Dr. Jones
Dr. Fienup
Nicole Neil: Nicole Neil, MA, BCBA
Nicole Neil is the coordinator for the research projects associated with
SIBS Club. She holds her M.A. from Brock University and has over eight
years of professional experience working with individuals with
developmental disabilities. Nicole Neil’s research interests have been
focused on the assessment and treatment of problem behavior in children
with developmental disabilities. As a graduate student of the City
University of New York’s Doctoral Program in Psychology, and under the
supervision of Dr. Emily Jones, Nicole is currently involved in projects
investigating applied behavior analytic assessment and intervention for
decreasing repetitive and compulsive problem behaviors, for increasing
communication and language, and for increasing short-term memory
young children with Down syndrome. Outside of the lab, Nicole enjoys
training for obstacle races.
Lauren Kryzack : Lauren is a doctoral student in the Learning Processes and Behavior
Analysis program at the Graduate Center - City University of New York. She started
providing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy in 2008 and became a Board
Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) in 2011. She developed the SIBS club curricula
based on skill acquisition programming from her ABA experiences. She started
supervising ABA home programs as a BCBA in 2011 and then started supervising
BCBAs in 2013 as a Clinical Manager. Her research interests includes improving longterm relationships between children with ASD and their typically developing siblings; as
well as finding ways to prevent/treat prompt dependency. Lauren is currently working on
her dissertation: Sibling Self-management: Improving the Long-term
Relationship between Children with Autism and their Typically
Developing Siblings. Lauren’s long term goal is to provide service as a clinical and
research director. Aside from her research interests, Lauren finds time for cooking,
running, watching the NY Mets, reading (besides textbooks!).
Susie McHugh
Alysha Rafeeq: After becoming a research assistant in the Developmental
Disabilities Lab, I knew this was where I belonged! I have always wanted to work
with children with developmental disabilities and being in this lab has given me
the opportunity. I have assisted on various projects with children with Down
syndrome, including assessing and treating repetitive behaviors, as well as
teaching skills to enhance their communicative development. My current
research is focused on implementing behavioral interventions to improve short
term memory in children with Down syndrome. Starting in the Fall of 2014, I will
be the co-leader of the social and support groups for the siblings of children with
autism at SIBS Club. Concurrently, I will also be pursuing my M.A. in Applied
Behavior Analysis at Queens College, and look forward to continue working on
various projects applying behavioral techniques with individuals with autism and
Down syndrome.
Rika Kanazawa
Jennifer Kourassanis
Mariam Chohan
Holly: Holly is a first year doctoral student in the Behavior Analysis Program at City
University of New York and a new member in the Developmental Disabilities Lab (DD
Lab). Throughout her undergraduate career at Rutgers University, she had the
opportunity to work closely with individuals with developmental disabilities at the
Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center (DDDC). Through undergraduate
coursework in applied behavior analysis and her experiences applying behavior analytic
principals at the DDDC, she has developed a passion for using behavior analytic
techniques to enhance skills in children with developmental disabilities. Holly is
currently participating in various research projects aimed at improving core deficit skills
in children with developmental disabilities, and the teaching strategies utilized to address
such impairments and promote skill acquisition.
Specifically, Holly is interested in
interventions aimed at teaching joint attention, and examining the crucial role this skill is
thought to play in social development. Holly will also be participating in SIBS Club,
where she will be taking on a Skills Leader position and developing individualized
interventions for children with autism as well as encouraging positive interactions
between children with autism and their siblings.
Sally Radford
Alex Song
Theresa Fiani
Mark Compas
Evan Schneiderman (recreation leader): I began in the field as a 1:1 aide at a day school
for children with autism. From there, I worked as a teaching assistant within the same
facility and also in the home's of individuals with autism. After a year's time, I began
work as a behavior specialist at a residential and day school facility where I currently
work. My role in SIBs club is one of the recreation supervisors. Myself and two other's
are responsible for providing rec time activities to children with autism and their siblings.
These activities are designed to facilitate social skills and interaction amongst typically
developing children and children with autism. My research interests include staff and
parent training with an emphasis on using behavioral skills training to teach staff
necessary skills to carry out behavior intervention plans. During my free time I enjoy
working out, bicycling, kayaking and cooking. In the future I hope to own my own
agency. I believe SIBs club is an invaluable program to both the children that attend and
the students that are part of the class. It allows for the children to get a better
understanding of how to establish not only positive interactions with their siblings, but a
friendship as well. Furthermore, it provides students insight into the field that many have
not had a chance to get before they began.