Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs)

Robert Schramm, MA, BCBA (Certificant 1-04-1960)

Robert grew up very close to his uncle Mickey (not pictured) who was born with Downs Syndrome. It is because of a desire to see better lives for people like Mickey that Robert became a Special Education instructor. Robert has been a certified teacher in California and Illinois since graduating from Southern Illinois University in 1991. He has a Master's degree in special education from California State University - Dominguez Hills and finished the required studies to get his Board Certification as a Behavior Analyst by the University of North Texas. In addition to his University education, Robert has also had the pleasure of participating in 3 workshops with Verbal Behavior/ABA Specialist, Dr. James Partington in California and 2 workshops from the Carbone clinic in New York (two of the leading names in modern ABA). Additionally Robert has engaged in many other ABA and Verbal Behavior workshops and trainings around the world including Dr. Mark Sundberg's recent workshop on his brand new assessement, "The VB-MAPP." In addition to his ABA experiences, Robert has also received training in TEACCH, PECS, Sign Language, Floortime, and Crisis Prevention and Intervention. Robert's book "Educate Toward Recovery" was published in 2006 and Robert has become a highly sought after international Speaker giving workshops and presentations on ABA/VB around the world. Additionally, Robert has been given a professorship at Oldenburg University and recently co-authored a chapter on Verbal Behavior in Sven Boelte's new University textbook called "Autismus".   Robert brings all of this knowledge and experience to his work with children as well as his training and supervision of the Knospe-ABA staff. To keep up with the latest information and techniques, Robert continues to return to the States regularly for workshops and seminars with the goal of staying on top of the latest information and developments in the field.

Robert's recent workshops and congresses of attendance:

2003: Teaching Language to Children with Autism or Other D.D. – Behavior Analysts, Inc., California, USA
2003: The Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills (The ABLLS) – Behavior Analysts, Inc., California, USA
2003: Teaching Children with Language Delays – Behavior Analysts, Inc., California, USA
2003: Teaching Verbal Behavior: Hands on Training for Tutors and Therapists – The Carbone Clinic, New York, USA
2005: Guiding the Development and Implementation of an Intensive Behavior Program for Teaching Language and Basic Learner Skills – The Carbone Clinic, New York, USA
2005: Autism Congress – Leipzig, Germany
2005: Autism Congress – Innsbruck, Austria (presenter)
2005: European Autism Symposium – Frankfurt, Germany (presenter)
2006: Long Island Autism Conference – Long Island, New York, USA
2006: International Autism Congress - Buenos Aires, Argentina (presenter)
2007: Hands on Training for Tutors, Therapists, and Consultants - Establishing Operations inc., London, UK
2007: ABA International Convention - San Diego, California, USA
2007: International Autism Congress - Santa Fe, Argentina (presenter)
2008: ABA International Convention - Chicago Illinois, USA (workshop presenter)
2008: PROMPT Speech and Language Method Worskhop - Germany

* Acceptance by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board is the highest recognition that can be earned in the field of Behavior Analysis. The BACB currently has over 4000 certificants (BCBA’s) in 20 different countries. To find out more about the importance of having a Board Certified Behavior Analyst overseeing the development of your child’s program, or the requirements to becoming a BCBA, please visit the BACB website at www.BACB.com.

Benno Böckh, MSc Psy, ABA, BCBA

Benno started working with people with various physical and mental disabilities in a residential home unit run by Annastift e.V. in Hannover, Germany, during his compulsory state social service in 1996/1997. He studied psychology at the University of Wales, Bangor, UK finishing in 2002 with an MSc in Psychology and Psychological Research Methods. During his study Benno researched psychological factors underlying dyslexia under renowned Professor Tim Miles C. Psych., FBPsS, and worked in community based programs and events engaging local children with music, arts and community performance. In 2004 Benno started voluntary work for the North Wales Clinical Trust, before becoming a residential social worker in homes and respite units assessing and supporting the educational needs of teenagers with learning disabilities in 2005. Through this work he learned to appreciate the importance of behavioral methods in the work with learning disabled individuals and in late 2005 started his study for a Postgraduate Diploma in ABA at the University of Wales, Bangor, one of the highest regarded Universities for ABA outside of the U.S. In early 2006 Benno started working for the School of Psychology run “Bangor Centre for Developmental Disabilities” (BCDD) as a behavioral support worker. Also in 2006 Benno became associate behavior analyst to Dr Sandy Toogood Ph.D., BCBA, the then clinical director of the BCDD, and became responsible for behavioral program writing, data analysis, and staff training. Since 2006 Benno has been working with severely behaviorally challenged teenagers with autism in their homes and in the community and has been directly involved in the support and supervision of their personal, social and academic development. Additionally, in November of 2008, Benno participated in a one-day PROMPT, Speech and language workshop in which he learned the basic prompts and tactics from Elizabeth Kuegeler, SLP. After joining the Knospe-ABA team in December of 2007, Benno passed his exam and completed all of his requirements to become a Board Certified as a Behavior Analyst (BCBA) in the Spring of 09.

Silva Kleinfeld, MA, BCBA (Certificant 0-07-2422)

Silva has been working on behalf of children with autism for 11 years. In 1998, she graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in developmental psychology. From 1998 through 2006, she provided one-on-one behavioral therapy to children with autism. She also designed behavioral interventions and educational programs, trained other therapists, and worked with parents and teachers in providing home-based care. Much of her training during this time was with Professor Ivar Lovaas of The Life Institute in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Lovaas has been a leading figure in the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA) since it was first applied to helping children with Autism. In addition to being certified as an associate behavior Analyst (BCABA) from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (www.bacb.com), from 2006 through 2008, Silva returned to school, earning a master’s degree in ABA at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Her master's thesis concerned applications of Verbal Behavior. While in school, she worked at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Maryland, a renowned inpatient facility for children and adolescents with extreme forms of autism and other severe developmental disorders. The Kennedy Kreiger Institute is one of the foremost ABA research institutes in the States. At the end of 2008, Silva moved to Frankfurt with her husband. She joined Knospe-ABA in March of 2009 with the goal of continuing the work she loves and to which she has devoted her career: providing care for children with autism and their families. In September of 2009, Silva passed her exam and completed all of her requirements to become Board Certified as a Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Silva is working mainly with American Military families throughout the middle and south of Germany.

Daniel Hurwitz, BCABA (Certificant 0-07-2212)

Daniel first learned about applied behavior analysis as an undergraduate in St. Louis, Missouri. From 2001 to 2003, he spent working as a therapist in a home-based ABA program for an elementary school student. Under the tutelage of the student’s mother, Daniel was introduced to functional analysis of behavior and Skinner’s analysis of verbal behavior. During his time as a therapist, Daniel began the course sequence to obtain certification as a Board Certified Associate Behavior Analyst and had the opportunity to attend Dr. Vincent Carbone’s Workshop #1: Introduction to Verbal Behavior. This workshop left Daniel with a strong desire to deepen his understanding of the effective teaching practices based on the principles of ABA. After completing a Bachelors of Art in Social Thought and Analysis from Washington University in St. Louis in 2004, Daniel moved to New York, where he took a position as an instructor at The Carbone Clinic. He spent two years working one-on-one with students diagnosed with autism and other developmental disabilities. He helped develop instructional programs for basic communication, daily living skills, reading, and math. During his time at The Carbone Clinic, Daniel worked at a two-day parent workshop where parents came to learn about setting up home programs. In 2006, Daniel completed the requirements and passed the exam to obtain his BCABA certification. From New York, Daniel moved to Rhode Island, where he took a position with The Groden Center as a treatment coordinator working on home programs for kids with developmental disabilities throughout the state. Daniel worked in conjunction with schools, speech pathologists, and, especially, parents to introduce teaching programs based on ABA. While at The Groden Center, Daniel developed an introductory training for all new staff to introduce them to the importance of making learning fun and always using a functional analysis of behavior. While in Rhode Island, Daniel pursued his interest in sign language through study at The Rhode Island School for the Deaf. Daniel learned about Knospe-ABA after reading reviews of Robert’s book. He read it and immediately began recommending it to colleagues and parents. Daniel moved to Germany in July 2009 to join the Knospe-ABA team. Daniel is now consulting with American Military and other English speaking families in Europe.

Allison Kane, M.Ed., BCBA (Certificant 1-06-2866)

Allison began her work with children with special needs in 2002 when she worked for the Cleveland Clinic “Summer Treatment Program” for children with ADHD. She found her experiences very rewarding and became passionate about helping children with special needs reach their full potential. That fall, while pursuing her Bachelors of Art in both Psychology and German Studies at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio, she started working with children with autism and their families in Columbus, Ohio, using the principles of ABA . Immediately, she knew she wanted to learn and do as much as she could to help children with autism and their families. In 2004, Allison entered the Early Childhood Special Education Masters of Education program at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. While there, Allison worked with children with autism, using ABA programs focusing on Incidental Teaching, Discrete Trial Instruction, Verbal Behavior principles, and Milieu Language Teaching strategies. During her time at Vanderbilt, Allison also completed the coursework for her BCBA certification and experience through the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Behavior Analysis Clinic. From August 2006 to June 2008, Allison lived in Savannah, Georgia, where she helped children with autism transition into inclusion elementary school classrooms as a special education teacher and BCBA. There she was responsible for supporting children with autism in a general education environment and training teachers and paraprofessionals to work with these students in that environment. After an intensive training period with Robert, Allison shares her talents with military and civilian families in southern Germany beginning in September of 2008. Additionally, in November of 2008, Allison participated in a one-day PROMPT, Speech and language workshop in which she learned the basic prompts and tactics from Elizabeth Kuegeler, SLP.

Allison has returned to the States and has started her own company called Kane ABA Consulting.   We are big fans of Allison and her work and continue to recommend her for those of you in the States looking for top notch ABA/VB services.   Allison can be contacted at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

* Acceptance by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board is the highest recognition that can be earned in the field of Behavior Analysis. The BACB currently has over 4000 certificants (BCBA’s) in 20 different countries. To find out more about the importance of having a Board Certified Behavior Analyst overseeing the development of your child’s program, or the requirements to becoming a BCBA, please visit the BACB website at www.BACB.com .