Hello! I am Allison Petralia-Buie, and I am the owner of Side by Side Behavioral Services, excited to be partnering with Tellos, Inc.! I have been a BCBA since 2011, with experience in homes, clinics, schools, and workplaces. I have worked with people with autism ranging from 2 years to 54 years, and have created and developed service models to fit the individualized needs of many people for whom appropriate services didn't exist already. For example, I have created school programs for middle school aged children who engage in severe problem behavior and utilize technology to communicate, adult services implemented by RBTs, and a 2:1 staff ratio program for the reduction of severe problem behavior in children and teens. I love people with autism, and specifically love working with teens and young adults, people who engage in problem behavior, and those who need support to complete daily living activities.
I focus on compassion and joy in my practice, celebrating every little success, and always pushing for more. I am neurodiversity-affirming, and believe everyone, regardless of age, should be taught and supported to advocate for themselves. As a parent myself, I believe everything we do should be transparent and collaborative, and encourage my families and staff to come to me with any and all concerns so that we can partner to make the best environment possible for people to learn and grow!
Early in my career, I helped to close the state hospitals in Georgia, working with people who had been placed in institutions at diagnosis and who had sometimes never left the hospital grounds in their 50+ years of life! I fully toilet trained a 56-year old woman, and supported staff and a man in his 50s in desensitizing to a phobia of cars, which allowed him to leave the hospital campus for the first time since he was a child.
People with autism are truly my favorite people. I love the openness and honesty, and love watching personalities develop as people get older. I am also a big nerd, and love data and the science of ABA. I love seeing research move to practice, and helping people learn new skills and gain better access to the world around them.
I have many years of experience, in a lot of different settings. With that, I've seen a lot of what works and what doesn't work, and am skilled at individualizing goals and approaches to what works for the particular child and family I'm working with. I am compassionate, and communicate freely and openly, and want others to feel comfortable to do the same. I will cry with you, laugh with you, celebrate all the wins with you, and help you get the support you need.