The faces behind Reach Coastal

Meet our Founders

Christine Blake & Melissa Sheldon

Co-founders

Christine and Melissa are the Founders and Owners of Reach Coastal ABA. They both reside on beautiful Cape Cod with their families (and beloved pets!). They met close to 20 years ago when each was separately hired by a family with a child on the Autism spectrum to provide ABA home services. After just a short time working together Christine and Melissa quickly realized they had similar goals and vision of providing quality ABA services. They teamed up and in following their dreams, opened an ABA company- REACH Educational Services, Inc. It has been a journey that neither would change for the world, difficult at times but so incredibly rewarding! A recent name change to Reach Coastal ABA illustrates their current focus and vision to meet the growing needs of those with Autism on Cape Cod.

Christine Blake

Co-Founder & Clinical Director

M.Ed, BCBA, LABA

Mom • Reader • Traveler • Camper

Special Interest Areas in ABA:

Research

Communication & Social Skills

Training & Supervision

Behavior Intervention

Fun Fact: Christine traveled twice to France and Sweden for international training to learn cutting edge developments in ABA. 

What’s her hidden talent? She’s a floral designer and baker. 

Anything else?

In her free time, she teaches her dog silly tricks.

Special Interest Areas in ABA:

  • Research
  • Communication & Social Skills
  • Training & Supervision
  • Behavior Intervention

Fun Fact: Christine traveled twice to France and Sweden for international training to learn cutting edge developments in ABA. 

What’s her hidden talent? She’s a floral designer and baker. 

Anything else?

In her free time, she teaches her dog silly tricks.

Melissa Sheldon

Co-Founder & Executive Director

M.Ed, LABA

Empathic • Spontaneous • Collaborative • Warm hearted

Special Interest Areas in ABA:

Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis

Organizational Behavior Management

Services for Adults with Autism 

Ethics

Fun Fact: Melissa first started out in Speech Language Pathology…became a Special Education Teacher Assistant and then a teacher of an intensive ABA classroom. She fell in love with the science of ABA- the rewards, the progress, such fun! 

What would surprise you about her? She has been bungee jumping and skydiving.

Anything else?

Coffee Connoisseur

Traveled across the country

Loves to be outdoors and bonfires

Special Interest Areas in ABA:

  • Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis
  • Organizational Behavior Management
  • Services for Adults with Autism 
  • Ethics

Fun Fact: Melissa first started out in Speech Language Pathology…became a Special Education Teacher Assistant and then a teacher of an intensive ABA classroom. She fell in love with the science of ABA- the rewards, the progress, such fun! 

What would surprise you about her? She has been bungee jumping and skydiving.

Anything else?

  • Coffee Connoisseur
  • Traveled across the country
  • Loves to be outdoors and bonfires

Madeline Marasa

Assistant Clinical Director

M.Ed, MAT, BCBA, LABA

Animal Lover • Theatrical • Trendy

Special Interest Areas in ABA:

Toilet Training

Daily Living Skills 

Verbal Behavior 

Eating 

Fun Fact: Madeline discovered the field of ABA through interest in Special Education. 

What would surprise you about her? In college, she won a comedy festival. She’s has a great sense of humor.

Anything else?

She loves Christmas and had a Christmas themed wedding!

She is very involved with community theatre across the Cape both on and off the stage. 

Double Leo with a rising sign in Aries.

Special Interest Areas in ABA:

  • Toilet Training
  • Daily Living Skills 
  • Verbal Behavior 
  • Eating 

Fun Fact: Madeline discovered the field of ABA through interest in Special Education. 

What would surprise you about her? In college, she won a comedy festival. She’s has a great sense of humor.

Anything else?

  • She loves Christmas and had a Christmas themed wedding!
  • She is very involved with community theatre across the Cape both on and off the stage. 
  • Double Leo with a rising sign in Aries.

Alison Jones

Human Resources Administration

Supportive • Beach Loving • Personable • Responsive

Special Interest Areas in ABA:

RBT Training/Skill Development

Health and Wellness

Career Development

Culture and Diversity 

Fun Fact: She was a Behavior Technician/RBT for 10+ years and especially loved teaching leisure activities like bike riding.

How does she like to spend her weekends? Her favorite way to spend a weekend is a trip to NYC with her family. She lived and worked in NY for years and it feels as much like home as the Cape for her.

Anything else?

She loves animals and has had as many as eleven creatures at once.

Special Interest Areas in ABA:

  • RBT Training/Skill Development
  • Health and Wellness
  • Career Development
  • Culture and Diversity 

Fun Fact: She was a Behavior Technician/RBT for 10+ years and especially loved teaching leisure activities like bike riding.

How does she like to spend her weekends? Her favorite way to spend a weekend is a trip to NYC with her family. She lived and worked in NY for years and it feels as much like home as the Cape for her.

Anything else?

She loves animals and has had as many as eleven creatures at once.

Caitie Perryman

M.S., BCBA, LABA

Friendly • Dedicated • Reliable • Down to Earth

Special Interest Areas in ABA:

  • Behavior Reduction 
  • Using ABA in Unique Settings (police training, NIC-U feeding) 
  • Research  

Fun Fact:

Caitie once won Best in Show in an art competition!

How does she like to spend her weekends? 

She enjoys spending her free time hanging out with friends and family, reading mystery novels, shopping local, and walking the beach!

Anything else?

  • She loves Halloween and scary movies
  • She is currently training to run a 10k
  • She plans on traveling to New Zealand next year

Special Interest Areas in ABA:

  • Sleep
  • Daily Living Skills
  • Professional Development

Fun Fact:

Caitie once won Best in Show in an art competition!

How does she like to spend her weekends? 

Caitie enjoys spending her free time hanging out with friends and family, reading mystery novels, shopping local, and walking the beach!

Anything else?

  • She is a Halloween super fan
  • She is a coffee and true crime aficionado
  • She is an avid book reader and hopeful author

Kyle Slavik

M.S.Ed, BCBA, LABA

Loyal • Compassionate • Dedicated • Humorous

Special Interest Areas in ABA:

  • Evaluation and Treatment of Problem Behavior 
  • Transitioning to Adulthood 
  • Curriculum Development
  • Parent Support & Staff Training

Fun Fact:

He lived overseas in Abu Dhabi for two years.

What does Kyle like to do in his free time? 

Spend quality time with his family! 

Anything else?

Kyle has a new baby daughter Sophia, who is 5-months old.

Special Interest Areas in ABA:

  • Evaluation and Treatment of Problem Behavior 
  • Transitioning to Adulthood 
  • Curriculum Development
  • Parent Support & Staff Training

Fun Fact:

He lived overseas in Abu Dhabi for two years.

What does Kyle like to do in his free time? 

Spend quality time with his family! 

Anything else?

Kyle has a new baby daughter Sophia, who is 5-months old.

Let's Chat

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