AUTHORS
The authors of Reframe are passionate professionals dedicated to making ABA more ethical, inclusive, and person-centered. With diverse backgrounds in education, clinical practice, research, and advocacy, they bring a fresh perspective to the field—one that prioritizes compassion, neurodiversity, and trauma-responsive care. United by a shared mission, they aim to empower professionals, educators, families, and communities with a framework for reframing their approach and practices to create meaningful, lasting change.
REFRAME BOOK AUTHORS
Mari-Luci Cerda
Mari-Luci "Mari" Cerda, PhD, is a board-certified behavior analyst, owner of The Lighthouse Learning Center, and co-founder of The LEAP Institute. With over two decades of experience in education and therapeutic services, she began her career as a special education teacher in Bay City, Texas, before transitioning to training educators as an educational consultant. In 2021, she left public education to establish The Lighthouse Learning Center, a trauma-responsive ABA clinic dedicated to compassionate, culturally safe therapeutic services in West Texas. That same year, she co-founded The LEAP Institute to provide equitable access to continuing education and support for marginalized students in ABA and related fields. As a MesoAmerican Indigenous woman diagnosed as Autistic and ADHD, Mari integrates Indigenous Research Methods with Western Science, ensuring her advocacy and therapeutic practices are both evidence-based and deeply personal. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys running, gardening, gaming with her family, and embracing the ever-growing presence of cats in her home.
Jennifer Farris
Jennifer “Jen” Farris, a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), is the Founder and Chief Science Officer of Sprout, MBC, and an adjunct professor in the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program at Elms College. With over two decades of experience, she is committed to advancing the science and practice of behavior analysis through compassionate, data-driven interventions. Since founding Sprout, MBC in 2017, Jen has integrated cutting-edge clinical and educational methodologies to provide high-quality, individualized ABA services. Her expertise in precision teaching enables her to track small, measurable behavioral changes, ensuring meaningful progress for her clients. Beyond clinical work, she mentors future behavior analysts, instilling ethical and scientifically rigorous practices. Jen’s approach balances the analytical precision of ABA with a strong emphasis on individualized and compassionate care, ensuring that interventions prioritize dignity and well-being. A self-proclaimed “data nerd,” she finds fulfillment in using precise measurement techniques to drive lasting change. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys spending time with her three young boys and traveling, continually broadening her perspectives both personally and professionally.
Margaret Thomas Solomon
Margaret “Meg” Thomas Solomon, the owner of ABA Across Environments in Colorado Springs, is a passionate advocate for neurodiversity and trauma-informed care. Originally from Texas, she discovered her love for working with children early on as a camp counselor before gaining experience in customer service and management in Dallas and Los Angeles. Her career shifted toward child development when she worked with children facing trauma and emotional behavioral disorders, leading her to pursue a Master's in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from Baylor University. Becoming a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst in 2015, Meg later founded ABA Across Environments in 2018 to provide more comprehensive support for families. Integrating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) into her practice, she also applies these principles in her personal life, drawing from her experiences with ADHD and personal trauma. A mother of two, Meg enjoys fly fishing, hiking, reading, and writing, maintaining a holistic approach to therapy that fosters healing, growth, and authenticity.
