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Beth Calarco, M.A., BCBA - CEO and Executive Clinical Director

Beth is a developmental specialist and behavior analyst. She loves working with children and their families. Beth has worked in the field of autism intervention for over 15 years and founded ABAcus in 2012 . She earned her MA in Developmental Psychology (with a focus on Neuropsychology and assessment) at San Diego State University in 2003 and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) in 2005. Beth’s extensive experience encompasses all aspects of the delivery of ABA treatment: diagnosis, assessment, program design, direct 1:1 work with children, and parent coaching. Her ABA approach is heavily influenced by her vast knowledge of child development and developmental trajectories. She brings a common-sense practicality to her ABA work that comes from being a parent herself. Hence, she greatly enjoys working with parents to make ABA strategies more accessible and easy to implement throughout the day.

Renee Anderson, M.A., BCBA - Program Director

With a background in Early Childhood Development, Renee worked as a preschool teacher while earning her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology at the University of California San Diego. Renee then entered the field of Applied Behavior Analysis when her own daughter was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at 15 months of age. After her daughter received a diagnosis, Renee was inspired to obtain her Master’s with a specialization in ABA and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2014.  Renee believes that a developmental approach to programming is the most appropriate intervention for young children and her programming is heavily influenced by Pivotal Response Teaching (PRT) and the Early Start Denver Model. Renee is passionate in her belief in the importance of teaching young children to effectively communicate their needs at a very young age.

Elise Donahue, M.Ed., BCBA – Clinical Supervisor

Elise was led to the field of ABA by her experience as a preschool teacher and early interventionist. After completing her Master’s degree in Education with a specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis from Arizona State University she became a BCBA in 2016. Elise enjoys designing effective programs for young children who are at risk or have an autism diagnosis to build upon their current skills to engage more fully in their world. Elise is passionate about developmentally appropriate goals and play-based therapy. She uses naturalistic teaching approaches, specifically the Early Start Denver Model and Verbal Behavior programs. She believes that empowering parents to be advocates for their child’s progress is essential.