Robyn is originally from a small town in Ontario but has been calling Vancouver home for the last couple of years. She graduated from the University of Toronto with an Honours Bachelor of Kinesiology and then moved out west to find a job as a Kinesiologist. Through working at a children’s physiotherapy clinic, she was introduced to Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) and soon found work as a behaviour interventionist. Although this was Robyn’s first job in the field of applied behaviour science, she has worked with children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities for the past 9 years. Robyn’s clinical experience working with this population include as a child and family support at SickKids Hospital and as a program facilitator for various recreation and education programs at Holland Bloorview Rehabilitation Hospital. Robyn has also provided support in recreation settings through summer camps for children with autism and facilitating provincial Special Olympics sporting events. Robyn has also provided services in home and community settings as a support staff for adults with developmental disabilities and as a behaviour interventionist for families and their children with autism. She has also worked in school settings as an education assistant, to support neurodiverse elementary and high-school aged students throughout Vancouver. These opportunities have allowed Robyn to gain experience working with a diverse range of individuals, from young children to adults, and in a variety of settings.
Through these diverse professional experiences, Robyn has developed a deep respect and passion for working with and teaching individuals with autism. To further pursue this passion, she is currently completing a Masters of Special Education at the University of British Columbia and specializing in Autism and Developmental Disabilities. With professional and volunteer experience in multiple different settings, Robyn understands the importance of holistic and individualized support in all of these areas. She joined the team at A Block Above in 2021 and looks forward to growing and learning as a professional while educating and empowering those she works with!
Besides Robyn’s passionate work pursuits, she loves being outdoors and exploring the natural beauty the Pacific Northwest has to offer through camping, paddle boarding and biking. She considers herself a foodie and loves trying new recipes and restaurants around the city!
Samantha joined the team in May 2018 as a behavioral interventionist. She has a behavioral neuroscience background and has recently received a Bachelor of Science degree in this discipline from the University of British Columbia. Throughout her degree, Samantha has conducted academic research in abnormal psychology and cognitive neuroscience. Recently, she also completed a research project on inclusive education in British Columbia focusing on the needs of students on the autism spectrum with a team of four.
Her experience with children includes volunteering in inner-city in-school projects through the UBC Reading Week Project and Writers' Exchange. She has also worked in a summer camp for the summer of 2017. Currently, she is focusing on working with children on the autism spectrum with age ranging from 2 to 10.
Samantha is aspiring to pursue graduate studies in school psychology and conducting academic research in the area of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Outside of work, Samantha enjoys spending time with friends and family, going to the beach, watching Netflix, and going out for brunch.
Sophia joined the team in January of 2021 and is currently one of the lead behaviour interventionists. She is currently in her fourth year of completing a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Sciences at the University of British Columbia. During her time at UBC, Sophia has focused her research and studies on mental health disorders and utilizing digital healthcare platforms. Sophia is planning to pursue a Masters in Occupational Therapy with a concentration in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Assistive Technology.
Sophia loves working with children of all ages. Over the years, Sophia has gained experience working with children in various capacities by coaching children's sports programs, tutoring French, and working as a leader at children's camps. Working at A Block Above has introduced new skills, resources and a deeper passion for seeing children succeed in what they do.
Sophia loves art, spending any free moments drawing, painting or doing digital design. She also loves to spend time exploring what beautiful British-Columbia has to offer, though most of all she enjoys spending time with friends.
Anni joined the team of A Block Above in June 2021. She recently received her degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, where she formed an interest in developmental psychology and a passion for working with individuals who need additional learning support. Before moving to Canada, Anni worked with refugee children from Syria in Germany. She spent her time teaching German and helping to build community skills, which fostered a deep enthusiasm for encouraging children and youth to thrive as their unique selves. During her undergraduate degree, she spent 1-2 days a week at the Elizabeth Fry Drop-in Centre providing emotional support to women with diverse backgrounds.
Since Anni joined the team as a behaviour interventionist, she has learned about the value of individualized intervention. She is excited about continuing to grow and improving her skills in the field of ABA. In the near future, Anni is eager to pursue graduate school in Developmental Psychology focusing on mental health in individuals with developmental disabilities.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time outside with friends, hiking, cooking, exploring restaurants around Vancouver, and reading.
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