About Us

Ontario Autism Program (OAP) Qualified

Toronto IBI meets all the requirements put forth by the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCSS) for the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) Core Clinical Services through AccessOAP.

Our Clinical Director, Kingston Chui, M.A., BCBA, has been a certified Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) since 2010 and was one of the first 200 BCBAs in Canada. Kingston is also a Registered Behaviour Analyst (R.B.A.) with the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario and is a qualified and registered Clinical Supervisor for families participating in the OAP Core Clinical Services.

In addition, all the Directors and Clinical Supervisors of our three locations along with our outreach services are BCBAs and RBAs, so you can be confident in the quality of our service!

Our Mission Statement

Teach to the Child

In the field of ABA/IBI and the treatment of children with autism, many service providers found in the community use a cookie-cutter approach to programming where children with widely varying developmental abilities are taught using the same programs and teaching strategies.

At Toronto IBI, children in our care receive programming specifically designed and invidualized for their specialized learning needs. There is no cookie-cutter approach used. In essence, we "teach to the child" as opposed to molding an individual child to fit a typical programming profile. Our individualized programming includes programming to weaknesses while also building on a child's strengths.

Ethics set out by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board Guidelines for Responsible Conduct state that clients have the right to effective treatment, which includes individualized programming using evidence-based teaching strategies i.e. research literature and adapted to the individual client.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

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.

Team Members

Our Team Members

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Kingston Chui, M.A., B.C.B.A., R.B.A. (ONT.)

Toronto IBI, Clinical Director

Kingston is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst and has worked with children with autism for over 19 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., R.B.A. (ONT.)

Director & Clinical Supervisor, 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 15 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 Pickard, M.A.D.S., M.A. Spec Ed., RSW, B.C.B.A., R.B.A. (ONT.)

Director & Clinical Supervisor, 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 Clinical Supervisor 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.

In addition, Miryam is a registered social worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers and supervises Toronto IBI's Social Skills, After-School and Respite programs.

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., R.B.A. (ONT.)

Director & Clinical Supervisor, 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 Clinical Supervisor 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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Victoria Puglisi, M.Sc., BCBA, R.B.A. (ONT.)

Outreach Clinical Supervisor

Victoria is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) who has been working in the field of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) since 2017.

Victoria completed her Honours Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Toronto majoring in Neuroscience, Immunology, and Psychology. She has been working as a Senior Therapist (ST) at Toronto IBI since September 2021 and completed her Master of Science degree in May 2023. Victoria obtained her BCBA certification in June 2023.

Victoria is passionate about using ABA's evidence-based practices in supporting children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Victoria understands the many benefits of ABA and how consistency and generalization across individuals and environments can contribute to its success!

Instructor Therapists

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 and Clinical Supervisors 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, Community and Social Services to provide Evidence Based Behaviour Services to children in the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) through AccessOAP.

Psychological Services

Consulting Clinical Psychologists

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Dr. James Porter, C. Psych. B.C.B.A.

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.

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.

Contact Us

Contact Us for an Intake Appointment

If you would like to come visit one of our three locations for a tour, please call us for an appointment and we will be more than happy to show you our facilities!

Follow Us

Follow Us and Stay Updated

If you would like to keep up to date with the latest news in the ASD community in Toronto and also know about Toronto IBI's event schedules (new social skills dates, new training dates), follow us on facebook and Instagram!

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