Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs)

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Robert Schramm, MA, BCBA (Certificant 1-04-1960)

Robert grew up very close to his uncle Mickey (not pictured) who was born with Down Syndrome. It is because of a desire to see better lives for people like Mickey that Robert became a Special Education instructor. Robert has been a certified teacher in California and Illinois since graduating from Southern Illinois University in 1991. He has a Master's degree in special education from California State University - Dominguez Hills and finished the required studies to get his Board Certification as a Behavior Analyst by the University of North Texas. In addition to his University education, Robert has also had the pleasure of participating in 3 workshops with Verbal Behavior/ABA Specialist, Dr. James Partington in California and 2 workshops from the Carbone clinic in New York (two of the leading names in modern ABA). Additionally Robert has engaged in many other ABA and Verbal Behavior workshops and trainings around the world including Dr. Mark Sundberg's recent workshop on his brand new assessement, "The VB-MAPP." In addition to his ABA experiences, Robert has also received training in TEACCH, PECS, Sign Language, Floortime, and Crisis Prevention and Intervention. Robert's book "Educate Toward Recovery" was published in 2006 and Robert has become a highly sought after international Speaker giving workshops and presentations on ABA/VB around the world. Additionally, Robert has been given a professorship at Oldenburg University and recently co-authored a chapter on Verbal Behavior in Sven Boelte's new University textbook called "Autismus". Robert brings all of this knowledge and experience to his work with children as well as his training and supervision of the Knospe-ABA staff. To keep up with the latest information and techniques, Robert continues to return to the States regularly for workshops and seminars with the goal of staying on top of the latest information and developments in the field.

Robert's recent workshops and congresses of attendance:

2003: Teaching Language to Children with Autism or Other D.D. – Behavior Analysts, Inc., California, USA
2003: The Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills (The ABLLS) – Behavior Analysts, Inc., California, USA
2003: Teaching Children with Language Delays – Behavior Analysts, Inc., California, USA
2003: Teaching Verbal Behavior: Hands on Training for Tutors and Therapists – The Carbone Clinic, New York, USA

2005: Guiding the Development and Implementation of an Intensive Behavior Program for Teaching Language and Basic Learner Skills – The Carbone Clinic, New York, USA
2005: Autism Congress – Leipzig, Germany
2005: Autism Congress – Innsbruck, Austria (presenter)
2005: European Autism Symposium – Frankfurt, Germany (presenter)

2006: Long Island Autism Conference – Long Island, New York, USA
2006: International Autism Congress - Buenos Aires, Argentina (presenter)

2007: Hands on Training for Tutors, Therapists, and Consultants - Establishing Operations inc., London, UK
2007: ABA International Convention - San Diego, California, USA
2007: International Autism Congress - Santa Fe, Argentina (presenter)

2008: ABA International Convention - Chicago Illinois, USA (presenter)
2008: PROMPT Speech and Language Method Workshop - Germany

2010: ABA International Convention (various presentations) - San Antonio, Texas, USA (presenter)
2010: Power-Solving: Systematic Social Skills Workshop - Steven B. Gordon, Ph.D., ABPP Michael Selbst, Ph.D.,San Antonio, Texas, USA
2010: Developing Social Skills in Inclusive Settings - Bob Putnam, Ph.D., BBA of May Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA

2011: Language for Living - Patrick McGreevy, Ph.D., BCBA (Workshop)
2011: Teaching ABA in Small Groups - Shiri Bartman, MA, BCBA & Jennifer Donnelly, BCABA (Workshop)
2011: Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) - Shiri Bartman, MA, BCBA & Jennifer Donnelly, BCABA (Workshop)

2011: ABA International Convention (various presentations) - Denver, Colorado, USA (presenter)

2011: FABA: Florida ABA Conventions (various presentations) - Daytona, Florida, USA (presenter)

2011: Teaching "Theory of Mind" to Children with Asperger's Syndrome and High Functioning Autism - Chrzczonowski and Ordetx - Daytona, Florida, USA (Workshop)

2011: Discrete Trial Behavior Games for In-Home Programs - Ennio Cipani, BCBA - Daytona, Florida, USA (Workshop)

2011: Motivation: Beyond Stickers and Candy - Steven Ward, BCBA, Mary Barbara, BCBA, Robert Schramm, BCBA - Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA (Workshop)

* Acceptance by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board is the highest recognition that can be earned in the field of Behavior Analysis. The BACB currently has over 4000 certificants (BCBA's) in 20 different countries. The European Association for Behavior Analysis Endorses BACB Certification. "The EABA formally endorse the professional credentials issued by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, inc. EABA recognizes BACB credentials as standards for professional practice in Europe and commits to help with their dissemnation in Europe." To find out more about the importance of having a Board Certified Behavior Analyst overseeing the development of your child's program, or the requirements to becoming a BCBA, please visit the BACB website at www.BACB.com.

Benno Böckh, MSc Psy, ABA, BCBA

Benno started working with people with various physical and mental disabilities in a residential home unit run by Annastift e.V. in Hannover, Germany, during his compulsory state social service in 1996/1997. He studied psychology at the University of Wales, Bangor, UK finishing in 2002 with an MSc in Psychology and Psychological Research Methods. During his study Benno researched psychological factors underlying dyslexia under renowned Professor Tim Miles C. Psych., FBPsS, and worked in community based programs and events engaging local children with music, arts and community performance. In 2004 Benno started voluntary work for the North Wales Clinical Trust, before becoming a residential social worker in homes and respite units assessing and supporting the educational needs of teenagers with learning disabilities in 2005. Through this work he learned to appreciate the importance of behavioral methods in the work with learning disabled individuals and in late 2005 started his study for a Postgraduate Diploma in ABA at the University of Wales, Bangor, one of the highest regarded Universities for ABA outside of the U.S. In early 2006 Benno started working for the School of Psychology run "Bangor Centre for Developmental Disabilities" (BCDD) as a behavioral support worker. Also in 2006 Benno became associate behavior analyst to Dr Sandy Toogood Ph.D., BCBA, the then clinical director of the BCDD, and became responsible for behavioral program writing, data analysis, and staff training. Since 2006 Benno has been working with severely behaviorally challenged teenagers with autism in their homes and in the community and has been directly involved in the support and supervision of their personal, social and academic development. In November of 2008, Benno participated in a one-day Motor Speech Workshop by Elizabeth Kuegeler, MA, CCC-SLP, PROMPT Certified Instructor. Additionally, in March of 2011 Benno participated in the workshops "Teaching ABA in Small Groups" and "Crisis Prevention Intervention" (CPI), presented by Shiri Bartman, MA, BCBA & Jennifer Donnelly, BCABA. After joining the Knospe-ABA team in December of 2007, Benno passed his exam and completed all of his requirements to become a Board Certified as a Behavior Analyst (BCBA) in the Spring of 2009.

Veneta Dimitrova, MA, BCBA (Certificant 1-10-7563)

Veneta began tutoring children with Autism in Hawaii, USA in 2006 and very quickly realized that Applied Behavior Analysis is the field in which she wanted to seek professional growth. To build her experiences, she moved to Seattle in 2007. There Veneta juggled numerous positions: volunteering as a teaching assistant in the Infant &Toddler Classroom at the University of Washington's Experimental Education Unit; serving as an aid for Project DATA (Developmentally Appropriate Treatment for Autism), authored by Dr. Ilene Schwartz; provided ABA services through the Center on Human Development and Disability; and worked as a home-based tutor for the non-profit company Northwest Behavioral Associates, founded by Dr. Stacey Shook. These positions offered Veneta the comprehensive training and mentorship necessary for her to be accepted in the Master's Program in Applied Behavior Analysis at Teachers College, Columbia University.
During her two-year graduate program Veneta was placed in a full-time internship at various CABAS® (Comprehensive Application of Behavior Analysis to Schooling) classrooms where she worked as an assistant teacher and used behavior analytic strategies and the verbal behavior approach to accelerate the language development and academic competencies of students diagnosed with autism, and minority children from economically disenfranchised families. Under the mentorship of Prof. Douglas Greer who has fashioned the CABAS® model from the concepts of B.F. Skinner, Veneta implemented verbal behavioral developmental protocols to induce new verbal developmental cusps and capabilities, completed 11 research studies, collected and analyzed classroom-wide data and differentiated her teaching procedures to meet the needs of every student. The completion of her Master's degree earned Veneta certification by the State of New York and 30 other states as a teacher of general and special education from birth to 6th grade, CABAS® Behavior Analyst Teacher I certification, and her BCBA certification.
Veneta's efforts in promoting ABA among teachers in her home country Bulgaria won her the Society for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis (SABA) International Development Grant in 2009. The same non-profit organization financed Veneta's poster session at the ABA International 2010 Annual convention in San Antonio in which she presented her collaborative study on the effects of audience control on the frequency of stereotypy emitted by students diagnosed with autism and emotional disorders. After working for six months as a staff trainer and supervisor for a private New York City Early Intervention Program agency, Veneta joined the Knospe's team and is currently consulting with American Military families in Southern Germany.

Research:
Dimitrova, V., & Sterkin, V. (2010) The Effect of Audience Control on the Frequency of Stereotypy Emitted by Students Diagnosed With Autism and Emotional Disorders. Poster Session ABAI 2010 Annual Convention, San Antonio
Tehrani, K., Gold, L., Sterkin, V., & Dimitrova, V. (2010) Identifying the Missing Prerequisites for Students with Low Reading Comprehension Skills: The Effects of Acquisition of Tacts on the Correct Responses for Reading Comprehension Questions. Poster Session ABAI 2010 Annual Convention, San Antonio
Choi, J & Dimitrova, V. (2008). The induction of generalized imitation using mirror protocol. (Unpublished study, Columbia University)
Choi, J & Dimitrova, V. (2008) The Effects of Echoic-to-Mand Procedure on Student's Independent Mands. (Unpublished study, Columbia University)
Choi, J & Dimitrova, V. (2008) Conditioning books and toys as reinforcers for observing and decreasing stereotypical behaviors. (Unpublished study, Columbia University)
Choi, J & Dimitrova, V. (2008) The Effects of Pre-session Reinforcement on Correct Responding, Learn-Units-to-Criterion, Independent Mand, and Self Injurious Behavior of One Elementary School Student (Unpublished study, Columbia University)
Dimitrova, V., & Sterkin, V. (2009) The Role of Vocal Choral Responding on the Rate of Written Contingency-Shaped Responding to Single-digit Addition Math Facts. (Unpublished study, Columbia University)
Dimitrova, V., Joo, S., & Delgado, J. (2009) The Effects of Peer-Yoked Contingency Game Board Procedure on the Acquisition of Observational Learning for Eight Second Grade Students. (Unpublished study, Columbia University)
Dimitrova, V., Joo, S., & Delgado, J. (2009). The Effects of the Writer Immersion Protocol on the Acquisition of Functional Technical Writing for Four Second Grade Students. (Unpublished study, Columbia University)

Tanja Haas, Diplom-Psychologin, BCBA

Tanja began to focus on the field of autism intervention and education while studying psychology at Justus-Liebig University Giessen in 2003. She received direct hands-on experience with children of several diagnoses while interning at Johann-Peter-Schäfer Schule and in a psychiatric clinic for children and adolescents in Viersen. Her first experiences in ABA came in the summer of 2004 when Tanja began training and working as a co-therapist for a boy with autism in Bad Nauheim, Germany. This training was based on the Lovaas method of ABA Therapy. In addition to in-home intervention, Tanja also spent time as a one-to-one school aid for this child. In the summer of 2006, Tanja went to the U.S. to continue her studies in Psychology. During that trip, she spent much of her free time reading about Autism and participating in some research on the topic. Upon returning to Germany, Tanja returned to her Lovaas style training and therapy while also taking work as a tutor for a child who was supported in a Verbal Behavior ABA program run by Knospe-ABA. When not in class, Tanja met and explained some of the basics of ABA to several families of children with autism visiting from Sudan, Egypt, and Dubai. She also accompanied children with autism and their families on vacations organized by the Autismus Rhine-Main e.V., regional chapter. Tanja began her Knospe-ABA consultant training under the supervision of Robert Schramm, MA, BCBA in November of 2008 where she participated in ABA/VB workshops and worked intensively with dozens of children. In November of 2008, Tanja participated in a one-day Motor Speech Workshop by Elizabeth Kuegeler, MA, CCC-SLP, PROMPT Certified Instructor. In October of 2009, Tanja attended the advanced ABA/VB workshop # 4 "Teaching Verbal Behavior - Hands-On Training for Teachers and Therapists", presented by Emily Sweeney-Kerwin, BCBA and Margaret M. Hagerty, BCABA, from the Carbone Clinic in New York. Since spring of 2009, Tanja is supporting the education of children with autism and related disorders in Germany and surrounding countries. In November 2011 Tanja finished the graduate certificate program in autism behavioral intervention at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and passed the exam to become a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA).

Mike Meyers, BCaBA (Certificant 0-08-2471)

Mike began working with children with autism in 2000. He provided one-on-one ABA therapy for a private family in Aiken, South Carolina under the supervision of the Autism Research Center. In 2002, he enrolled at the University of South Carolina where he continued to provide in-home one-on-one ABA therapy to several children with autism in the Columbia, SC area. During summers, he provided in-home and in-school ABA therapy to several students during an Extended School Year (ESY) program with the Aiken County Public School District. In 2005, Mike graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelors Degree in Experimental Psychology. He then took a Senior Therapist position at the South Carolina Early Autism Project, Inc. There he consulted for ABA programs of private families, school districts, TriCare, and the PDD Waiver (a state-funded program for children with autism). His consultations included leading team meetings, providing trainings to ABA therapists, parents, and school staff in ABA procedures, administering and updating ABLLS, ABLLS-R, Vineland, PPVT, EVT, and VB-MAPP assessments, and developing IEPs and other treatment plans based on those assessments. He has attended several workshops by Dr. Carbone, BCBA (Teaching Verbal Behavior to Children with Autism and Related Disabilities, and Reducing Problem Behavior), Dr. Sundberg, BCBA (Designing a Language Curriculum and Intervention Program for Children with Autism Using the VB-MAPP), and Tamara Kasper, MS CCC/SLP, BCBA (Promoting Functional Communication in Children with Autism: Addressing the Verbal Challenge). In 2008, Mike completed the coursework at the Florida Institue of Technology under Dr. Martinez-Diaz, BCBA, a mentorship under Jennifer Godwin, BCBA, and he passed the exam to obtain his BCaBA certification. From 2009-2011, Mike worked as a one-on-one therapist and consultant in Kuwait for several children with autism. He joined Knospe-ABA in June of 2011 and is now consulting with American Military and other English-speaking families in Southen Germany.

Manuela Bouwers, Diplom-Sozialarbeiterin, BCaBA (Certificant 0-11-4348)

Manuela graduated from the University of Applied Sciences Dortmund in February of 2005 with a degree in Social Work. That month she moved to London, UK where she worked as a Qualified Social Worker for Social Services´ Child Protection Department. In July 2006, she changed departments moving to the "Children with Disabilities Team." Here the majority of her cases were families with children with autistic spectrum disorder. This led Manuela to a strong interest in the diagnosis of Autism and its best intervention practices. In September 2007 she moved to Zaragoza, Spain where she spent a year taking part in an Autism Project at the University of Zaragoza. During this project, she worked with a child with the dual diagnosis Down Syndrome and Autism and with an adult with Asperger Syndrome. Apart from this, she volunteered at the organizations "Aspergers Aragón" and "Autismo Aragón." Through lectures, books, and research on the Internet she learned about ABA and VB and ordered Robert Schramm´s "Educate Toward Recovery: Turning the Tables on Autism." Fascinated by the principles and methods described in ETR, she contacted ABA España in Madrid. From October 2008 till June 2009, she participated in their postgraduate ABA-Program that prepares students to meet the requirements for taking the BACB-exams. Within this program she did five months of practical training at the learning centre "Al-Mudaris" in Cordoba, Spain, where teaching is based on ABA principles. Here she worked with children with different types of learning and behavior difficulties, most of them were children with a diagnosis of autism. In July 2009, Manuela returned to Germany to begin an intense training period with Knospe-ABA under the supervision of Robert Schramm, MA, BCBA. During this time she had the chance to attend Dr. Vincent Carbone´s three-day workshop "Introduction to Verbal Behavior" in Zürich, Switzerland. In June of 2010, Manuela attended the advanced ABA/VB workshop # 4 "Teaching Verbal Behavior - Hands-On Training for Teachers and Therapists" from the Carbone Clinic. Additionally, in March of 2011 Manuela participated in the workshops "Teaching ABA in Small Groups" and "Crisis Prevention Intervention" (CPI), presented by Shiri Bartman, MA, BCBA & Jennifer Donnelly, BCABA. In February 2010, Manuela officially started to work as an ABA/VB Consultant for Knospe-ABA. She supports children and their families in Nordrhein-Westfalen. In November 2011 Manuela passed the exam to become a BCaBA.

Allison Kane, M.Ed., BCBA (Certificant 1-06-2866)

Allison began her work with children with special needs in 2002 when she worked for the Cleveland Clinic "Summer Treatment Program" for children with ADHD. She found her experiences very rewarding and became passionate about helping children with special needs reach their full potential. That fall, while pursuing her Bachelors of Art in both Psychology and German Studies at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio, she started working with children with autism and their families in Columbus, Ohio, using the principles of ABA . Immediately, she knew she wanted to learn and do as much as she could to help children with autism and their families. In 2004, Allison entered the Early Childhood Special Education Masters of Education program at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. While there, Allison worked with children with autism, using ABA programs focusing on Incidental Teaching, Discrete Trial Instruction, Verbal Behavior principles, and Milieu Language Teaching strategies. During her time at Vanderbilt, Allison also completed the coursework for her BCBA certification and experience through the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Behavior Analysis Clinic. From August 2006 to June 2008, Allison lived in Savannah, Georgia, where she helped children with autism transition into inclusion elementary school classrooms as a special education teacher and BCBA. There she was responsible for supporting children with autism in a general education environment and training teachers and paraprofessionals to work with these students in that environment. After an intensive training period with Robert, Allison shares her talents with military and civilian families in southern Germany beginning in September of 2008. Additionally, in November of 2008, Allison participated in a one-day Motor Speech Workshop by Elizabeth Kuegeler, MA, CCC-SLP, PROMPT Certified Instructor.

Allison has returned to the States and has started her own company called Kane ABA Consulting. We are big fans of Allison and her work and continue to recommend her for those of you in the States looking for top notch ABA/VB services. Allison can be contacted at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs)