I’m Amanda Sykes, and I’ve been a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) for over a decade. I have been fortunate to work with individuals across the life span with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disabilities, and severe challenging behaviors. I started as an associate to psychologists, working with a fantastic clinical support team that included clinical psychologists, medical psychologists, and psychiatrists. Together we evaluated a person’s needs from a holistic, person centered approach and developed evidence-based behavioral support plans that utilized positive behavioral supports, least restrictive intervention strategies, and strategies to help individuals develop socially appropriate and adaptive skills.  From there I became a BCBA and provided ABA services to children and their families in homes, schools, and clinics for children ages 2 to 22 with autism spectrum disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.  Having the opportunity to work across the lifespan has provided me the opportunity to see the ripple effect early intervention has for children and their support system. Helping a child learn to express and be themselves while meeting their full potential is a magical experien