Meet the empowered team
🌟 Ashley Pitchuck 🌟
M.ADS, RBA (Ont.) BCBA
Ashley is a passionate and dedicated Registered Behaviour Analyst with over 14 years of experience in the field of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). Her interest in ABA began through a volunteer opportunity where she witnessed the transformative impact of behavioural strategies on young children and their families. This experience inspired a lifelong commitment to helping individuals achieve meaningful outcomes through evidence-based practices.
Ashley holds an Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Toronto and a Master of Applied Disability Studies with a specialization in ABA from Brock University. She became a Registered Behaviour Technician in 2014, earned her Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) designation in 2021, and was registered as a Behaviour Analyst with the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario in 2025.
Over the course of her career, Ashley has gained extensive training and supervision experience supporting individuals with Autism across a wide range of developmental areas. Her clinical expertise includes increasing attention and focus, enhancing communication, promoting independence in daily living skills, building social confidence, and addressing complex behaviours such as aggression, self-injury, and selective eating. She has also supervised the delivery of Ontario Autism Program (OAP) Caregiver-Mediated Early Years (CMEY) programs and has provided virtual and in-person parent training services. Ashley is committed to continuous learning and professional growth, currently expanding her skills through training in Acceptance and Commitment Teaching (ACT) to further support social-emotional development and psychological flexibility in her clients.
Her practice is grounded in the values of collaboration, compassion, transparency, and evidence-based care. Ashley works closely with families and stakeholders to set and achieve meaningful, individualized goals. Beyond direct clinical work, she is deeply invested in mentoring her therapy teams and ensuring that services are delivered with integrity, consistency, and a strong foundation in research-informed practices.
Taylor Yakabuskie
🌟 Taylor Yakabuskie 🌟
M.ADS, RBA (Ont.) BCBA
Taylor has always been passionate about working with children, which led her to earn an Honours Bachelor of Child Health degree from Brock University in 2020. Her undergraduate studies gave her a solid understanding of all things child development, and also gave her a sneak peek into the science of Applied Behaviour Analysis. She was immediately hooked by the wide applicability of the science.
Driven by this interest, Taylor then pursued her Masters in Applied Disability Studies at Brock University and after graduating in 2022, she became a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) and became registered with the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario.
When programming for her students, Taylor places a strong emphasis on fostering independence and always strives to make learning fun. Taylor has always been surrounded by children in her life and is no stranger to getting silly and finding fun ways to connect with her students. She is also committed to empowering parents and caregivers, helping them feel confident in using behaviour-analytic strategies at home to help their kids grow and develop
Jennifer Allnutt
🌟 Introducing Jennifer Allnutt: The Empowered Certified Teacher.🌟
Meet Jennifer, a vital member of our care team. Jennifer plays an essential role in ensuring the well-being and progress of our students. With her wealth of experience and boundless compassion, consistently going above and beyond to create a positive and nurturing environment for out students to learn and grow. 🧡
🧩Jennifer's teaching approach is highly collaborative, emphasizing the development of personalized treatment plans tailored to each child's unique goals, interests, and experiences. She utilizes a collaborative approach to create individualized treatment plans that align with your child's distinctive goals, interests, and experiences. Jennifer is dedicated to delivering a strengths-based approach, empowering families to develop skills and tools for coping with challenges in a way that is engaging and meaningful.
🎓 Educational Beginnings: Jennifer boasts a wealth of experience as an Ontario Certified Teacher with over a decade of teaching in inclusive education environments. She holds a Bachelor of Education from McGill University and has taught in diverse regions, including Quebec, England, Alberta, and Ontario. Driven by her passion for students' well-being and learning needs, Jennifer pursued a Master's Degree in Education.
👩🏫 Years of Experience: This educational journey equipped her with effective strategies to establish inclusive and supportive learning environments. In addition to her formal education, Jennifer has acquired various teaching qualifications, including Teaching Students with Communication Needs (Autism Spectrum Disorder), applied behavioral analysis, and special education. Her expertise in differentiated instruction and social-emotional learning enhances her ability to craft engaging and effective learning experiences for all students. Jennifer is committed to making a positive impact on the educational journey of each child she works with.
Amanda Graham
🌟 Amanda Graham – Director
Amanda Graham is the Director of Empowered Academy, bringing over 20 years of experience in the field of mental health. With a background in Psychology from Carleton University, Amanda is passionate about supporting children and youth in developing the skills they need to thrive.
She oversees the daily operations of Empowered Academy and takes a hands-on approach, spending time in each clinic to ensure high-quality care and team collaboration.
A dedicated mother of four, Amanda’s lifelong commitment to helping others began early — her family fostered children for many years, inspiring her to create a supportive and empowering environment for every child who walks through Empowered Academy’s doors.
Jessica Rose Burns
🌟 Jessica Rose burns: Behaviour therapist - Care Coordinator🚀
Introducing Jessica, the driving force behind Empowered Academy! 🌟 With a background in behavior therapy and a specialization in teen mental health, she brings a wealth of expertise to our center. Running our life skills and social skills groups, Jessica fosters growth and empowerment among our students with her compassionate approach and dedication.
But Jessica's role extends beyond therapy sessions. As our Care Coordinator, she ensures the seamless operation of our center. From managing day-to-day tasks to providing unwavering support to our families, Jessica's commitment to excellence ensures that everyone feels welcomed and cared for at Empowered Academy.