""We started seeing Sara in October 2017. My 3 year old son took to her right away (which he never does!) and really loved going to her! It's been amazing to see his development. When we started going, his speech was pretty incomprehensible; he left the ends off of most words and was struggling to say sounds in a consistent way. By February (non even 6 months later!) he's now almost completely understandable and we're getting SO MUCH SPONTANEOUS SPEECH. It's really wonderful, and we credit Sara with a big part of that. We highly recommend her!
-Mother/Attorney
who is reaching new heights?
Heather Closen is the ABA Director and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) at Reaching New Heights. She earned her BA in psychology and early childhood education at the College of Wooster. During her seven years in roles ranging from classroom teacher to school administrator, Heather provided ABA services as a tutor during the after-school hours. Soon after, she decided that ABA therapy was her passion and pursued a M.Ed. degree with a focus in special education and behavioral interventions from Kent State University. Heather loves working with the children and their families and brings a unique perspective of both early childhood education and behavioral therapy to her sessions.
Heather lives in Lakewood with her husband, Kyle, two young sons, Brayden and Crosby, and cat, Mazel. Though she grew up in Michigan, Lakewood has become home and she can't imagine leaving. She loves spending time outdoors, especially during the summertime when she and her family go camping and visit the beach as often as possible. One of her favorite things about living in Cleveland is Playhouse Square and all the great shows that come through - she loves musicals!
Heather lives in Lakewood with her husband, Kyle, two young sons, Brayden and Crosby, and cat, Mazel. Though she grew up in Michigan, Lakewood has become home and she can't imagine leaving. She loves spending time outdoors, especially during the summertime when she and her family go camping and visit the beach as often as possible. One of her favorite things about living in Cleveland is Playhouse Square and all the great shows that come through - she loves musicals!
Laina Culley is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and the lead facilitator of FLIGHT at Reaching New Heights. Laina received her Bachelor’s degree in education from Ohio University, and spent the last couple years teaching in public schools and at Monarch Center for Autism. During these years, she developed a passion for behavior, where behavior comes from, and how it can be taught. She has received her Master’s at Cleveland State, and has completed coursework that fulfills requirements to become a BCBA! She is so happy every day she spends at RNH, and is thankful to be able to work side by side with such incredible, kind, loving people. When Laina is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her fur baby (a three-legged rescue dog named Champion), reading, and doing jigsaw puzzles. Recently engaged, Laina is busy planning her wedding. She also has a burning passion for Mexican food, and would eat it every single day if she could! She thoroughly enjoys getting to know the kiddos and parents and working as a team to teach and foster growth!
Colleen Larned is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) at Reaching New Heights. Colleen has been a BCBA since 2011 and has worked with individuals aged 2 to 19 years within their clinic, home, school, or community settings. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Communication Science and Disorders with a certificate in American Sign Language from the University of Pittsburgh and then went on for her Masters degree in Special Education and completed her coursework to become a BCBA at Mercyhurst University. Colleen’s passions within the field include early intervention, parent training and support, and using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help herself and others to lead an even happier life! Colleen lives in Solon with her husband and her three children. She enjoys crafting with her cricut maker and bullet journal, and spending time with her family going on outdoor adventures in their camper, hiking, biking, playing games, and finding ways to simplify life so there’s more time for laughter and fun!
Jen Craig is the Lead Registered Behavior Technician at Reaching New Heights. Jen and Donna were co-workers in Solon City Schools and Donna knew she wanted her to be part of this new team. She has over 10 years of experience working with children, in grades K-12, including those with multiple disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Jen was instrumental in facilitating social skills and language groups where she used behavioral management skills and tools including visual schedules, token economies, and augmentative communication devices. Jen worked with a multi-disciplinary team that included a BCBA, Intervention Specialist, School Psychologist, Speech Language Pathologist, Occupational Therapist, and Physical Therapist. Jen lights up when she sees a child succeed using the tools and strategies she has provided, and it is her passion to be able to help them reach their highest potential. When not at work, she can usually be found either snuggling with her cat, Rosie, having game night with her two adult children, or going for walks along the lakeside. b.
Kara Miller is an ABA technologist at Reaching New Heights. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Communication Disorders at Baldwin Wallace University. After graduation, Kara worked for Akron Community Learning Centers and the Monarch Center for Autism as an associate teacher. Kara quickly learned she had a passion for making a difference in the field of special needs, specifically autism and behavior management.
Every day, Kara comes to work with a positive and enthusiastic attitude. When she is not at work, Kara enjoys playing volleyball, exploring local restaurants, and traveling to new places (mostly the beach!). She is so excited to be a new member of the RNH team!
Every day, Kara comes to work with a positive and enthusiastic attitude. When she is not at work, Kara enjoys playing volleyball, exploring local restaurants, and traveling to new places (mostly the beach!). She is so excited to be a new member of the RNH team!
Alex Gliozzi is a Behavior Technician at Reaching New Heights. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). She always knew she wanted to help people but didn’t know exactly how. After working in a nursing home through college, she decided to take a leap and move to Cleveland from Pennsylvania. After working at Monarch Center for Autism she knew exactly how she could help people- applied behavior analysis! In December of 2019, Alex graduated with her master’s degree in applied behavior analysis with an emphasis in autism from Ball State University. She is currently working towards her BCBA.
When Alex isn’t working she loves to visit her family back in PA, hang out with her 2 cats, Roscoe and Leo, and loves going on vacation to explore new places with her husband, David!
When Alex isn’t working she loves to visit her family back in PA, hang out with her 2 cats, Roscoe and Leo, and loves going on vacation to explore new places with her husband, David!
Dana Kane is a Behavior Technician and the lead facilitator of JOURNEY at Reaching New Heights. In 2007, while studying Fine Arts at Ohio State University, Dana fell into her first ABA position working with individuals with Autism in their homes. She immediately fell in love with the field and quickly changed her major to study Human Development and graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Education. Since graduating, she has worked as a teacher at the Monarch Center for Autism and the STEPs Academy as well as working extensively in homes and center based programs as a behavior therapist. Despite her background in Discrete Trial Training, Dana’s therapeutic approach is deeply rooted in play based and sensory integration models and she loves finding any opportunity to incorporate art and language development into her therapy.
When she isn’t working, Dana enjoys cooking at home with her boyfriend. She loves hiking and biking, and when she finds the time, still loves painting and printmaking.
When she isn’t working, Dana enjoys cooking at home with her boyfriend. She loves hiking and biking, and when she finds the time, still loves painting and printmaking.
Sarah Ocacio is an ABA tech at Reaching New Heights. She received her bachelor's degree in early childhood education from the University of Mount Union. After graduation, Sarah worked as a classroom teacher in multiple K-5 classrooms. After 4 years as a teacher, Sarah knew her passion was helping kids, but she was ready to step away from the classroom and do so in a smaller setting providing one-on-one and small group therapy. Nothing makes her more excited than seeing a child grow and succeed using the tools and strategies that they are provided. Sarah loves coming to work and seeing her clients! When she is not at work, you can find her reading, enjoying time outside with her puppy and husband, or working out. She also loves to travel, so during time off she can likely be found in a different state, or even country! Sarah is thrilled to be at Reaching New Heights and can’t wait to make a difference in the lives of her clients and their families.
Emily Burrows is a Registered Behavioral Technician at Reaching New Heights. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from John Carroll University. As a teen, she knew she wanted to work with children diagnosed with autism. Emily has volunteered with various organizations including Best Buddies, Special Olympics and at the UH Pediatric Oncology Unit. After graduating in 2018, Emily began working in the ABA field and became a Registered Behavior Technician. She finds it extremely important to incorporate play and sensory diets in a child’s routine. Emily loves watching each child grow and being able to be a part of that growth. When Emily is not at work, she enjoys taking her dog, Yogi, to different trails and parks to hike and run. She has been running for a little over a year and is getting ready for a half marathon in April. She also loves taking weekend trips with her boyfriend to visit her parents in Indiana. Emily is stoked to make a difference in the lives of the kiddos and families at RNH and is beyond excited to be a new member of the team!.
Elizabeth Gallagher is a Registered Behavior Technician at Reaching New Heights. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Speech and Language Pathology and her Master’s Degree in Special Education, with emphasis in early intervention, from the University of Toledo. During an internship in college, she quickly fell in love with helping special needs children. She has been a Registered Behavior Technician for 12 years, helping children between the ages of 2-15. Elizabeth has experience in private school settings, daycare settings, and has also been part of multidisciplinary teams involving occupational and speech therapists. She brings passion and joy when working with her clients and loves seeing them succeed in every area of their lives. When not working, Elizabeth loves spending time with her husband and family. She has a strong passion for shopping, Mexican food and finding the nearest beach to search for sea glass!
Amanda Yarger is a Registered Behavior Technician at Reaching New Heights. She received
her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from John Carroll University. She has been working with
individuals with autism and various developmental disabilities since the age of sixteen. She
began volunteering, and quickly knew she wanted to make this a career. Upon graduating in
2019, Amanda obtained her RBT and began providing ABA therapy in home, group, and school
settings. She is currently in school for her Master’s in Fundamentals of Applied Behavior
Analysis at the University of Cincinnati and plans to sit for her BCBA Board exam in the fall of
2022. When she is not at work, Amanda enjoys spending time with her three cats, hiking, and
doing home projects. Amanda is so excited to be a part of the RNH team and looks forward to
making a positive change in the lives of her clients.
her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from John Carroll University. She has been working with
individuals with autism and various developmental disabilities since the age of sixteen. She
began volunteering, and quickly knew she wanted to make this a career. Upon graduating in
2019, Amanda obtained her RBT and began providing ABA therapy in home, group, and school
settings. She is currently in school for her Master’s in Fundamentals of Applied Behavior
Analysis at the University of Cincinnati and plans to sit for her BCBA Board exam in the fall of
2022. When she is not at work, Amanda enjoys spending time with her three cats, hiking, and
doing home projects. Amanda is so excited to be a part of the RNH team and looks forward to
making a positive change in the lives of her clients.
Ember Armstrong is a Behavior Technician at Reaching New Heights. Ember just moved here from Oregon, where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Science focused in Physical Education at Western Oregon University. Ember has experience working with elementary kids in Physical Education and taught at a Private School during her undergrad. After graduation, Ember decided to pack up and move to Ohio where she found Reaching New Heights and felt right at home. Ember loves to see children shine and express themselves, and adores watching them grow. When Ember isn’t at work you can catch her going hiking with her fiancé and dogs, binge-watching Netflix and spending time exploring this amazing new city! Ember is so excited to join forces with RNH and can’t wait to continue working with and watching these kiddos succeed!
""We had tried speech and OT therapies for our kiddo for over 2 years at two other places, but our child didn’t make progress. I threw a lot of money away before I talked with Donna, the owner of Reaching New Heights. How she has handled our child is heartwarming and we see the light at the end of the tunnel. Her assessments and goals are to the point. She talks to you and understands you like a friend who means well. Donna works very hard and treats all her patients as her own children. She is the greatest!
We also started ABA therapy for potty training at RNH six weeks ago. Heather understood what would work for our child as soon as she met him. And guess what? Our kiddo just started going potty this week. She never ceases to amaze me with her knowledge. Love her!
The whole RNH team is very good at communication. We have worked with most of Donna's team and we have come to the conclusion that she hires only the best. Since we started going there we have had countless numbers of tear jerking moments because our child is now excelling at all the goals and milestones. Hats off to this group of professional and compassionate women!"
-Mother
