Diagnostic Evaluation

Dr. Natalie Parks is a licensed psychologist and doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst with more than 25 years of experience supporting children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. Her clinical career spans early-intervention programs, intensive day-treatment centers, inpatient facilities, and school-based services. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at the renowned Kennedy Krieger Institute/Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and her post-doctoral fellowship at the Marcus Autism Center, where she developed a parent-training program for families of children with speech delays and mild to moderate challenging behavior. Dr. Natalie was among the first BCBAs to work at the University of Missouri’s Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders and helped lay the groundwork for what is now the center’s Annual Thompson Center Conference. Drawing on her dual training in school psychology and applied behavior analysis, she has conducted countless comprehensive diagnostic assessments and created individualized treatment plans that integrate evidence-based practices with a deep understanding of family and community needs.

A nationally recognized leader in both behavior analysis and social justice, Dr. Natalie’s life’s work is to dismantle systemic inequities and increase belonging. As the president-elect of the Missouri Association for Behavior Analysis (MOABA) and former Program Director of a master’s-level Applied Behavior Analysis program, she has trained and mentored the next generation of clinicians while helping universities—including Truman State University—develop their own ABA graduate programs. She brings this commitment directly into her clinical work by using culturally responsive diagnostic methods—ensuring that each evaluation respects the unique cultural context, language, and lived experiences of every child and family. Dr. Natalie is also a prolific author whose publications include The Behavior of Social Justice (2024), Feedback F!@#ups, OBM Entrepreneur, and Leadership in Behavior Analysis, each reflecting her dedication to merging rigorous behavioral science with practical strategies for inclusive leadership and organizational change.

Beyond the field of autism and developmental disabilities, Dr. Natalie applies the science of behavior to organizational behavior management, helping organizations increase efficiency, streamline processes, expand strategically, and cultivate cultures of belonging. She also partners with first responders to foster inclusive workspaces and provides executive coaching to leaders seeking to drive meaningful, evidence-based change.

Beverly Kirby is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with more than 25 years of experience supporting children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. Her entrepreneurial spirit flourished with the co-founding of The S.P.A.R.K.S. Group, an organization dedicated to providing applied behavior analysis (ABA) services to Black and Brown communities and to increasing the representation of Black and Brown clinicians in the field. She successfully sold this business—becoming the first Black woman to sell a thriving ABA practice—before exploring the application of ABA to enhance sports performance, health, and fitness. Beverly later earned her doctorate in school psychology at Temple University, where she completed multiple practicum and externships focused on comprehensive diagnosis and assessment.

Recognizing that accurate and timely diagnosis is the critical first step to receiving appropriate services, Beverly is committed to creating a model that reduces wait times and expands access to assessment for underserved populations. A co-author of The Behavior of Social Justice (2024), she is deeply involved in advancing the intersection of behavior analysis and social justice. Beverly has helped numerous ABA organizations launch and scale their services, mentoring leaders and shaping programs that broaden access and elevate standards of care. Through her clinical expertise, entrepreneurial leadership, and tireless advocacy, she continues to merge rigorous behavioral science with a powerful commitment to equity—ensuring that both diagnosis and treatment become more accessible and inclusive for all.