About Us

Group of happy children with their arms up in the air.

Our mission is to provide quality, Applied Behavior Analysis services to individuals with autism to help them reach their individual potential.

Behavior Learning Network was founded in 2013 to help meet the growing need for quality behavior intervention services for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. BLN provides one-to-one services in the home, community, school and center settings as well as assessments and consultation services and is contracted with a multitude of funding sources including insurance, school districts and regional centers.

Our Program

Our mission is to provide quality, Applied Behavior Analysis services to individuals with autism to help them reach their individual potential.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a systematic approach to changing socially significant behaviors based on the basic principles of behavior and the use of empirically validated strategies and interventions. It has proven to be the most effective treatment for children, adolescents and young adults with autism, and in some cases, with intensive, early intervention may alter the symptomatology of autism.

Little boy spreading his arms out like an airplane

Seven Dimensions of ABA

Baer, Wolf, and Risley (1968) identified and defined seven dimensions of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to serve as the primary criteria for defining and judging the value of ABA.

1. APPLIED
  Behaviors selected for treatment must be socially significant. That is, we ensure that changes in behavior result in improvements in your child’s and family’s quality of life. Examples include:
  - Social skills
  - Language skills
  - Academic skills
  - Daily living skills
  - Self-care skills
  - Vocational skills
  - Recreation and leisure skills
  - Reduction of problem behaviors
2. BEHAVIORAL
  Behaviors targeted for treatment must be defined and measurable. Further, measurement of the behavior must be reliable to ensure that the targeted behavior of the consumer was truly changed, as opposed to changes in the individual observing.
3. ANALYTIC
  A functional relation can be demonstrated between the manipulated events and a change in the targeted behavior. That is, there is a direct, observable relationship between the treatment and the behaviors targeted for change.
4. TECHNOLOGICAL
  Treatment procedures are described in such detail that it can be replicated by others (including parents/caregivers and teachers).
5. CONCEPTUALLY SYSTEMATIC
  Procedures for changing behavior and any interpretations of how or why those procedures were effective should be described in terms of the relevant principle(s) from which they were derived. Behavior Analysts can explain why a given procedure was effective. This level of understanding may allow for the development of other procedures to target other behaviors of interest.
6. EFFECTIVE
  Treatment must improve the behavior(s) being targeted to a practical, and social significant degree.
7. GENERALITY
  A behavior has generality if it lasts over time, appears in many environments, and/or spreads to other behaviors not directly treated.

More detailed information about the delivery of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder can be found here.

Our Directors

GREGORY M. ELSKY, PSY.D., LMFT, LBA, BCBA-D

CHIEF CLINICAL OFFICER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

BLN is directed by Dr. Gregory M. Elsky, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT; CA), Licensed Behavior Analyst (OR) and Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctorate (BCBA-D). Since 1995, Dr. Elsky has provided behavioral intervention for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities. He has studied/trained under some of the leading experts in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) including Dr. O. Ivar Lovaas, Dr. Gary W. LaVigna, and Dr. Thomas J. Willis.

As an active member of the California ABA community, Dr. Elsky has served as a board member of the California Association for Applied Behavior Analysis (CalABA) and served as a Content Area Leader for the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s (BACB) Practice Guidelines for Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Additionally, he has graduate level training in the administration and interpretation of a wide range of standardized psychological assessments as well as Behavioral Assessments, and as an adjunct faculty member, taught graduate level coursework in ABA.

Jodie Deming, Ph.D., LABA, BCBA-D

Clinical Director

Dr. Jodie Deming is the Clinical Director at BLN’s New England locations. With over three decades of dedicated experience, Dr. Deming is an expert in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), specializing in supporting individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst – Doctoral (BCBA-D), a Licensed Applied Behavior Analyst in Massachusetts (LABA) and a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in California. Dr. Deming’s ABA journey began in 1990 as an undergraduate student at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She continued her academic pursuits at UCLA at the graduate level under the guidance of renowned pioneer in Discrete Trial Training, Dr. O Ivar Lovaas, who served as her dissertation advisor and scholastic and professional mentor. Throughout her career, Dr. Deming has demonstrated remarkable proficiency in implementing, designing, and supervising ABA services across diverse settings, including in home, school, and community. Her expertise includes designing and implementing Comprehensive Intervention for early learners with ASD and extends to designing and implementing effective behavior plans for individuals with severely challenging behavior, encompassing children, adolescents and adults.

Dr. Deming’s commitment to excellence in the field of ABA is further exemplified by her role as a mentor and educator. She has had the privilege of training under esteemed authorities in the field of ABA and has subsequently mentored and trained numerous professionals, contributing to the growth and development of the ABA community. In addition to her clinical endeavors, Dr. Deming is deeply engaged in professional associations, currently serving as the President of the New Hampshire Association of Behavior Analysis. She remains an active member within the New Hampshire ABA Community, advocating for best practices and fostering collaboration among peers.

Driven by her passion for making a positive impact, Dr. Deming finds joy in nurturing her clients, their families, and her supervisees. She takes pride in her ability to listen, empathize, and empower others, leading to meaningful and transformative outcomes.

MICHAEL ARAGON, PH.D., BCBA-D

DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AND TRAINING

Dr. Aragon is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) who has been working with children and adults with disabilities since 2014. He started in a direct care role as an ABA therapist providing supervised services in homes, schools, and group homes throughout Southern California. He earned a Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis from the California State University, Northridge, and a Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis from The University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Graduate College. While obtaining his doctoral degree, he interned as a supervising Behavior Analyst at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Munroe-Meyer Institute, where he worked with children aged 2-10 in the integrated Center for Autism Spectrum Disorder’s (iCASD) Early Intervention program. Dr. Aragon has published articles in peer-reviewed journals related to the assessment and treatment of challenging behavior, and the acquisition of verbal behavior, and has presented at various regional and national conferences on improvements to training behavior analysts and teaching practices for autistic individuals. He has also guest lectured behavior-analytic undergraduate and graduate courses at California State University, Northridge.

Currently, Dr. Aragon is BLN’s Director of Research and Training, who helps build training curricula for behavior technicians, employees accruing fieldwork hours toward their board certification, and supervisors. He coordinates research projects led by supervisors in BLN’s Lab and ensures client and employee satisfaction as BLN’s Ethics Officer. Dr. Aragon is passionate about ensuring services adhere to cutting-edge behavior-analytic practices, which is reflected in his oversight of ABA services provided by BLN’s Encino Center Supervisor and Training Coordinator.

Casey Mapp, M.A., BCBA

Clinical Director

Casey Mapp is the Clinical Director of BLN-Oregon. He is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with extensive training and experience in early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI), skills based training (SBT), functional behavioral assessments, including functional analysis and practical functional analysis (PFA). Over the past eight years, Casey has worked within the field of Applied Behavior Analysis, working closely with numerous individuals with autism spectrum disorder or otherwise experiencing significant behavior challenges.

With an educational background in experimental analysis, Casey takes pride and joy in providing effective, results-driven, personalized interventions for these individuals and their families. Casey has also demonstrated a knack and a passion for training and mentoring other BCBAs and perspective BCBAs, helping others achieve meaningful career growth within the field of ABA.

Our Locations

BLN is proud to provide high quality ABA services to the following locations throughout the United States:

Southern California

Greater Los Angeles
Long Beach
Inland Empire
Northern Orange County

Learn more

Massachusetts

Andover
Boston

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New Hampshire

Portsmouth
Manchester
Nashua
Concord
Dover
Southern Maine

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Oregon

Portland Metro
Happy Valley
Gresham
Damascus
Hillsboro
Beaverton
Lake Oswego
Milwaukie
Tigard

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Washington
(Coming Soon)

Vancouver

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Join Our Team

At BLN our mission is to provide quality, empirically validated services to individuals with autism to help them reach their individual potential. This is only possible by having the highest quality and well-trained staff. BLN is constantly recruiting quality staff at all levels, Behavior Technician, Senior Behavior Technician, Program Supervisor and Behavior Analyst. We are eager to hear from those at all levels interested in a career in Applied Behavior Analysis.

Direct service positions offer wonderful and valuable field experience for those seeking to work with autism spectrum disorder.

The position offers a rewarding experience and a flexible schedule
Previous experience with autism/ABA is helpful but not necessary
Extensive, paid training is provided to all employees
Part and full time opportunities are available
Competitive hourly rates; starting rate dependent upon education, experience, and office location

For more information or to send a letter of intent and resume, contact BLN’s office directly:

About Us

Our Program

Our Directors

GREGORY M. ELSKY, PSY.D., LMFT, LBA, BCBA-D

CHIEF CLINICAL OFFICER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Jodie Deming, Ph.D., LABA, BCBA-D

Clinical Director

MICHAEL ARAGON, PH.D., BCBA-D

DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AND TRAINING

Casey Mapp, M.A., BCBA

Clinical Director

Our Locations

Southern California

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

Oregon

Washington
(Coming Soon)

Join Our Team

Our Locations

Southern California

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

Oregon

Washington

Our Office Hours

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