Jazmin Andrade is working towards her Board Certified Behavior Analyst certification with a Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis from Pepperdine University. She had previously provided one to one direct services at an elementary school in special education classrooms before joining Autism Partnership in 2018 and has since gathered experience providing one to one services in a clinical setting, home setting and at schools. She has also provided consultation for school districts in which she provides training for classroom staff and ancillary support staff and assists with development of individualized student programs.

Rick Schroeder began his career in 1992 as an undergraduate at the Young Autism Project at UCLA under the supervision of Dr. Ivar Lovaas. He spent 2 years at the project finishing his time as a supervising student therapist. Following his time at UCLA, Rick joined Autism Partnership at its inception in 1994. Under the tutelage of Dr. Ronald Leaf, Dr. John McEachin, and Dr. Mitchel Taubman, Rick has continued to grow in relation to providing quality ABA with children and adults with ASD. Across the years with Autism Partnership Rick has served as a direct interventionist, case supervisor, parent trainer, consultant, national and international presenter

Ms. Elizabeth Darrah is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with a Masters in Special Education from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Her path crossed with Autism Partnership while doing an internship in a classroom in Alaska. After graduating, she moved to Seal Beach in 2015 to join the Autism Partnership team. She began working directly with children as a one-to-one staff, as well as providing shadow support in schools and leading social groups in the clinic. In 2018 she moved into the role of treatment coordinator, supervising cases as well as co-leading an AP classroom in a school setting and continuing to mentor staff in the social groups. Over the last year, Elizabeth started providing parent education, providing hands on training with understanding and application of ABA principles with parents at our agency, as well as consulting in other school districts. She continues to provide supervision, family support and staff training for the families in the Seal Beach office.

Shannon McCourt is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with a Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis from Endicott University. She joined Autism Partnership Foundation in 2018 and completed a 2-year internship with intensive training applying the principles of Progressive ABA. After completing her internship, Shannon began working at Autism Partnership where she received additional training opportunities consulting for families in and out of the state, working in Jump Starts, assisting with in-home Crisis Res-Q, training staff, and developing curriculum. Shannon is one of AP’s certified Pro-ACT Instructors and provides crisis intervention training to all staff members. Now a Treatment Coordinator, she assists families and their children by providing quality supervision and support.

Sanford J. Slater is a licensed psychologist who has worked with children and adults who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other developmental disabilities since 1981. As an undergraduate student at UCLA, he trained with O. Ivar Lovaas, Ph.D. along with John McEachin, Ph.D., BCBA-D and Ronald Leaf, Ph.D. at the Young Autism Project. He served in a supervisory mode as a Senior Therapist. He also functioned as a Research Assistant and a Teaching Assistant during his time there. After completing his B.A., he worked at Straight Talk Clinic, Developmental Disabilities Division as the supervisor of the day treatment program as part of a comprehensive behavioral treatment program for adults with developmental disabilities and severe behavior issues. He then earned his Master’s Degree in General Psychology at Eastern Michigan University and his Ph.D. in Clinical and Health Psychology at the University of Florida.
After earning his doctorate, he returned to Straight Talk Clinic, Inc. and was the Clinical Director of the agency serving multiple populations. This included the Developmental Disabilities division as well as overseeing the drug treatment facilities, drug prevention programs, and counseling services and an internship program at multiple sites. He also had a small private practice working with adults with depression, anxiety, anger issues as well as other conditions.
He joined Autism Partnership in 1994, when it was first formed. In his work with Autism Partnership, he has served as a provided consultation and training to professionals, school districts, parents and families throughout the U.S. and internationally. Additionally, he was involved in psychological testing when provided by Autism Partnership. He also co-authored a chapter titled “Meaningful Progress???” in the book “Sense and Nonsense in the Behavioral Treatment of Autism: It has to be Said”. He also functions as the Program Administrator in charge of Continuing Education programs provided by Autism Partnership. Finally, he is working with Progressive Behavior Analyst Autism Council which has a mission to provide credentialing programs targeting the need to provide high-quality interventions for individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Ms. Nora Darwish is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with a Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of Southern California. She joined Autism Partnership in 2020 and has gathered several years of experience working directly with children with ASD in one-on-one, social group, and school settings. As a Treatment Coordinator, Nora is involved in client assessment and program development, as well as in providing support and supervision to staff and parents.