Toronto IBI is committed to working in tandem with other support and educational services which your child may be engaged with. We are experienced in collaborating with Occupational Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologists, classroom teachers, special education consultants, and other individuals who are actively engaged in your child's development. We are also experienced in advocating for what is best for your child at their school as well.
In addition, at Toronto IBI, our clinicians make a concerted effort to take the time to address parents' questions and concerns in regards to their children's programs, behaviors, and overall development. We understand that there are often many things regarding their child's treatment which are a mystery to them. Toronto IBI strives to minimize that mystery in order to ensure consistent teaching in your child's everyday environment.
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Kingston Chui, M.A., B.C.B.A.
Toronto IBI, Clinical Director
Kingston is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst and has worked with children with autism for over 17 years. He has worked with children ranging from the age of 2 to 21 yrs as well as children ranging in diagnosis from severe to moderate and complex-needs children with severe behaviours.
Kingston received his Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Psychology from York University in Toronto, Ontario. He completed research on cognition and executive memory functions in bilingual children and adults after completing his undergraduate studies while continuing to work with children with autism.
He completed his Masters of Arts in Educational Psychology at New York University in New York, New York, where he prepared a manuscript for publication regarding the effectiveness of a temperament and behaviour-based intervention strategy with school-aged children. While completing his graduate studies, Kingston had the opportunity to intern at QSAC (Quality Services for the Autism Community), one of the largest service providers for individuals with ASD in New York City where he was given the opportunity to develop his skills as a clinician.
In addition to completing his graduate studies at NYU, Kingston also received a graduate diploma in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of North Texas, completed over 1500 hours of required supervised ABA clinical supervision experience and is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA). Kingston received his BCBA certification in 2010, making him one of the first 200 professionals certified as a BCBA in Canada.
Kingston is a passionate proponent for the availability of effective services for all children with special needs and is an enthusiastic clinician who enjoys every aspect of his responsibilities to the children and families whom he provides service to.
Kingston also currently assists in conducting research with school-aged children at Dr. Kang Lee’s Development Lab at the University of Toronto.
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Michelle Render, M.S. Ed., OCT, B.C.B.A.
Director, Bedford Park Children's Academy
Michelle is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She completed her coursework through University of North Texas. Prior to that, she earned her Master of Science in Education at Medaille College after earning a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Psychology from York University in Toronto. In addition to being a registered teacher with the Ontario College of Teachers, Michelle has been working with children on the spectrum as an ABA / IBI therapist and consultant for over 13 years.
After joining Toronto IBI in 2012, Michelle has been an invaluable clinical resource to the company and currently also acts as the Director of our Bedford Park location. She is the first point of contact and will be monitoring your child's progress closely.
As the field of ASD treatment continues to evolve and the spectrum of diagnoses constantly change, Michelle's knowledge of school curriculum and philosophy of inclusion has been an invaluable contribution to our company's mission statement of individualized student treatment.
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Miryam Cohen, M.A.D.S., M.A. Spec Ed., B.C.B.A.
Director, Downsview Children's Learning Centre
Miryam has been with Toronto IBI since 2017, and has been working with children with exceptionalities since 2014. Throughout this time, she has held the position of Instructor Therapist, Lead Therapist, Parent Trainer and presently Senior Therapist and Director of our Downsview Children’s Learning Centre.
Miryam's Educational Background consists of a Bachelors of Social Work, Masters of Applied Disability and Masters of Special Education (specifically in ABA) and her time spent in the school systems has been a great asset and source of inside information to families that she works with.
She believes working alongside families and collaboration with various professionals is highly relevant to a child's success. Along with this, focusing on evidence-based individualized programming for each client is imperative to help maximize their potential.
She has immense experience within various educational settings, including public and private schools as well as therapeutic environments. This verifies her knowledge of the Ontario Education System as well as how to navigate accessing supports for your child.
Miryam looks forward to working with you and getting to know your child.
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Afsheen Merchant, M.A., B.C.B.A.
Director, Bloor & Dundas Learning Centre
Afsheen earned a degree in Sociology at the University of Toronto with a specialization in Families and Health and has been working with children with exceptionalities for over thirteen years beginning with schools in India and then different organizations throughout Toronto. She joined Toronto IBI in 2013 and completed her Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis with an Emphasis in Autism through Ball State University's distance education program.
Her impressive clinical skills and strong rapport with children and their families allowed her to quickly achieve the role of Lead Instructor Therapist and then step into the role of Senior Therapist and Director of Toronto IBI’s Bloor & Dundas Learning Centre.
Afsheen brings an outside-the-box perspective to Toronto IBI's clinical views through her previous international experience working with children with disabilities and her professional enthusiasm continues to encourage everyone at Toronto IBI to seek out new evidence-based intervention strategies through research.
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Our Instructor Therapists
Instructor Therapists at Toronto IBI have a wide range of experiences. Many therapists have an undergraduate degree in psychology, education, social work or early childhood education and/ or more specialized certification in Autism and Behavioural Science. Additionally, some of our therapists have or are working towards masters degrees.
Regardless of one's educational background, we work hard to ensure that all of our staff members have ample practical and theoretical training in Applied Behavior Analysis, Verbal Behavior (VB), Precision Teaching (PT), NET (natural environment teaching) and Direct Instruction (DI). In addition, our senior therapists all provide continual training to ensure consistency across therapists.
All of our Instructor Therapists meet the requirements set forth by the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services (MCYS) to provide Evidence Based Behaviour Services to children in the Ontario Autism Program (OAP).
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Dr. James Porter, C. Psych. B.C.B.A.
Consulting Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Porter is a widely known psychologist active in Toronto and the outlying areas, reaching as far as Kingston, Belleville and the Lindsay/Peterborough area. He has worked for many years with children with autism and is a well-respected member of the autism treatment community.
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Dr. Gerard Klein, C. Psych.
Consulting Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Klein has worked with children with developmental disabilities for over 30 years and has been an outspoken supporter of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder for many years . He consults with a large number of families and agencies in the Greater Toronto Area and continues to provide invaluable clinical advice to families with whom he works with.
