Meet the Team
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
Without a team of dedicated individuals, Center for Autism Therapy LLC would not exist.
Each individual provides their own unique expertise and talent to the field of Applied Behavior Analysis and the education of young children in our autism population.​

Cassandra Cyr
Owner/Operations Manager/BCBA, LBA
With over 15 years of experience working with the Early Childhood population, Cassandra has Master's Degree's in Early Childhood/Special Education, Autism Spectrum Disorders and Applied Behavior Analysis. With a passion for providing unique and individualized education and programming, Cassandra completed her BCBA in order to share that passion and desire with not only her clients but also her staff and families. Cassandra hopes that Center for Autism Therapy LLC will be the stepping stone into a world of empowerment and growth for all who are a part of the family and their communities.

Sam Downey
Behavior Analyst Supervisee
Sam is one of our Supervisees (A.K.A a BCBA in training!) Sam has a Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis and has over three years of experience specializing in early intervention. She is passionate about supporting young children and their families through individualized, play-based ABA strategies.

Jessica Hernandez
Behavior Analyst Supervisee
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Caitlin Julian
Behavior Analyst Supervisee
Caitlin is one of our Supervisee's in the final stages of becoming a BCBA. Caitlin has a Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis and a background in Speech-Language Pathology. With over eight years of experience supporting children and families in clinical, school-based, and in-home settings, she brings a multidisciplinary lens to every aspect of her work. Throughout her career, she has worked closely alongside speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists, collaborating to support communication, sensory integration, motor planning, and emotional regulation, all within the context of meaningful behavior change. Caitlin's mission is to provide compassionate, comprehensive care that blends behavioral science with interdisciplinary collaboration. She is committed to empowering families with tools, strategies, and support systems that lead to lasting change and improved quality of life. When she is not working, she enjoys shopping and expressing herself through writing.
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Lena Bisaccia
​Early Education Teacher
Ms. Lena is our Early Childhood Educator. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from Southern Connecticut State University in 2018. She has been working with young children since 2013, including five years as a pre-kindergarten teacher in Hartford Public Schools. She is excited to continue her professional growth as a teacher at the clinic. Her goal is to continue expanding her knowledge of ABA and to provide exceptional play-based learning to our clients. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and her animals.

Lisa Contardi
Lead Registered Behavioral Technician
Lisa has been providing ABA Therapy in public school, outplacement, clinic and home settings across the state since 2007. She also created a social skills curriculum for a former clinic to supplement the ABA Therapy clients received there. She feels very fortunate to be able to draw upon the diverse experiences she has had in her places of work and education. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Franklin Pierce College, where she first became involved with a preschool program in a local New Hampshire school district which solidified her desire to enter a field where she could help children grow and develop. Lisa holds her Master's in School Counseling from Southern Connecticut State University and was certified through the Connecticut State Department of Education. Lisa has a passion for finding new ways of promoting growth and success at all stages of child development and hopes to continue exploring different ways to teach youth for years to come. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time in nature, being at home with her fiancé and cat, going to country fairs and festivals as well as trying out any new experiences.

Sierra Chamberland
Registered Behavioral Technician
Sierra is one of our full-time Registered Behavior Technicians (RBT). Sierra has an Associates degree in Early Childhood Education and has previously worked as a preschool teacher for several years. Sierra has always had a passion to work with children and grew up loving to babysit and support in her church's nursery. She loves to watch them grow and learn new things every day! Sierra loves that ABA therapy helps children to grow in their social skills and learn ways to communicate what they need. Sierra is a very caring person and finds that working with children on the spectrum and watching their growth is very rewarding. In her spare time she enjoys camping, cooking, Shopping and spending a lot of time playing with her Big German shepherd in the backyard.

Sabrina Richard
Registered Behavioral Technician
Sabrina is one of our full-time Registered Behavior Technicians (RBT). Sabrina has always enjoyed working with children but never quite knew what career path she wanted to follow. When she discovered ABA she found her opportunity to work with some truly amazing kids. Seeing their growth and progress firsthand inspired her and confirmed that this is what she wanted to do. Helping children reach their potential has become her passion, and she feels grateful every day to be part of their journey.

Aliyah Martinez
Registered Behavioral Technician
Aliyah Martinez is one of our full time Registered Behavior Therapists (RBT). Aliyah has three years of experience in the ABA field. She has worked in a variety of settings, including home, school, and clinics, bringing a high-energy and fun-loving approach to every session. Aliyah is passionate about helping others grow and thrive, and she plans to further her education to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) in the near future. Outside of her professional work, Aliyah enjoys reading, attending church events, and going to the gym. Her vibrant personality and dedication to the field make her a positive presence both in and out of the therapy setting.

MacKenzie Parks
Registered Behavioral Technician
MacKenzie is one of our Registered Behavior Technicians. She has a background in education and the arts. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Hartford, where she also minored in Elementary and Special Education. Before transitioning into ABA therapy, MacKenzie worked as a teacher in preschool and elementary school settings, working with children of various ages and abilities since 2018. She is passionate about helping children grow and watching their personalities shine. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and her dog Oliver. In her free time, she likes reading, crafting, and exercising.
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Kai Baker
Registered Behavioral Technician
Kai is one of our full time Registered Behavior Technicians. Kai genuinely loves working with kids. She brings kindness, patience, and a caring heart into every session. Her bubbly and positive personality helps her connect with each child in a way that makes learning fun and meaningful. She believes in creating a safe, encouraging environment where every child feels seen, supported, and motivated to grow.

Laylah Cruz
Registered Behavioral Technician
Laylah is one of our full time Registered Behavior Technicians (RBT). She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in social work. She currently holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and has a strong background in behavioral health. Has extensive experience providing ABA-based interventions to children and adolescents, including those with autism. Her skills include behavior intervention planning, data collection and analysis, and teaching functional communication and daily living skills. Laylah is passionate about helping young people navigate identity and family dynamics, and is committed to building resilience, strengthening support systems, and promoting inclusive, affirming mental health care.

Yolanda Welcome
Registered Behavioral Technician
Yolanda is one of our full-time behavior therapists. Yolanda has a background in customer service and retail and her passion for serving others is what sparked her career change to ABA. Yolanda is a mother of 5 beautiful children ranging in age from 13 to 28. Yolanda’s youngest was diagnosed with autism at the age of 2. They started services with Birth to Three and then began an amazing journey with ABA services. Yolanda can testify first hand that seeking services early can have an incredible impact on the success of any child. As a former homeschool momma, Yolanda’s passion for teaching and her positive outlook and love for play makes children feel safe and cared for. In her spare time, Yolanda enjoys arts and crafts, reading, and playing games with her children. She also loves riding her bike, working out, traveling and stays very active in the community.

Julia Synder
Registered Behavioral Technician
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Kaylee Gridley
Behavioral Therapist
Kaylee is one of our full time behavior therapists. Kaylee has recently begun her journey in ABA last year. She has previous experience working in the field of Early Childhood. Kaylee has grown to love the excitement that comes with each new learning opportunity in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), both for herself and the clients she works with. She finds it incredibly rewarding to witness the progress that results from the effort they both put in. Outside of work, she enjoys spending quality time with her family and dog, as well as shopping. She loves being outdoors whether it’s hiking, swimming, traveling, or simply relaxing outside. Kaylee truly adores what she does and is currently taking the next steps to become a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT).

Dee Davis
Behavioral Therapist
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Morgan Strickland
Behavioral Therapist
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Myranda Morneault
Behavioral Therapist
Myranda is one of our full time Behavior Technicians. Myranda has always had a love for kids and has been working in the field of ABA for almost six years now! She has worked in a variety of settings from schools to in home and now in clinic. Prior to ABA, Myranda spent her time caring for her sister and working in childcare settings. Myranda has studied early childhood education and psychology and hopes to continue her education in the ABA field, currently pursuing her RBT certificate. She loves to learn and grow with the kids and loves watching how ABA changes their life. It never fails to bring her joy and amazement. Everyday is a new day to teach and to learn more about this field and our kiddos!

Sara Grenier
Behavioral Therapist
Sara is one of our full time Behavior Technicians. Sara is a dedicated early childhood educator with an associate degree in Early Childhood Education. As a single mother to a bright 7-year-old boy, she brings both professional and personal experience to my work with children. Over the years, she has worked in a variety of daycare settings, each helping her grow in her passion for nurturing young minds. Sara has found that joining Center for Autism Therapy has been the most rewarding role of her career, a place where she truly feels she is making a difference every day.

Shakyra Vale
Behavioral Therapist
​Shakyra is one of our full time Behavior Technicians. She is committed to making a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals with autism and other developmental differences. With a strong foundation in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), she brings patience, consistency, and a solutions-focused mindset to every session. Shakyra values collaboration with families and her clinical team to support growth in communication, social skills, and daily living skills. Her goal is to help each client build independence and confidence one step at a time.

Tiffanie Wills
Behavioral Therapist
Tiffanie is a full-time behavioral technician. She has been a professional nanny for 11 years and has worked in childcare for over 15 years. She holds an associate’s degree in child development and is a specialist in baby-led sleep. Tiffanie enjoys working with children of all ages and is always eager to expand her education in various childcare fields. In her spare time, she babysits for various families and loves spending time with her family. She is also newly engaged and will be getting married in October of this year.

Kelvin Arce-Lopez
Behavioral Therapist
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Alyssa Gauvin
Behavioral Therapist
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Krystle Grounds
Behavioral Therapist
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Lauren Garner
Behavioral Therapist
Lauren is one of our seasonal behavior therapists. Lauren holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Social work. Lauren has years of experience working with children including roles as a long time babysitter, a school social work intern and now as a Behavior Therapist. In her free time, she enjoys swimming, spending time with loved ones and taking care of her dog. Lauren’s goal is to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.