1. C U R R I C U L A V I T A E
M I C H E L L E C H A P L A , M S
michelle.chapla@gmail.com
Profile
Ms. Chapla has 20 years of experience in treating children and adults with autism spectrum
disorders (ASD) and co-occurring mental health diagnosis. Thirteen of those years in a clinical
management capacity. She has served as a Director of Autism Services, Regional Director of
Autism Services, Clinical Supervisor and Regional Manager for several Behavioral Health
Rehabilitation Service Providers in Western Pennsylvania. She started her career as a Therapeutic
Support Staff (TSS) in 1996 and Behavioral Specialist Consultant (BSC) in 2003. Ms. Chapla’s
oversight of start- up offices and programs highlights some of the abilities of her successful BHRS
management. Leadership, training abilities, and knowledge of multiple modalities of treatment
secured the referral process and oversight of over 1600 hours in BHRS service and 100
employees during her dual role of Regional Director of Autism Services and Clinical Supervisor as
well as continuing to have oversight of the 2nd
largest office as Regional Director of Autism
Services. As Ms. Chapla’s case load began to age, she began to move toward providing services to
teens and adults on the autism spectrum. She has provide services through adult autism waiver
services and was trained and certified to be an adult autism provider in PA.
Ms. Chapla earned her Master’s Degree in Applied Psychology in 2003 and Bachelor’s Degree in
Child Care and Child Development in 2001 from the University of Pittsburgh. She completed her
course work in Applied Behavioral Analysis from the Pennsylvania State University in 2003. Ms.
Chapla prides herself in driving the development of the highest level of quality care and the
continuum of services to families, consumer, and other stakeholder affected by ASD. Ms. Chapla
achieves these goals through the use of data based methods of interventions such as verbal
behavior, discrete trial, social skills training, methods of applied behavioral analysis and evidence-
based interventions.
During her undergraduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh, Ms. Chapla was introduced to
the world of Autism through her internship at PLEA. She was provided the opportunity to intern at
this specialized school-based partial program for children. At this time, she felt that children with
Autism had a lot to teach her and she decided to continue to peruse her education in the area of
Applied Psychology. Through this experience, she became interested in the interventions used to
treat children with Autism and enrolled in course work to complete her certification in applied
behavioral analysis.
Ms. Chapla believes that continued training and education is important in treating those on the
autism spectrum. She has continued to receive intensive ABA supervision and hands on training in
the use of multiple ABA interventions from Board Certified Behavioral Analysts. Ms. Chapla has
been responsible for creating, monitoring and implementing individualized verbal behavior,
discrete trial and fluency programs for individuals with ASD. Ms. Chapla has extensive experience
in conducting Functional Behavioral Assessments and is a Certified Trainer for Functional Behavior
Assessment through the Bureau of Autism Services (BAS). Ms. Chapla has conducted regional
trainings to schools, professionals and parents regarding treatment of children with ASD. She has
acted as an advocate for parents and children who are affected by ASD in the community and
school.
During her continued experience in multiple programs, she has designed individualized clinical
programs and support group for children and their families with special needs. Ms. Chapla played
an integral part in developing, assessing and providing clinical over sight of therapeutic summer
camps. She led the development of a site-based social skills program for adolescents with
ASD. She has developed multiple RFQ/RFP for programs supporting children and adults on the
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2. spectrum. She has completed Adult Waiver Training through the BAS. Ms. Chapla has also worked
in supporting young adults with their needs for inclusion in the community.
Ms. Chapla is an active member in the community. Ms. Chapla was a support group facilitator for
ABOARD’s Autism Connection of PA. She was actively involved in Autism Speaks Volunteer
Pittsburgh Planning Committee. Ms. Chapla was the Co-chair for the Autism Speaks Luncheon in
the Greater Pittsburgh Region from 2003-2009. She was a Co-Chair for the Autism Speaks
Resource Fair in 2012. Ms. Chapla is an affiliate member of ABAI and PennABA.
Key Skills
Applied Behavior Analysis
Functional Behavior
Assessment Teambuilding
& Supervision
Staff Development & Training
Record Management
Office Management
Specialized Staff Training
RFP/RFQ Submission &
Development
Family Support
Marketing and Networking
Community Outreach
Program Development &
Oversight
Understanding of Assessment
Treatment Plan Development
Training Development
Meeting & Event Planning
CCBHO/VBH/MA policies
Utilization Reporting
Implementation of Treatment
Modalities
Start-up programs
Experience
Advocates
Director of Autism Services
 Provide oversight of the quality of services, operations,
and fiscal management of Autism Residential and Day
Services
 Develop meaningful relationships with stakeholders,
funders and family’s
 Provide clinical support (training and supervision)
regarding evidenced-base practice and approaches for
staff
 Stay current with policy and requirements of state and
private funders
 Provide direct oversight of Administrative Director and
5 managers
My Autism Consultant, LLC
October 2014-Present
2011- Present
Executive Director
 Private Consultation
Provide a gap analysis regarding services being received need for recovery.
Customized treatment and recommendations to ensure strengths are used and new skills
are being acquired
Assessment, observation and behavioral analysis to ensure needs are met and child
continues to making gains.
Increase collaboration and team work to improve child’s service
 Educational Consultation and Mental Health Support
Support family and schools with IEP or educational related concerns
Assist family with obtaining services such as BHRS (wrap-around), Occupational or Speech
Therapy
Aid family in insurance and educational placement disputes
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3.  Training and Workshops
Individualized to family’s ongoing needs
School training to support the ongoing complex needs of individuals with ASD in their
district
Provider training to assist with bridging the gap when training is not available
Natural support or community training to increase awareness and assist with inclusion.
Barber National Institute- Pittsburgh Region 2010-2011
Regional Manager of Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Services
Doubled the referrals for the region within 6 months, secured office administration and clinical
team for the region and assisted with developing secure relationships with MCO and put quality
procedures and policies in place that secured the fiscal stability of the office and save the program
a 10,000 pay back from local funders.
 Responsible for Fiscal Management, quality and oversite of start-up office
 Oversight of Clinical Services
 Development of policy and procedure to guide quality practices
 Development of clinical guidelines and documentation to ensure MCO requirements are
implemented and met
 Supervision of Master’s Level Clinicians to enhance development of clinically appropriate
treatment for consumers with Mental Health Disorders
 Development of trainings for agency on Development of Effective Treatment, ABA and role
of Master’s Level support in BHRS
 Collaboration and consultation of all new and continued stay consumers to ensure quality
of treatment
 Reviewed clinical documentation to ensure medical necessity, to ensure quality of
treatment and ensure they were meeting MCO guidelines
 Audited charts to assist with state and MCO requirements
Family Behavioral Resources 2003-2010
Regional Director of Autism Services, 2004 to 2010
Clinical Supervisor, 2006-2008
BSC/MT, 2003-2004
TSS, 2003-2004
Promoted over a course of 1 year employment with Family Behavioral Resources, culminating in
responsibility for coordinating multiple office functions and supervising a team of three administrative
professionals, one clinical coordinator, 100 employees and 1600 hours of BHRS authorization.
Regional Director of Autism Services
 Assisted with development of Autism Services at Family Behavioral Resources
 Worked collaboratively with the Director of Community Diversity and Outreach by securing a
50,000 grant to provide training and awareness to African American Community about the
diagnosis, treatment and supports for children was ASD
 Provided consultation and collaboration for multiple office in development of clinically appropriate
treatments for consumers on the Autism Spectrum and with co-occurring mental health diagnosis
 Developed and provided consultation for multiple trainings for agency on Autism related topics,
mental health diagnosis and neurotypical development
 Designed individualized programming for consumers with ASD
 Developed agency guidelines and documentation for quality practices in Functional Behavioral
Assessment and Behavioral Plan Development and Autism Services
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4.  Assisted with evidenced-base practice and research for use of therapeutic techniques for those with
mental health diagnosis and ASD
 Provided Family Support Groups in four counties
 Responsible for working as team member to effectively treat consumers on the Autism Spectrum
 Responsible for Marketing and Networking with outside providers/agencies.
 Provide consultation and oversight of Camp Journey (STAP) for autism consumers
 Provided consultation and training to schools, community resources and professional in the mental
health arena
 Supported startup of new office in multiple counties
 Responsible for the management of finical responsibilities and providing monthly updates of finical
growth
 Development and oversight of approved programs and program descriptions
Clinical Supervisor
 Provided daily management of 2nd
largest office in company
 Provided and managed administrative staff
 Provided clinical mentorship of master level clinicians
 Audited charts to assist with state and MCO requirements
 Monitored weekly utilization of hours and reported on the fiscal outcomes of the offices
 Provided supervision to bachelors level staff
 Assisted with the development CS, BSC and Administrative mentoring plans
 Assisted with the development of the Clinical Services at FBR
 Mentor and assist with professional growth of managers
 Worked collaboratively with the Clinical Supervisor Team to affectively treat children with Mental
Health diagnosis
University of Pittsburgh 2006 to 2008
Part-time Professor Applied Psychology Department
 Provided oversight of specialized adult program for African American women obtaining their BS in
Applied Psychology
 Developed course description, course objectives and teaching methods for 2 courses within the
Applied Psychology Department
 Mentored students regarding courses appropriate to working with children in the field of special
needs
 Provided classroom lectures
 Provided activities and projects to promote professional development
 Worked collaboratively with other professionals in the department to ensure consistency across
classes
 Worked collaboratively with program heads to improve provisions of the course work provided by
the Applied Psychology Department
PLEA 1996 to 2003
Classroom Teacher/TSS
 Designed individualized curriculum for children with ASD
 Completed detailed assessments
 Wrote IEP’s
 Wrote treatment plans for children with ASD
 Collected data to monitor children’s progress and treatment
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5.  Responsible for transitioning children to inclusive public school and pre- school settings
 Planning language development activities for children with ASD
 Responsible for developing working and professional relationships with families and children with
ASD
 Responsible for working as part of a team to effectively treat children
Education and Training
2003 University of Pittsburgh School of Education – MS in Education,
concentration Applied Psychology
2001 University of Pittsburgh School of Education – BS in Education,
concentration Child Care and Child Development
2003-Completion of course work in Applied Behavior Analysis from
Pennsylvania State University
2001-Partington Seminar in Language Development
2003-2008-National Autism Conference PSU
2009 Behavior Specialist Training for Adults (BAS)
2009 FBA Training for Adults (BAS-Train the trainer)
2009 Adult Waiver Training (BAS)- Autism SPeCTRUM Training (Supporting
Person Center Training, Resources, Understanding and Mentorship)
2009 Vocational Assessment and Vocational Development Training (BAS)
2009 Crisis Management Training (WPIC)
2010 IABA Conference
Other Relevant Information
2011-Present Member of IABA
2006-Present Affiliate Member Pennsylvania Association for Behavior Analysis (PennABA)
2001 – Present Autism Speaks Walk Committee
2003-2009 Co-Chair for Autism Speak Luncheon
2013-2014 Presenter of Professional Development Series- Autism Spectrum Disorders Community
College of Beaver County
March 4th
2013 Key Note Speaker Life Steps Building Bridges Conference for Early Educators
May 31, 2007 Presenter for Lorman Educational Services Keeping Current with Increasing Common
Diagnosis of ADHD, Autism, Asperger’s, OCD and Tourette’s Syndrome in PA
Curriculum Development: PSYED 1016 – Developmental Curriculum and Activities, PSYED 1012-
Developmental Disabilities, Professional Development Series – Autism Spectrum Disorders
Training Development: Neuro-Typical Child Development, Language Development, Fluency Based
Instruction, Applied Behavioral Analysis, Functional Behavioral Assessment, Autism Spectrum
Disorders, Effective Strategies to Treatment Plan Development, Data Collection Methods, Autism
Spectrum Disorders 101: Understanding and Solving Behavioral Problems, Verbal Behavior Training,
Discrete Trial Training, Teachers Tool Box Training
Michelle Chapla 5

6.  Responsible for transitioning children to inclusive public school and pre- school settings
 Planning language development activities for children with ASD
 Responsible for developing working and professional relationships with families and children with
ASD
 Responsible for working as part of a team to effectively treat children
Education and Training
2003 University of Pittsburgh School of Education – MS in Education,
concentration Applied Psychology
2001 University of Pittsburgh School of Education – BS in Education,
concentration Child Care and Child Development
2003-Completion of course work in Applied Behavior Analysis from
Pennsylvania State University
2001-Partington Seminar in Language Development
2003-2008-National Autism Conference PSU
2009 Behavior Specialist Training for Adults (BAS)
2009 FBA Training for Adults (BAS-Train the trainer)
2009 Adult Waiver Training (BAS)- Autism SPeCTRUM Training (Supporting
Person Center Training, Resources, Understanding and Mentorship)
2009 Vocational Assessment and Vocational Development Training (BAS)
2009 Crisis Management Training (WPIC)
2010 IABA Conference
Other Relevant Information
2011-Present Member of IABA
2006-Present Affiliate Member Pennsylvania Association for Behavior Analysis (PennABA)
2001 – Present Autism Speaks Walk Committee
2003-2009 Co-Chair for Autism Speak Luncheon
2013-2014 Presenter of Professional Development Series- Autism Spectrum Disorders Community
College of Beaver County
March 4th
2013 Key Note Speaker Life Steps Building Bridges Conference for Early Educators
May 31, 2007 Presenter for Lorman Educational Services Keeping Current with Increasing Common
Diagnosis of ADHD, Autism, Asperger’s, OCD and Tourette’s Syndrome in PA
Curriculum Development: PSYED 1016 – Developmental Curriculum and Activities, PSYED 1012-
Developmental Disabilities, Professional Development Series – Autism Spectrum Disorders
Training Development: Neuro-Typical Child Development, Language Development, Fluency Based
Instruction, Applied Behavioral Analysis, Functional Behavioral Assessment, Autism Spectrum
Disorders, Effective Strategies to Treatment Plan Development, Data Collection Methods, Autism
Spectrum Disorders 101: Understanding and Solving Behavioral Problems, Verbal Behavior Training,
Discrete Trial Training, Teachers Tool Box Training
Michelle Chapla 5