ONTARIO – A local parent’s story of challenge and advocacy led to SparkJoy Applied Behavior Analysis’ first brick-and-mortar location.

Donnie Gallagher, founder and clinical director of SparkJoy ABA said, that early on, an Ontario parent reached out, advocating for her son, sharing challenges in finding local, quality behavioral services.

This led to the opportunity to work with her son, highlighting the dedication of local families, supporting him and partnering with the school district. Gallagher said they saw the potential to make a lasting impact on Ontario.

“This aligned perfectly with our mission to serve children and families who often face limited access to ABA therapy across Northeast Ohio,” Gallagher said.

SparkJoy ABA celebrated its two-year business anniversary by cutting the ribbon on Tuesday its first location at 2291 Village Park Court.

Mayor of Ontario Kris Knapp, Safety Service Director Adam Gongwer and Richland Area Chamber and Economic Development Director of Member Engagement Jennifer Wagner joined the SparkJoy ABA team for the celebration.

While the Ontario clinic is their first physical location, SparkJoy ABA has been providing home and community-based ABA therapy services throughout Northeast Ohio since 2023.

Applied Behavior Analysis in behavioral health is a therapeutic approach that uses principles of learning and motivation to improve socially significant behaviors. It focuses on understanding how behaviors are learned and how they are affected by the environment, with the goal of promoting positive behavior change. 

ABA is commonly used to help individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities acquire new skills and reduce challenging behaviors. 

Gallagher is a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA) and has been working in this business since he was 18.

“I started SparkJoy with the vision of sparking joy in the lives of children with autism and their families by providing compassionate, evidence-based therapy,” Gallagher said.

After the ribbon-cutting, guests toured the building, mingled and enjoyed refreshments. They also had a raffle for a back-to-school giveaway basket filled with items specially chosen for students with special needs.

Services provided

Gallagher said SparkJoy ABA’s goal is to provide compassionate, evidence-based autism services that help children thrive while supporting families and meeting them where they are.

“We believe every child deserves evidence-based treatment from providers who care as much for their child and family as they do,” Gallagher said.

SparkJoy ABA serves children from 18 months to 18 years. Gallagher said SparkJoy ABA can begin services as early as 18 months, the earliest age autism can often be diagnosed.

Parents and caregivers play an active role in treatment, helping ensure each child’s plan driven by assessment data is continuously adapting to maximize success at home and in the community.

As they continue to develop their vision Gallagher said, they plan to expand program offerings to support additional areas of need for children and families with autism or other developmental disabilities.

The programs and services tailor to each child’s needs and goals, supporting a wide range of learners. These services include:

  • Assessments
  • Functional communication training
  • Social skills training
  • Adaptive skills training
  • Functional behavior assessment
  • Behavior consulting
  • Parent/caregiver training
  • Professional development/staff training
  • Feeding programs
  • Potty training

Gallagher said their Ontario location will expand programs over time, starting with Little Sparks, which offers early intensive behavioral intervention for children 18 months to 5 years.

This program has the children participate in 20 to 40 hours per week of year-round therapy, targeting communication, social interaction, play, daily living and school readiness skills, using individualized ABA under BCBA supervision.

“By combining evidence-based practices with joyful learning, Little Sparks equips children with the foundational skills they need to thrive in school and in life,” Gallagher said.

Connect and learn more

SparkJoy ABA accepts most commercial insurances and Medicaid and they are in the process of applying to be a participating provider for the Ohio Autism Scholarship program.

Families who are interested in SparkJoy ABA can reach them at 216-499-3436 or email info@sparkjoyaba.com. They are active on Facebook and Instagram, and referrals can be submitted on SparkJoyABA.com.

(Pictures from SparkJoy ABA ribbon-cutting ceremony. Picture credit: Hannah Martin)