About ABA For Change

At ABA for Change our mission is to make positive change in the lives of our clients by helping them learn the skills they need to communicate, participate, build friendships, and gain greater independence.

We offer mobile Early Intervention and speech pathology in Adelaide providing home and community based support to children with autism and related developmental delays.

Our programs are all highly individualised and are based on the science of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA).

ABA for Change in Adelaide and our story

At the heart of ABA for Change is a deep dedication to helping children with autism and related developmental delays reach their potential and be free from behaviours of concern that limit their choices and inclusion. We are a family operated service provider with life-long experience in the field of disability reaching over three continents; Australia, Europe and Africa. We have experience from operating residential care facilities for young people with neurodiversity and an associated school for over 20 years in Sweden, ten years of experience providing early intervention to young children with autism in Australia and operating an orphanage in rural Malawi supporting children with trauma backgrounds.

Passionate about teaching functional communication skills

Our Clinical Director Alexandra has a background in natural science and moved to Australia with her family to conduct full-time research at the School of Biomedical Science at the University of Adelaide after completing her PhD in Molecular Genetics at Stockholm University in Sweden. After a research career publishing articles in prestigious scientific journals Alexandra decided to change focus, continuing the path she and her husband Magnus had followed in Sweden by providing skill building therapy to children and young people with autism.

ABA for Change founded in 2017

Alexandra was the very first to pursue and complete her certification as a Behaviour Analyst in South Australia and founded ABA for Change in 2017. Alexandra is passionate about providing services to the highest standard possible to her clients and takes a particular interest in teaching functional communication skills, increasing personal independence skills and reducing behaviours of concern.

Senior clinicians working closely together

At ABA for Change we have a solid team of senior clinicians working closely together supporting each and every client, each with their own special interests and field of expertise. Alexandra and Kate have worked together since 2013 and shaped ABA for Change into the highly specialised service provider it is today!

certified behaviour analyst adelaide south australia

Alexandra Ahlgren

Clinical Director

Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA)
PhD Molecular Genetics

Alexandra is passionate about providing services to the highest standard possible to her clients and takes a particular interest in teaching functional communication skills, increasing personal independence skills and reducing behaviours of concern.

Alexandra Ahlgren Bio

Kate Smith

Program Supervisor

MA ABA, Bachelors Psychology Honours
Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA)

Kate’s special interests include reduction of challenging behaviour that present a barrier to independence and inclusion. Kate is experiened and passionate about teaching functional communication including PECS and other AACs for non-vocal learners and to increase independence by teaching daily living skills.

Kate Smith Bio

Ellonye Keniry

Speech Pathologist

MSpPath, MSPA, CPSP

Ellonye completed her Master of Speech Pathology through Flinders University in 2022 and prior to graduating she worked as a speech therapy assistant providing one-on-one therapy for children with limited language, play and social skills, and sensory challenges. To provide the best possible therapy to her clients, Ellonye has pursued and completed a wide range of specialised training in the areas of play, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and sensory regulation.

Ellonye Keniry Bio