ABA Therapy Maryland

Apoorva Janardhana

ajanardhana@brighterstridesaba.com

Apoorva Janardhana

BCBA, LBA

"Apoorva Janardhana, M.A., BCBA, LBA, is Board Certified Behavior Analyst, providing supervision and ABA therapy at Brighter Strides ABA, Maryland. Apoorva has earned a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education from George Washington University in 2020. Before transitioning to the role of a BCBA, Apoorva worked as a Special Education Teacher and had the opportunity to create individualized plans for individuals with autism at a school and adult program setting. She has had experience supporting individuals from ages 3-22 years old and 22 years to 35 years old. Apoorva earned a graduate certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from Florida Institute of Technology in 2023. In 2024, she achieved certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, an evidence to her exceptional skills and dedication. Apoorva is passionate about ABA and focuses on creating treatment plans for clients and behavior intervention plans for clients that engage in challenging behaviors. Her expertise spans the delivery of specialized interventions primarily in clinic, at home, and via Telehealth. Apoorva also focuses on providing ongoing supervision and feedback to behavior technicians to encourage them to find purpose, refine their techniques and adapt strategies to help improve client outcomes. In her free time, Apoorva loves to cook, bake, travel, and hang out with her friends. Apoorva can speak a few different languages other than English - Thai, Hindi, Kannada, and understand a little bit of Telugu."

Chelsea Walker

cwalker@brighterstridesaba.com

Chelsea Walker

BCBA, LBA

Chelsea is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with a Master’s degree in Psychology and a deep focus on fostering meaningful independence for Autistic individuals. Since entering the field in 2019, she has worked passionately to support children in building essential skills that help them navigate their social environments and live fuller, self-directed lives. Chelsea’s approach is rooted in respect and collaboration, ensuring that each individual’s voice is heard and their goals are authentically their own. Her expertise lies in understanding how children uniquely interact with their environments and adapting strategies that honor their strengths rather than trying to fit them into traditional molds. A champion of assent-based practices, Chelsea emphasizes collaboration not only with her clients and their families but also with interdisciplinary professionals such as speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists. Her dedication to integrating diverse approaches has made her an advocate for universal design and holistic care. Chelsea’s dedication to this work is guided by one core principle: ensuring every person feels valued, respected, and empowered to live life on their own terms.

Elaine Woods

ewoods@brighterstridesaba.com

Elaine Woods

BCBA, LBA

Elaine Woods is the Regional Clinical Director at Brighter Strides ABA Therapy, where she leads a team of exceptional BCBAs across Maryland. With more than a decade of experience in ABA and six years in clinical leadership, Elaine is committed to delivering compassionate, evidence-based care to children with developmental disabilities. Elaine began her career at the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Pediatric Feeding Disorders Program and has since worked with children aged 1 to 18 in home, clinic, school, and daycare settings. She oversees clinical operations across multiple service locations, ensuring high standards of care and supporting the professional growth of her team through mentorship and training. Elaine holds a Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She is a licensed Behavior Analyst in Maryland and a certified Safety Care Trainer. Her research has been published in peer-reviewed journals, and she has presented at both regional and national conferences. Fun Fact: Outside of work, Elaine enjoys spending time with her husband, son, and their two energetic dogs.

Emily Marquis

emarquis@brighterstridesaba.com

Emily Marquis

BCBA

Emily has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst since 2014 and brings over a decade of experience supporting children with autism. Before becoming a BCBA, she worked as an autism classroom teacher for five years, where she developed a passion for group learning and teaching social skills in collaborative, engaging ways. Emily is especially skilled at creating dynamic learning environments and helping children thrive both individually and in group settings. Outside of ABA, Emily is a certified fitness instructor. She teaches yoga, cycling, and is a personal trainer, and loves promoting wellness in all areas of life. A fun fact: she loves animals and has a sassy black cat named Raven!

Jacob Wagman

jwagman@brighterstridesaba.com

Jacob Wagman

BCBA, LBA

Jacob is a skilled professional in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), with experience since 2019. In just 2 years, Jacob advanced from BCBA to Center Director at the Catonsville Clinic, demonstrating strong leadership and interpersonal skills. Known for fostering a collaborative environment, Jacob is dedicated to team development and clinic success. Outside of ABA, Jacob has been a saxophonist for over 20 years, bringing creativity and focus to every challenge. Jacob is committed to continuous growth, driving positive outcomes for clients and staff alike.

Jacqueline Monteiro

jmonteiro@brighterstridesaba.com

Jacqueline is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with 10 years of experience in Applied Behavior Analysis. Specializing in early intervention. She is dedicated to providing effective behavioral support. Jacqueline Monteiro is passionate about helping individuals and families reach their full potential and understanding the key principles of applied behavior analysis.

Jerry Hurtado

jhurtado@brighterstridesaba.com

Jerry Hurtado

BCBA, LBA

Hi there! I’m a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over 10 years of experience in the world of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), officially stepping into my BCBA role in 2020. Over the years, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to work with both children and adults diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other neurodevelopmental conditions across a variety of settings—including in-home, clinic-based, schools, and even via telehealth. Each environment has taught me how to adapt, connect, and deliver care that’s both meaningful and fun. I pride myself on being a strong communicator and a creative thinker—whether that means collaborating with families and teams, building engaging behavior supports, or finding new ways to turn everyday moments into learning opportunities. I believe therapy should never be one-size-fits-all, and I enjoy customizing supports to help individuals thrive in their own unique way. And just for fun—a little about me outside of work: I’m a travel lover, gym rat in the best way, and a total foodie. From street tacos to sushi, if it’s edible, I’m probably down to try it. So whether we’re working on a behavior plan or swapping restaurant recs, I’m all in.

Katherine Lyons

klyons@brighterstridesaba.com

Katherine Lyons

BCBA, LBA

"I’m a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with 6 years of ABA experience specializing in early intervention services. I focus on play-based and child-led ABA, while focusing on functional communication training. I have worked in a wide range of roles, including camps for children with disabilities, clinics, homes, daycares, and more. The best part of my job is seeing the joy that functional communication brings to my clients and all of the important people in their lives! Fun fact: When I’m not working, I love experimenting with ABA strategies in everyday life—like teaching my goats, cows, and horses new tricks!"

Kelsey Miller

kmiller@brighterstridesaba.com

Kelsey Miller is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over eight years of experience in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis. She specializes in early intervention, verbal behavior, functional communication training, and caregiver collaboration for children with autism and developmental delays. Kelsey is known for her strengths in treatment planning, staff training, and implementing data-driven, compassionate care across home, school, and community settings. She holds a Master of Education in Special Education from George Mason University and graduate certificates in Applied Behavior Analysis, Autism, and Assistive Technology. Kelsey earned her Bachelor of Science in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology, with a minor in Special Education, from Old Dominion University. Kelsey is currently completing her doctoral degree and dissertation research at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, with a commitment to advancing ethical, evidence-based, and culturally responsive ABA practices.

Kira Richardson

krichardson@brighterstridesaba.com

Kira Richardson

BCBA, LBA

Kira Richardson is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with over a decade of professional experience supporting children and young adults with disabilities across school, home, and community settings. Her passion for working with individuals with autism began in middle school when she volunteered as a counselor-in-training at a summer camp for children with special needs. Kira’s background includes roles as a third-grade teacher, special education teacher, behavior therapist, and supervising BCBA. She holds a Master’s degree in Autism and Developmental Disabilities from The University of Texas at Austin and became a certified BCBA in 2016. In her current role as a Senior BCBA – Remote and Telehealth Clinical Coordinator, Kira provides supervision and training for direct ABA therapy, while also overseeing and supporting BCBAs on the clinical team who deliver remote and telehealth services. Her focus is on ensuring that all families receive consistent, high-quality care—whether services are provided in person or remotely. Fun fact: Kira loves playing pickleball with her niece and nephew and exploring new cultures through food—especially through local cooking classes when she travels.

Lauren Nittinger

lnittinger@brighterstridesaba.com

Hello, my name is Lauren Nittinger and I have been a BCBA for 6 years. I have been working in the field of ABA for nine years total. I have experience working with clients from ages 2-22 years old. I became interested in the field of ABA from the show, Parenthood. One of the characters, Max, has Autism and had a behavior therapist and I wanted to learn more about this field. I began my journey looking into Master’s programs and I completed my Master’s Degree from Capella University in 2017. I recently completed my certification as a Behavioral Sleep Specialist and I am certified to assess sleep issues for individuals 1-year and older.

Lauren Veirs

lveirs@brighterstridesaba.com

Lauren Veirs

BCBA, LBA

I have over 9 years of experience applying Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) across a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, schools, homes, and community environments. This diverse background has equipped me with a broad perspective on how ABA can positively impact individuals and families in meaningful ways. I bring strengths in individualized programming, caregiver collaboration, and adapting strategies across age groups and ability levels to help clients reach their full potential. One fun fact about me—I have an identical twin sister, and I love to travel and explore new places!

Natalie Toups

ntoups@brighterstridesaba.com

Natalie earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology from Millsaps College and went on to receive her Master of Arts in Psychology with a focus in Applied Behavior Analysis from McNeese State University. Her clinical training included intensive fieldwork in early intervention and advanced experience at the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Neurobehavioral Unit, where she specialized in severe behavior interventions in an inpatient setting. Over the years, Natalie has worked across school, clinic, and in-home environments—but what she enjoys most is simply being with the kids and celebrating every milestone, big or small. Outside of session, you will likely find Natalie enjoying the sunshine with her dog, Toby Gator.

Sara Jacobs

sjacobs@brighterstridesaba.com

Sara Jacobs

BCBA, LBA

After nine years as a special education teacher, Sara became a BCBA in 2020. She now works as a BCBA, RBT Support Coordinator, and certified SafetyCare trainer at Brighter Strides ABA. She brings a positive, team-oriented approach to her work and enjoys supporting others in the field. When she’s not working, she’s usually at a concert (she’s been to over 100!) or spending time with her Pomsky, Morgan.