Opal

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Welcome To Opal

Where every child is given the precious support to shine.

Our culture is rooted in genuine connections and longevity within our own Opal family of colleagues and our common desire to see your child thrive. We believe in excellence and compassion. Excellence in our knowledge and understanding of ABA and its application.

We strive to show respect and compassion in our day-to-day interactions with each other and the children and families we serve. The result is incredible transformations that you will feel, see and experience. That’s the real joy in what we do.

Our Core Values

Curiosity

The constant desire to seek out more knowledge to better ourselves and others

Achievement

A higher level of ambition to excel and grow in our profession

Authenticity

A genuine passion for bringing out the joy in each child

Impact

Strive to build deeper connections and support with our communities

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Opal’s Story

We change little lives in big ways.

Opal is a child-centric organization founded by operational and clinical experts that genuinely love the science of behavior change and the impact it has on children and their families.

For many of us, the love of caring for others and seeing transformational outcomes came at an early age, being either born into or raised by a healthcare family. Our ambition, compassion, quest for learning and high level of expectations are in our DNA.

While the ABA of the past may hold some negative weight, we have been on a mission to change the industry standard and bring accessibility to this life changing therapy to all families, especially those in underserved regions and military communities.

Our goal is to significantly reduce the typical long wait times, alleviate stress for parents and get little learners in our programs as soon as possible. Early intervention is the key to helping kiddos excel in daily life and school.

Opal’s story is not just ours. It’s your story. It’s hundreds of real inspiring stories every day that make us proud to be at your side for the beginning of your child’s wonderful journey ahead.

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ABA Of Today Is Collaborative,
Customized + A Natural Approach

Once rigid, formal and clinical, ABA of the past has evolved into a much more tailored and naturalistic therapy method for children with autism.

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Naturalistic, engaging, play-based and child-directed form of intervention using NET (Natural Environment Teaching).

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Treatment takes place within the ordinary routines of daily living, occurring during mealtimes, playtime, bath time, and other natural parts of a child’s day.

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Programs are customized to the needs, values, and culture of each child and family.

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Strongly involves choice-making and child-centered planning, in which each family steers and helps make decisions about their goals and treatment plans with the specialists.

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Our Dedicated Team

Highly vetted and trained in ABA therapies.

Kerby DeJesus

Clinical Director of our Charlotte, NC Center and BCBA

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Clinical Director of our Fayetteville and Pinehurst, NC Centers, and a BCBA

Pamela Bartsch

Clinical Director of our Eagle, ID Center, and a BCBA

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Enrollment Manager

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Talent Acquisition Manager

Vanessa Vega

Human Resource Generalist

Real Expertise You Can Trust.

Kerby DeJesus

Clinical Director of our Charlotte, NC Center and BCBA

Kerby’s passion lies in early intervention, functional communication, and social skills development. She graduated from Endicott College in 2014 with a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and a concentration in Human Services.  She was introduced to the field of ABA and love of working with children with autism through a series of undergraduate internships. Kerby earned a Masters in Education and received her BCBA certification again from Endicott College in 2017. Outside of work, Kerby loves spending time with her husband and daughter, and enjoying the outdoors.

Amanda Swanson

Clinical Director of our Fayetteville and Pinehurst, NC Centers, and a BCBA

Amanda has been working with children and teenagers diagnosed with Autism since 2017.  She continually challenges herself to improve her knowledge and experience in the field, and strives to hear the voices of those she works with by providing quality individualized compassion and understanding. Amanda received her undergraduate in Psychology and her Master’s Degree in Special Education while traveling the United States and the world as a military spouse. She began her career working in schools as a resource teacher then moved into counseling in residential programs for at-risk youth. During this time she became aware of the challenges faced by individuals with developmental disorders and began her pursuit and passion of becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).

Pamela Bartsch

Clinical Director of our Eagle, ID Center, and a BCBA

Pam is originally from Southern California and now resides with her family in Boise, Idaho. She has over 11 years of special education experience, working with children with profound disabilities as well as those with a mental health diagnosis. Her passion is in working with families to support their children in ways those families did not even think were possible – and foster transformational growth to her clients. Outside work, you will find Pam and her family camping, in the summer, playing in the snow in the winter, and on the sports fields in the fall and spring.

Christine Jones

Enrollment Manager

With 10 years of experience helping families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Christine’s mission is to provide initial and ongoing support, communication and peace of mind every step of the way.

She is the human Opal engine that keeps everything seamless between Opal and its families served. Christine has her Master of Science degree in Behavioral Health and uses her strong expertise to compassionately guide families during their transition into ABA.

Jacqueline Yulick

Talent Acquisition Manager

With extensive operational expertise in ABA, Jacqueline has an unwavering commitment to advocating for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities. Drawing on several years of experience in the field, she possesses a unique perspective on identifying and developing individuals ready to advance their careers and positively impact the lives of children with autism. Jacqueline is a devoted mother, community volunteer, and accomplished artist. Her genuine passion and dedication to community and the arts are just a few of the qualities that make her an excellent role model for those around her.

Vanessa Vega

Human Resource Generalist

As Opal’s Human Resource Generalist, Vanessa leads a team dedicated to attracting, developing, and retaining top talent while fostering a positive and supportive work environment. She focuses on employee well-being and engagement to elevate employee morale and overall productivity. Vanessa is highly committed to supporting employees as they transform the lives of children with autism and their families. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering at her children’s PTO events and spending time with her family.

Along with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, she has 10+ years experience in both military supply chain management and healthcare. With such a diverse background, including a unique blend of skills and dedication to helping others, Vanessa is a valuable asset to the Opal team.