It's about family. It’s about friends. It’s about children. It’s about ABA. 

 

 

Maricela Fisher (a.k.a. Mari) was no stranger to the world of special education. Growing up with a special education teacher as a mother, Mari was able to begin seeing not only the compassion and love that her mother provided to her student’s day in and day out. This allowed Mari to see from a young age that different doesn’t mean bad – it just simply means uniquely you! Mari was determined to live a life much like her mother’s, constantly searching for ways to help those who were uniquely themselves. She often says, “it simply takes understanding, passion for making the world a little bit better, and most of all, respect.” Setting out to make a difference, Mari found a job as a Registered Behavior Technician at an ABA clinic. She fell in love with the work and found herself working as an RBT for eight years before obtaining her Master of Science in Psychology and becoming a Board-Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA). Seeing the same kind of difference, she was able to bring as a BCaBA that her mother made in special education, Mari decided to pursue her certification as a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst.  

Then there’s Anthony Roy (a.k.a. just Anthony)... Anthony began his career as an Insurance Sales Representative, Always being ready for a new challenge to tackle, Anthony began trying to learn as much about insurance as he could. After being in the insurance industry for over five years, Anthony decided it was time for a change. Feeling like he needed a new challenge, Anthony decided to go back to school, finishing his Master of Science in Business and then working at an in-home speech, occupational, and physical therapy company for children where he met his greatest influencer yet, an Occupational Therapist (OT) with a true passion for helping kiddos in need. After a few short minutes of conversation, Anthony began working side-by-side with the OT to build the home therapy company. This OT’s passion was so infectious, Anthony found himself wanting to help children just like the OT. Together, Anthony and the OT helped bring therapy services to so many children in the greater Houston area, until needing to take a medical leave to tend to ill family. 
 

And that is how we get back to our story. As fate would have it, Anthony accepted an Operations role at the very ABA clinic where Mari was already working to change children’s lives for the better. The natural chemistry and the aligned passion for making a difference united Mari and Anthony in a friendship for the ages! As time would go on, Anthony would leave the clinic to attend to his own medical issues and Mari would relocate to Georgia with her family for a new opportunity as a BCBA. But that didn’t stop the friendship, or the shared connections. As time went on, Mari knew she needed to stop accepting the rules of other companies who only chase profit and open her own clinic. Partnering together, Mari and Anthony would make a promise to each other and to their potential future patients that no matter what the scenario, the patient comes first, the passion for making a difference in kiddos lives comes second, and profits are last in line.

 

Together, they make up only one part of Shaping Dreams. Their patients, their patient’s families, and their team make up the other parts. We want to help you, help your child realize their dreams!