Grace Maher

I have been working with people with disabilities for 11 years and specializing in applied behavioral analysis for 6 years. I am a board-certified behavioral analyst (BCBA) and work for Poppy Behavior Consulting, where my main areas of expertise are in behavioral therapy and doing direct therapy with children with Autism, writing treatment plans, conducting assessments, and conducting parent interviews and parent trainings. My direct, main experience and expertise is in direct therapy with the kids and implementing applied behavioral analysis therapy. In addition to my work at Poppy, I am also a caregiver for a little girl who has Down syndrome and autism. We've been together for almost 2 years, and she truly is the love of my life. I'm single, and I always say if I never find a husband then it doesn't matter, because my heart is full with her. Her family is just the most incredible family and they've taken me in. Becoming a BCBA is easily my most significant achievement. It took 4 years total - I had to have my undergrad, then I got my master's, and then I spent an additional two and a half years acquiring 1,500 hours of field work experience, and a lot of those hours are unpaid. I acquired those hours this past December, and then I spent the next two months taking time off work to study for the exam, and then I passed that at the end of February. It's something that I am very, very proud of, very relieved to be here now.