Kyo was founded in San Francisco, CA in 2005 by Melissa Willa and Colin Davitian, under the name Gateway Learning Group. As a BCBA and former special education teacher, Melissa was inspired to start her own company, providing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy services to children with autism and developmental disabilities.

“I got started in ABA during my college years after reading an influential book, written by the parent of a child with autism, called “Let Me Hear Your Voice”.  I was studying to become a teacher and found the principles and methods associated with ABA to be fascinating. I was eager to receive training in this approach and connected with two families in upstate NY who were hiring college students to work with their children with autism.

Working with these two little boys was life-changing for me. I learned how effective ABA can be at helping a child to expand their language and social skills. I found so many moments of joy in teaching and connecting with these kids and their parents. And I witnessed the struggle that so many families faced back then to access quality services. I felt inspired and compelled to bring this effective intervention to as many kids and families as possible. I went on to pursue in-depth studies of ABA at Teachers College, Columbia University where I obtained a Master’s Degree in Behavior Disorders. Simultaneously I worked in school settings, teaching general elementary education and special education. All of these experiences helped to shape the foundation of our services at Kyo, where we implement behavioral interventions within a developmental framework.” -Melissa Willa, MA, BCBA – Kyo’s Chief Clinical Officer & Co-Founder

Child-Centric ABA Therapy
At Kyo we believe that the right approach for our field is to take a naturalistic and child-centered approach to therapy. To us, autism acceptance means understanding each individual for the gifts that they bring to the world and using their personal interests to guide each therapy session. Each person with ASD has a unique set of motivations, wishes, fears, and triggers. We learn as much as we can about each client and family, in order to design engaging activities that help children make meaningful, measurable steps toward independence.

CORE VALUES

• Humble: We are experts in our field, but we don’t know everything. We are direct and candid, and are always ready to listen to new ideas.
• Curious: We never stop exploring, investigating, and learning.
• Effective: We are focused on the outcomes of every employee, child and family. In their success lies our success.
• Compassionate: We care deeply about helping. We understand how our work impacts the lives of our families outside of the treatment room.
• Tenacious: We don’t give up, or give in. We stop at nothing to ensure that the true potential of every child is reached.

What to Expect From a Job at Kyo

At Kyo, you have the opportunity to help children with autism achieve meaningful life moments. If you’re driven, creative, and love engaging with children, Kyo is the place for you. 

Make Every Moment Count
We inspire and develop people with autism by combining science and empathy. We design customized ABA therapy founded on innovation and creativity. We walk with our families, each step of the way, to make every moment count.

Why Kyo?
We know you have options. If you want a job with purpose, where maintaining a healthy work-life balance is valued and your opinion is sought after, choose Kyo.
 

• Growth: We provide 1:1 Mentorship, a paid RBT credential or state license, ongoing paid training, and leadership opportunities. We reimburse supervision hours and tuition for BCBA graduate students.
• Wellbeing: Kyo offers paid time off and frequent wellness events. We host regular social events and provide bonus opportunities. A healthy work-life balance is modeled throughout the company.
• Benefits: We reimburse your mileage and provide paid drive time between clients. Full-time staff receive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. We also provide an employee assistance program and PPE.

DIVERSITY & BELONGING
Kyo is an Equal Opportunity Employer
At Kyo, we value diverse perspectives and people—it makes us better! We are committed to diversity and inclusion and encourage people from all walks of life to apply for ABA therapy jobs at Kyo. A variety of perspectives leads to more creative thinking about our work, with superior results. We welcome you to join our team.