinical Psychologists and families to develop and implement behavioural treatment programs. Natalie’s experience collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams has influenced her therapeutic technique. She believes that a good behavioural program should take into consideration all therapeautic domains in order to maximize the success of the child. Natalie is a very enthusiastic and motivated professional dedicated to bettering the lives of children with special needs.

Her work at BlueBalloon Health Services includes Functional Behavioural Assessments (Including but not limited to tantrums and attention seeking, problems with eye contact, turn-taking, memory, social skills, motor skills, communication, etc.); consultation with parents, schools and clinicians to develop behavioural strategies to ease transitions at home, school and social settings; the development and implementation of behavioural programming including Applied Behaviour Analyses (ABA); ABA programs use behavioural strategies to build new skills and generalize these skills to the child’s natural environment. ABA programs are individualized to the child’s needs and proceed as the child masters and builds upon new skills in a structured and systematic manner.

 

 

 

As a Senior Behavioural Therapist at blueballoon Health Services for both Toronto and Burlington locations, Valinda Howard has over 10 years of experience and training in the field of ABA.  Valinda has extensive training in, Verbal Behaviour, Discrete Trail Training, Direct Instruction, Precision and Fluency Training, as well as training in Relationship Development Intervention, TEACCH, and FloorTime/ DIR.  She has trained across Canada and the United States and in 2005 was selected 1 of 8 world-wide to attend Summer Institute Training at Dr. Carbone’s Clinic in Valley Cottage, New York.

She is an approved Senior Therapist for Ministry Funded IBI programming through the Direct Funded Option for Thames Valley Children Centre Region, Child Care Resources Region and Toronto Region for Autism Services Programs. She is a member of the Autism Society of Ontario (ASO), Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysis (ONTABA), Association for Behaviour Analysis International (ABAI), North American Developmental Disabilities Association (NADD), and Ontario Association for Developmental Disabilities (OADD).

Valinda has experience working with children 15 months to 19 years and her focus is to adopt” best practices” to ensure children meet their goals and by doing so they and their family’s lives are enhanced.  Valinda is extremely data driven and believes that all persons with exceptionalities have the ability to learn and that her primary goal as a teacher is to find the key to unlock the door to that learning.

Valinda’s work at blueballoon Health Services includes consulting to various students in the BBHS program and conducting learning assessments, functional behaviour analysis and assessments for problem behaviour and learning needs.  Her role at blueballoon includes consultation with parents, schools and clinicians to implement behavioural strategies and assist in developing generalization skills that can be transferred into both home and school settings.  Valinda’s work is based on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), their current research and the methodologies falling under the ABA umbrella. By utilizing these strategies, Valinda is then able to ensure that the program for each child is individualized to that child’s skills and the teaching techniques are focused on that child’s learning style and needs.

 

 

 

Ami Morris
Senior Behavioural Therapist

Ami Morris is a Behavioural Therapist at blueballoon Health Services. She graduated from Trent University with an honours BA in psychology and Hispanic Studies.  While studying at Trent she discovered her interest in Child Development and the psychology of human behaviour.  After graduating, she gained professional experience in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). She has been working with individuals with developmental disabilities for over three years. Ami has had the opportunity to work with a number of children and youth with autism and other exceptionalities in various settings. In 2007, she completed professional development coursework in ABA from The Florida Institute of Technology. She is currently pursuing her Masters degree in Applied Disability Studies with a specialization in ABA from Brock University. Ami is a student member of the Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysis (ONTABA) and regularly attends workshops and conferences to further her training.

Ami is very enthusiastic about being part of a multidisciplinary team at blueballoon. As an Instructor Therapist at blueballoon, she works one-on-one with children implementing individualized ABA programming.  She works closely with her fellow colleagues and Senior Therapists in order to ensure that each child receives consistent and quality programming. She looks forward to improving her skills and working within a multidisciplinary approach.  In her spare time she enjoys yoga, reading, travelling, listening to live music and spending time with friends and family.

 

 

Marc Sutton is a Senior Behavioural Therapist at blueballoon Health Services.  He is a graduate in Early Childhood Education and is currently completing his Masters of Science in Education.  Marc has extensive experience working with children who have a variety of diagnoses.  He brings over 13 years experience working in the field of Applied Behaviour Analysis and Intensive Behavioural Intervention.  Marc has thorough knowledge of Verbal Behaviour, Discrete Trial Training and teaching in the Natural Environment. Marc is an approved Senior Therapist for Ministry Funded IBI programs through the Direct Funded Option for Kinark Child and Family Services, Erinoak and Toronto Region Autism service programs. He is currently a Guest Lecturer at George Brown College, teaching in the DFO (Direct Funded Option) Provincial Training for Instructor Therapists.  Marc has been frequently requested to present numerous training and quality assurance programs in both Regional and Privately funded Autism programs as well as leading workshop series for professionals within the field of ABA and parent training. Marc specializes in teaching in the Natural Environment (NET) and Verbal Behaviour.  His personal teaching philosophy is following the lead of the child while providing challenging and a stimulating environment for which to learn.

 

 

 

Anita possesses a BA in Psychology obtained from Brock University. Anita has four years of practical experience in developmental and behavioural psychology with emphasis on Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA)/ Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI). Anita has experience working with children who have autism and children with dual diagnoses in a wide variety of settings to help her clients generalize their skills. As an Instructional Behavioural Therapist Anita works one-on-one with IBI clients conducting therapy sessions. In these sessions Anita implements programming developed by the senior therapist on the team. Anita works closely with the Senior Behavioural Therapists to develop new programming for clients and contributes creative strategies to further the success of her clients. She works with a multidisciplinary team including Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists and Music Therapists to further the development of new skills for her clients. Anita is passionate about her position as an Instructional Therapist at BlueBalloon. She feels with the guidance and knowledge of her fellow employees, she will be able to further her education and become a Senior Behavioural Therapist at BlueBalloon. In September, Anita will begin her Masters of Education in Developmental Psychology.

 

 

Nathan Wettlaufer graduated in June of 2008 with a BA in Psychology from Wilfrid Laurier University.  After graduating, Nathan has taken a further interest in IBI – VB by taking various modules through Mohawk College.  For the past 2 years Nathan has gained professional experience working 1 on 1 and in home with children of various ages diagnosed with autism.  Nathan also has experience working with children with learning disabilities within a school setting.  While working in the school system Nathan worked along side Child Youth Workers, Behavioural Teachers and Special Education Teachers.  Nathan has also worked as an Educational Assistant figure for a Grade 1 class for the entire school year of 08/09 supporting a child with autism.  Nathan is excited to be dedicating his time to helping children with Learning Disabilities as apart of the blueballoon Behavioural Team.

 

 

 Megan Hayes has been working for 4 years with children requiring varying degrees of behavioural intervention.  Megan holds a Developmental Diploma with honors through Loyalist College, Medications certification through Loyalist College.  She has training with Dr. Suzanne Jacobson, BCBA with advanced verbal behaviour training.  She has extensive training with ABLLS and developing a curriculum based on assessment results.  She has extensive training and experience working with children with post-traumatic stress disorder, reactive attachment disorder, adoptee trauma, and other varying emotional traumas.  Megan has extensive training working with children with high levels of problem behaviour in a wide variety of forms. Megan is a Senior Therapist at blueballoon, and provides 1 to 1 as well as small group therapy sessions. Megan works closely with all disciplines ensuring that consistency and correct implementation for all programming is achieved in every behavioural therapy session.  Megan strives to ensure she is continuously learning and up to date with all of the latest techniques and protocols within the field of applied behavioural analysis and beyond.

 

 

 

Cherylle Gooden
Instructional Behavioural  Therapist

Bio coming soon

 

 

Lindsay is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario where she received her BA in Sociology.  After finding a special interest in courses related to child development and children with exceptionalities she decided to pursue a career as an Instructor Behavioural Therapist.  Lindsay has graduated with an honours graduate certificate in Autism and Behavioural Sciences from Seneca College and is currently pursuing her Masters in Applied Disability Studies with a specialization in ABA from Brock University. Lindsay has been an Instructor Behavioural Therapist for over three years and has worked closely with Senior Therapists implementing and developing new programs for clients using the principles of ABA.  At blueballoon, Lindsay continues to work closely with Senior Behavioural Therapists as well as a multidisciplinary team including Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists and Music Therapists to help foster clients' social and behavioural development. In her spare time Lindsay enjoys spending time with her friends and family and travelling.

 

 

Nicole is a graduate of Carleton University where she received her Bachelor of Arts Honours in Psychology and found a special interest in courses like Children with Exceptionalities, Developmental Psychology and Human Behaviour. Nicole is currently pursuing her Masters of Applied Disability Studies with a specialization in ABA at Brock University. She became a student member of the Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysis (ONTABA) in 2007 and has attended many courses and training seminars on ASD, NET, Verbal Behaviour and IBI.  Nicole has extensive experience with children and adults with autism and other exceptionalities. Nicole has worked closely with Senior Behavioural Therapists in developing and implementing Behaviour Modification programs using the principles of ABA. In her role as an Instructor Therapist here at blueballoon Health Services, Nicole works closely with her Senior Therapists and colleagues to develop and implement various programming to assist in her clients' personal development. In her spare time, Nicole enjoys sports, the outdoors, photography, reading and spending time with her friends and family.

 

 

Melissa Cognigni graduated with a BA: Psychology Honours degree from McMaster University in 2007. Following graduation, Melissa gained professional experience implementing Intensive Behavioural  Intervention (IBI) to children diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Due to her enthusiasm for assisting children with developmental disabilities, she expanded her understanding and effectiveness as an Instructional Therapist via continuing education modules that focused on Autism and Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) Techniques/ IBI treatment. Melissa is also certified in Self Management of Disruptive & Assaultive Behaviour: Non Violent Crisis Intervention.  In September 2009, Melissa will be attending the Ontario Institute of Education to complete her M.Ed: Developmental Psychology and Education with a primary focus in “Special Education”. Upon completion of her M.Ed. she plans to take the necessary steps to become a Behavioural Consultant for children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder.   As an Instructional Therapist at Blue-Balloon, Melissa provides one-on-one therapy using ABA techniques to clients with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. She meets regularly with fellow team members and a Senior Therapist to ensure programming is performed accurately and problem behaviours are dealt with promptly and effectively. Melissa plans to acquire new skills, while building on previously learned ones through both applied and theoretical training provided by Blue Balloon. In her spare time she enjoys playing sports, volunteering, reading and spending time with family and friends.

Taras Rosocha graduated (2006) with a B.A. in Psychology with a concentration in child development from the University of Toronto. After graduation, he completed a Graduate Certificate in Autism and Behavior Science from George Brown College (2007). He is currently completing a Master in Science and Education from Medaille College in Buffalo, New York (2011). Taras is also trained in Prevention and Management of Aggressive Behavior Seminar (2008) from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and Non-Violent Crisis Prevention and Intervention.

Taras has gained professional experience implementing Intensive Behavioral Intervention (IBI) and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other children with Special Needs by working for many different employers, hospitals and community organizations, such as ErinoakKids, The Behavior Institute, New Haven Learning Centre and Bloorview Kids Rehab Hospital. This work experience has allowed Taras to use and implement behavior assessments and various teaching strategies such as PECS, NET, VB, Intensive Teaching Trials and positive behavioral support plans. Working together with the senior therapist, psychologists, and clinicians, he had the opportunity to collect and record applicable data on client progress as well as assess and evaluate various social skills for children with Autism and other Special Needs.

 During his spare time he enjoys volunteering, reading, and cooking. Taras was a volunteer and Group Facilitator for the Forensic Inpatient Program at the CAMH and was a speaker at the 6^th Annual Volunteer conference (March 2008). Taras is currently training for Sprint and Olympic triathlons and hopes to complete an IRONMAN in 2013.

 

 

 

Client Support Team

Matthew Hallowell graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a Bachelor of Science degree and has since successfully graduated from the OTA (Occupational Therapy Assistant) progam at CDI College. After completing his work placement with blueballoon Health Services, Matthew was happy to accept an offer to work with their clients, and has assisted both with group and one-on-one therapy. While Matthew may be found behind the front desk helping to develop programs for clinical, school and home use, he is just as likely to be demonstrating how to swing from the trapeze, or the intricacies of crab walk soccer. Matthew also enjoys cooking, gardening and coaching.

 

 

Starting as Office Manager in October 2003, Linda’s role has evolved over time to her current role as Client Service Team member. This role includes office manager responsibilities as well as new referrals, invoicing and scheduling. Having graduated from Sheridan College in Hospitality Management, Linda states her biggest accomplishment as running her own business for 3 years in which she imported gift items to Canada from the U.S. She had several sales representatives across Canada selling products into gift stores from the west to the east coast. Linda describes herself as an upbeat, friendly individual who is reliable, trustworthy and hopes others see her in the same way. She believes her work with BlueBalloon Health Services will continuously provide her opportunities to learn and develop herself and her skills continually growing with a dynamic company and working with wonderful people!

She is married with 2 boys, aged 13 and 16 and lives in Burlington, Ontario. In her spare time she can be found walking, swimming and relaxing. A little known fact about Linda is that she is a Certified Aquafitness Instructor.

 

 

Zee comes to blueballoon with extensive experience in Client Care. In her previous position, she was the Client Care Department Manager overseeing clients internationally.  Her warm and friendly nature make working with her a pleasure.

 

 

 

Educated in Ireland, Margaret has spent her career to date in the Isle of Man and England. Margaret has over 18 years office experience, with proven skills in customer service, sales support and administration. She has worked in a range of industries including shipping, technology, and software. She has a diploma in commercial studies, project management and sales, and is proficient in all Microsoft Office Packages. Margaret immigrated to Canada in 2004 and now lives in Oakville with her family.

 

 

 

Seema is a recent graduate from the University of Toronto with an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Business Management. She has volunteered in several health care settings, having experience with both client care and clinic administration.  Seema has a passion for helping others and enjoys working with children. She is very excited to be apart of the CS team at blueballoon Health Services.

 

 

 

Aside from spending time with her fiancée and the dog they rescued from the shelter, Kristy enjoys spending her weekends teaching guitar and performing on stage any chance she gets. Her claim to fame was that she was a top 500 contestant on Canadian Idol.

 

 

 

With a strong passion for learning and people, Agnes has one simple mission: to make a positive contribution in the lives of others. Agnes has an extensive background in makeup artistry, executing marketing campaigns and building a strong rapport with clients, on various platforms.  Agnes is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Human Resource Management at York University, with intentions of growing and developing professionally with blueballoon Health Services within the client support team and ultimately, human resources.  Agnes has previous experience in recruitment and selection working for a brand marketing company within the Human Resources department. Agnes thrives on challenges that come her way, consistently looking for new ways to get involved with the community, through associations, social networking, and most recently through involvement with the Human Resources
Professional Association [of Ontario]. Agnes is excited about the opportunity to interact with children of all backgrounds, as this aligns closely with her interests.

 

 

 

Management Team

Stephen MacEwen co-founded blueballoon Health Services in 2004 partnering his business acumen, keen management skills, experience, and principles with Heather MacEwen's paediatric clinical expertise.  During the first four years of operation, blueballoon expanded from one healthcare discipline to six, and has gone from one location to operating out of three.

Stephen has rolled out multiple operational solutions and tools that allow blueballoon clinicians to focus on their clinical goals and clients needs. Through business processes he has broken down barriers between healthcare disciplines ensuring an integrative approach to satisfying clients' needs.

Stephen completed his MBA in 1998 and an undergraduate degree in Engineering Chemistry in 1994, both from Queen's University. He gained extensive product design and global product launch experience working for three years with an equipment manufacturer in Canada.  Immediately prior to the founding of blueballoon Health Services, Stephen spent eight years working in both Canada and the United States in a number of management roles in a global chemical manufacturer, including the management of a $100 million P&L, and overseeing a number of technology rollout projects globally.

 

Steve Daly graduated from St Francis Xavier University in 1994 with an undergraduate degree in Business Administration. From there he worked for 4 years at Ernst & Young in Toronto pursuing his CA in various industries ranging from aerospace to financial institutions to not-for-profit organizations. He then honed his sales and customer service skills for the next 10 years at tier 1 sales organizations in Xerox and Oracle where he was recognized multiple times for exemplary performance. Daly is married with 4 young children and was raised in Ottawa, ON.

 

 

Kim Amar is a Registered Nurse with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Toronto. She is an active member of the College of Nurses, the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario as well as the Ontario PeriAnesthesia Nurses Association. Kim’s nursing career includes Toronto General Hospital and the Markham Stouffville Hospital where she was an integral team member in opening their Short Stay Surgery Unit. After taking the Post Anesthetic Care Unit (PACU) course, Kim moved into the Recovery Room. Kim decided to expand her portfolio and began teaching the PACU course in the Critical Care program at Centennial College. Kim has since added instructing in the Developmental Support Workers program: Health and Pharmacology to her resume. Recently, she came on board as Manager, Clinical Processes for BlueBalloon Health Services and is the key individual for triaging our new clients through our on-line or phone in-take process. In here spare time she can be found enjoying the great outdoors, bike riding and spending time at her family cottage. Travelling is also listed as another of Kim’s passions and she looks forward to beating her goal in the 2008 Weekend to End Breast Cancer.

 

 

Shuchi Luthra
Adminstrative Coordinator

Biography coming soon

 

 

 

Ilia Maor
Adminstrative Coordinator

Biography coming soon

 

 

 

Khati is a member of the blueballoon management team leading the Human Resources function, responsible for recruitment, training and development, payroll and benefits administration. Her focus is to ensure that blueballoon acquires and retains the best clinical therapists and gives them the resources necessary for them to provide top quality care that meets the needs of our clients. Since joining the team, Khati has helped define and roll out the organization's Human Resources policies and procedures, converted the payroll system to an electronic platform, and managed the recruitment process during a period the company has doubled in size.

Khati received her MBA from the Rotman School of Management at University of Toronto in 2009 with a major in Human Resources, and also has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Baylor University in Texas. Prior to commencing her MBA, Khati was an Operation Manager for her family business in Houston, Texas.

 

 

Brian is a graduate from Brock University where he specialized in behavioural neuroscience and statistics. During his research, he was awarded a Masters in Psychology from Brock University in 2008, and a B.Sc. in Psychology from the University of Victoria in 2005. Upon graduation, Brian became interested in the applied use of his education, particularly with regard to children with Autism.

Brian joined blueballoon in 2008 as a behavioural therapist and developed a deep understanding of the needs and challenges related to therapy. As IT Accounts Manager, Brian has leveraged this experience to drive the effective use of technology at blueballoon --- both in terms of empowering therapists and supporting the broader health care systems within the company. Combining his business and technological skills, Brian provides business solutions to blueballoon through technological innovation. Brian also regularly collaborates with Marketing and Human Resources departments as part of the Shared Service Team, ensuring efficient and effective delivery of support within blueballoon.