About Our Business
Functional Learning Centre launched in January 2014 in the city of Victoria in British Columbia and expanded to the Westshore soon after.
Our business has served both the Victoria and West Shore communities for near to ten years, positively affecting the lives of our clients. Many of them still attend to this day.
Philosophy
By embracing systematic and strategic planning, staying updated with research, continuously enhancing the teaching skills of all team members, supporting and engaging with families, collaborating with fellow professionals, and effectively managing resources, we ensure that learners make remarkable progress in a nurtur
Our Founder
Neveen Zaki has a Master of Science degree in psychology with specialization in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). She also holds a graduate diploma in specific learning difficulties and a graduate certificate in the content and context of inclusion.
Neveen has undergone the intensive training required by the Board of Behaviour Analysts. She has also successfully completed rigorous testing through the Behaviour Analyst Certification Board to prove competence and abilities to provide services.
Additionally, she is a Board-Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA). Neveen is also Category A on the Registry for Autism Service Providers (RASP) list, which is maintained by Autism Community Training (ACT).
Background
Neveen found her heart working with children, and her passion is working with early years. She has been in the field since 1992 working with students and adults with ASD and other developmental/ behavioural disorders in Canada, Egypt, and Jordan.
Her extensive experience includes conducting skill assessments, developing treatment plans that address each student's individual needs to develop the independence and social skills needed to allow for inclusion in the least restrictive environment.
Additionally, her work includes conducting on-site supervision and training behaviour interventionists (BCaBAs and BCBAs) to ensure treatment integrity and procedural fidelity across environments.
She enjoys working closely with families through providing parent training, consultation, and workshops equally using English and Arabic. A critical part of her job is working towards inclusion to schools and in the community through providing support to school and vocational staff.
Neveen participated as a speaker in conferences promoting inclusion and diversity.
Using her educational background in inclusive education, she provides provisions and modifications to school curriculum and community settings.
Her goal is to facilitate transitions through adjusting grouping, setting up class, modifying activities, and supporting teachers and therapists through in-service training and workshops in Canada, Jordan, and Egypt.
Neveen continues to enjoy having a job where she can still blow bubbles, finger paint, and play hide and seek. She still has someone to laugh herself silly with and continues to read the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh.
Gail Guptill – Speech and Language Pathologist
Gail Guptill is a registered speech-language pathologist with a Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology from UBC. She has many years of experience working with children of all ages who have autism.
Gail worked at BC Children’s Hospital on a diagnostic team for autism. In addition, she worked at both Queen Alexandra Centre in Victoria and at Sunnyhill Hospital in Vancouver, specializing in augmentative communication for autistic children.
She also has 20 years of experience working in the school district (assessment and therapy for special needs children).
Her special skills include sign language level 4 and certificates in PECS training and ABA training. She has had extensive training in:
- Executive Functioning in Children
- Touch Chat for the iPad
- Early Literacy
- Apraxia Treatment
- Language Facilitation for Delayed Children
- Visual Supports for Autistic Children
Heather Carlos, B.A., BCaBA® Senior Behavioral Instructor
Heather has worked with children ever since high school, whether it was as a piano teacher, sports instructor, or behavior therapist. She has been working in the field of ABA since 2008 and has experience working one-on-one with children at school and in clinic-based and home-based environments.
Heather has experience implementing a variety of teaching methods including Discrete Trial Teaching (DTT), Natural Environment Teaching (NET), and Direct Instruction (DI). In 2008, Heather received her Bachelor of Arts Degree, double-majoring in both Psychology and Speech Science. After graduation, she began practicing as a behavior interventionist for children diagnosed with ASD.
Heather went on to receive her Disabilities and Applied Behavior Analysis Citation from Douglas College and obtained her BCaBA certification in May 2012.
Chloe DaMata, BSc Psychology, Registered Behaviour Technician RBT®
Chloe obtained her BSc. in Psychology from the University of Victoria. Her interest in the science of human behaviour and the brain has led to a passion for helping youths build on their personal strengths through creativity and play.
Throughout her education, Chloe volunteered in schools, participated as a research assistant on the topic of refugee mental health services, and worked as an emotional support worker for vulnerable youth. She also holds a certificate in first aid and crisis intervention.
Chloe is a Registered Behaviour Technician (RBT)®
Outside of work, Chloe spends her time creating art. She carries this creativity to the workplace and loves using art projects as learning opportunities for the kids she works with, while allowing them to explore their creative side.
Chloe Scott - B.Sc. Psychology-Registered Behaviour Technician RBT®
Chloe graduated from the University of Victoria with a B.Sc. in Psychology in 2021.
She has always loved working with children, and is thrilled she has found a career that incorporates her interest in psychology with her desire to help kiddos reach their full potential regardless of circumstance.
Prior to working at FLC, Chloe started her ABA journey working as an in-home behaviour interventionist, where she helped learners develop self-help, social, and academic skills. Chloe has earned her RBT certification, and can better serve her learners.
During her free time Chloe enjoys reading, running her book club, and collecting sea glass at the beach.
Catherine Aniezue- BA Psychology- Registered Behaviour Technician RBT®
Catherine is a behaviour technician with a BA in Psychology from Emory University.
She is originally from Nigeria, and lived in the U.S. for eight years, before relocating to Victoria, BC to pursue her Master’s in Educational Psychology. Catherine has worked with children in various capacities over the past six years. Most recently, she has worked as a behaviour technician at an autism center in the U.S., as well as an out of school care leader and support worker at a school in Victoria.
Catherine is passionate about working with children with disabilities. She uses her experiences, knowledge, and skills from different cultures, communities, and learning environments to provide empathetic support to children in their development and to help them build the skills they need for a successful life.
Fatemeh Banaha, BSc. Psychology – Behaviour Interventionist
Fatemeh Banaha is passionate about supporting children's development through education and psychology. She earned my BSc in Psychology from Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran, Iran. She is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Educational Psychology with a concentration in special education.
In Iran, she had the privilege of working as an Assistant School Psychologist at a school for Afghan refugee students, where she provided vital psychological support to children facing significant challenges. She also worked as a tutor and educational counselor in various schools and institutions, helping students achieve their academic goals and addressing their emotional needs
Klaus Benker, MA Education – Senior Behaviour Interventionist
Klaus is a full-time educator with School District 62 (Sooke) responsible for providing individual educational programs for students who have social/emotional challenges.
He has worked as a principal and vice-principal in both elementary and middle schools. Before that, he worked as a youth and family counselor in a behaviour support program. He has a Master of Education degree is in English language arts, specializing in reading remediation.
Klaus is now following his dream to gain a degree in the field of law. We wish him all the best.