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Julie Koudys, M.A., Ph.D. Candidate
Mr. Kerry Wells, M.A., Ph. D Candidate
Andy Bondy, Ph. D.
Lori A. Frost, M.S., CCC/SLP
Laura Hakenberg, M.A.
Julie Koudys, M.A., Ph.D. Candidate
Clinical of Director Pyramid Educational Consultants of Canada, Inc.
Julie has worked for over 10 years with children and adults with special needs, including those with chronic illnesses, physical challenges, developmental disabilities and autism spectrum disorders within residential, educational and therapeutic settings. Most recently, Julie worked at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario in the autism early intervention program. In this position she supervised comprehensive behavioural programming, which focused on the development of academic, social, daily-living and communication skills. As an Instructor and Senior Therapist she gained direct and supervisory experience teaching functional communication skills including the Picture Exchange Communication System. As the Staff/Parent Training Supervisor she acquired experience training others to implement PECS, including parents and other family members. In August 2006 Julie began working directly for Pyramid Educational Consultants of Canada, Inc providing training and consultation services related to PECS and behavioural programming Canada-wide. Julie is also currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Clinical-Developmental Psychology at York University, with a focus on autism spectrum disorders and developmental disabilities.
Mr. Kerry Wells, M.A., Ph. D Candidate
Kerry Wells received his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Carleton University in 2003 and his Master’s degree in Clinical-Developmental Psychology at York University in 2006. He is currently pursuing his Doctoral degree in Clinical-Developmental Psychology, also at York University. Kerry has worked with children, youth, and adults with developmental disabilities and autism since 2001 in a variety of settings, including residential, educational, and within intensive behavioural intervention programs. Kerry has been involved with numerous research projects on a variety of topics, including the development of communication skills in children with autism, perception of emotion in youth with autism, and the assessment of mental health in individuals with developmental disabilities. He has presented the results of his research at local, national and international conferences for autism, developmental disabilities, and applied behaviour analysis.
Andy Bondy, Ph. D.
Andy Bondy is president and co-founder of Pyramid Educational Consultants, Inc. Dr. Bondy is an innovative leader in the field of autism and applied behavior analysis. He directed a statewide public school system for students with autism for fourteen years. He is co-author of the PECS Training Manual. He also wrote the Pyramid Approach to Education, a training manual that offers an integrated orientation to developing effective educational environments blending applied behavior analysis with functional activities and create communication strategies. Dr. Bondy received his MA and Ph.D. from the UNC Greensboro, and completed his clinical internship in 1976 at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr. Bondy has presented numerous papers, lectures and workshops in regional, national and international conferences and conventions on behavior analysis, PECS and the Pyramid Approach to Education. He has remained active in research and writing, and continues to develop new and innovative methods of helping children with autism and related developmental disorders.
Lori A. Frost, M.S., CCC/SLP
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Lori Frost is vice-president and co-founder of Pyramid Educational Consultants, Inc. She is co-author of the PECS Training Manual. She has been the driving force behind creating this unique system that allows children with limited communication abilities to initiate communication with teachers, parents, and peers. Ms. Frost has a wealth of background in functional communication training and applied behavior analysis. She has assisted in the development of a number of training packages designed to teach language and academic skills. Ms. Frost received her BA in speech pathology and audiology from the University of Arkansas, and MS in speech and language pathology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1982. She has worked in many public and private school settings as a speech pathologist. As a Pyramid consultant, Ms. Frost has traveled across the country and the world, teaching workshops on PECS and the Pyramid Approach to Education. She has presented a number of papers and lectures on autism and communication, co-authored several articles and chapters, and is respected by professionals in her field as a leader in functional communication systems.
Laura Hakenberg, M.A.
Laura obtained her Bachelors degree in psychology from Laurentian University and is a recent graduate of a Masters of Arts program specializing in Mental Health Counseling. Her experience encompasses work with children and youth in a variety of mental health settings.
Most recently, Laura worked as a Senior Therapist and an Instructor Therapist in an Intensive Behavioural Intervention program for children with Autism. This position provided her with experience in creating, supervising and implementing skill acquisition and behaviour programs.
These programs helped to teach children skills across a variety of domains including communication, self-help, social interaction, play and leisure, and academics. She participates in leading a monthly Autism camp assisting children with Autism work towards language and social communication goals. These goals often include teaching children and families to proficiently use the Picture Exchange Communication System. Laura also has experience providing grief counseling for children and youth, and has interned in a walk-in therapy clinic providing counseling to children and youth with a variety of mental health issues.
Caricatures were done by George and Matt at Caricatureking.com