About Us

Director of Family Services

Juli Augustin, M.Ed., BCBA, COBA

Juli Augustin is the director of family services for ABA Behavioral Specialists. She graduated from the University of Akron with a bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and a master’s degree in Special Education with a concentration in Early Intervention. She also earned a Behavior Intervention Specialist certificate and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).

Growing up, Juli admired how her mother, a special education teacher, made a difference in her students’ lives. She followed in her mother’s footsteps and began volunteering and tutoring children with special needs in her youth. It was that experience that shaped her future career at ABA, and she still strives to help special needs children every day. To Juli, the most rewarding part of her job is seeing the children she works with begin to make progress on a skill that they did not previously have before, like when a child starts to request items with words instead of just grabbing them.

When she’s not at work, Juli enjoys taking her two dogs hiking and swimming, spending time with her niece and nephew, cooking and working out at Orangetheory.

Administrative Professional

Sarah James, M.A., BCBA, LBA

Sarah James received her bachelor’s in psychology with a minor in sociology at Kent State University. She then moved to Texas and received her master’s in applied Behavior Analysis at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. As a three-year graduate student, she was selected to participate in the LoneStar LEND Fellowship in Houston (Leadership Education and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities). This is a training program designed to develop leaders in the field of autism spectrum disorder and other neurodevelopmental disabilities (ASD/DD) using a 10-month, interdisciplinary training model focused on leadership, cultural competence and evidence-based practice.

She started her journey working with individuals with Autism 12 years ago. She has worked with individuals as young as two years old and as old as 65 years old. She has been practicing as a BCBA for the last 8 years. She went in this field because she loves being a part of improving an individual’s functional independence and quality of life. She loves being a Behavior Analyst! To Sarah, the most rewarding part of her job is to meet and provide a service that impacts so many people in her client’s life. She finds it so rewarding to watch her clients achieve their goals, but it is even more rewarding when that accomplishment affects the whole family. 

When she is not at work, she likes to spend time with her family. Her family loves spending time on their new boat and fishing. She also loves to cook for her family and making custom cakes.

Board Certified Behavioral Analyst

Nikolette Scruggs

As a Board Certified Behavioral Analyst (BCBA), Nikolette Scruggs empowers individuals every day to reach their full potential. It is why she became an BCBA. Nikolette received her master’s degree in special education and behavior intervention certificate from Kent State University and has been helping people ever since. 

For Nikolette, the most rewarding aspect of her career is having the opportunity to meet and get to know so many amazing children and families. She works daily to help them accomplishment new goals and learn new skills. 

When she is not at work helping children, she enjoys spending time with her own young son as well as reading and playing volleyball.

Registered Behavior Technician

Marcus Samblanet

Marcus Samblanet has been a registered behavior technician (RBT) at ABA Behavioral Specialists since 2018, after spending five years in special education. He received his undergraduate degree in speech pathology and audiology and earned a master’s degree in speech pathology as well. He is currently working on his Master of Education in Foundations in Behavior Analysis.

Marcus found his passion for this field after watching a close family member make significant progress thanks to receiving speech services after an accident. It is rewarding for him to help individuals make socially significant changes in their lives and the impact that it has on their families as well.

In his free time, Marcus enjoys spending time with his wife and dog, remodeling homes and golfing.

Registered Behavior Technician

Lindsay Gaski

As a Registered Behavior Technician for ABA, Lindsay Gaski works directly with individuals and their families to provide behavior-analytic services, aiding in implementing behavior plans that are developed by a BCBA.

Prior to joining ABA Behavioral Specialists, Lindsay worked as a school psychologist. She graduated from California University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and then attended Kent State University where she received her education specialist degree (Ed.S.) in school psychology. She is currently working to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

Lindsay chose this profession to help make a positive impact on the lives of those she works with and their families. The most rewarding aspect of this work for Lindsay is seeing the growth in clients and watching as they reach new milestones and gain independence. 

In her spare time, Lindsay enjoys traveling, painting, playing sand volleyball, biking, and spending time with friends and family.

Registered Behavior Technician

Kortney Lindsey

Kortney Lindsey has been a registered behavior technician since 2015, but he did not take a traditional path to this role. He attended The University of Akron with a triple major in accounting, business management and musical theatre, but he found his passion for helping children with developmental or behavioral diagnoses after being asked to work with a child who struggled finding a caretaker because of his severe aggressive behaviors. Working with this child led him to become an RBT and learn more about applied behavior analysis.

For Kortney, seeing a child grow, learn and discover ways to live in their community with a happy and successful quality of life is the most rewarding aspect of his job. Although, he also enjoys helping parents have moments with their little ones that they thought were no longer possibilities is a close second. 

Outside of work, Kortney helps his friend raise his son and also volunteers at a church doing mission work. He also enjoys get-togethers with friends having Just Dance parties or bonfires at the lake.

Registered Behavior Technician

Bailey Driscoll

Bailey Driscoll is a registered behavior technician (RBT) for ABA Behavioral Specialists. Previously, she worked as a one-on-one classroom aide for a child with autism spectrum disorder. She received her Bachelor of Science in social work with a minor in disability studies from The Ohio State University and finished her Master of General Special Education as well as the Behavior Intervention Specialist Certificate Program at Kent State University.

She chose this career path because it combined all of her interests, including psychology, social work, counseling, children, creativity, disabilities, education and helping people. Seeing the progress and growth of clients while teaching them skills that will last a lifetime as well as helping parents learn to help their children are some of the things that Bailey finds rewarding about working for ABA.

Outside of work, Bailey likes to take her dog on walks or to the dog park to make new friends! She also enjoys visiting her family’s lake house, trying new restaurants and exercising.