Melaura
Melaura Erickson Tomaino, PhD, BCBA-D
Co-Founder and Principal, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, PhD, BCBA-D
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About

Melaura Erickson-Tomaino, Ph.D., is the Co-Founder and Principal of Port View Preparatory® School. Her prior positions include Director of Clinical Services for Beacon Day School in La Palma, CA, and Behavior Program Supervisor for the Center for Autism Research, Evaluation, and Service in San Diego, CA.

Dr. Tomaino has more than 13 years of experience in serving students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities. Dr. Tomaino has conducted extensive research in ASD with a focus on using communication as the basis for successful teaching and behavior strategies to eliminate the use of restraint in children with autism.

Dr. Tomaino has been an Assistant Professor in the School of Counseling/Psychology at Azusa Pacific University, and has taught numerous graduate courses at Claremont University. She has published multiple articles.

Education

Dr. Tomaino received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2002, a master’s degree in clinical psychology from California State University, Fullerton in 2007, and a Ph.D. in applied developmental psychology from Claremont Graduate University in 2011. She was qualified as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board in 2010 and became a licensed psychologist in 2017 (PSY 29562).

Honors and Awards

  • SABA Student Presenter Grant, Association for Behavior Analysis International, 2010
  • Dean’s Fellowship, for outstanding work in research and academics as a first-year graduate student, Claremont Graduate University, 2008
  • Fellowship Recipient, Claremont Graduate University, 2007-2009
  • Scholarship, for outstanding academic achievement, Tylenol Foundation, 1998

Affiliations

  • California Association for Behavior Analysis, 2008 – present
  • Society for Research in Child Development, 2009 – present
  • Association for Behavior Analysis, 2008 – present
  • Sigma Xi, 2009 – present

Presentations

  • “Reducing Severe Challenging Behaviors Without Restraint: An Examination of Non-Invasive Behavior Analytic Supports.” CEU Presentation, Hawaii Association for Behavior Analysis Annual Conference, Honolulu, HI. (October, 2014)
  • “Teaching conversation to children with autism: A parent implemented script procedure.” “Minimizing the Research to Practice Gap in Autism Treatment Research.” Symposium at Association for Behavior Analysis International Annual Convention, Seattle, WA. Tomaino, M.E., M.H. Charlop, Chair (May, 2012)
  • “An analysis of the effects of PECS training on vocalizations in children with limited speech.” “Assessing the Picture Exchange Communication System across the lifespan: An evaluation of PECS generalization and concomitant increases in vocalizations.” Symposium at Association for Behavior Analysis International Annual Convention, San Antonio, TX. Erickson, M.A., Greenberg, A.L., & Charlop, M.H., Chair. (May, 2010)
  • “Evaluating generalization of the Picture Exchange Communication System in children with autism.” “Assessing the Picture Exchange Communication System across the lifespan: An evaluation of PECS generalization and concomitant increases in vocalizations. Symposium at the Association for Behavior Analysis International Annual Convention, San Antonio, TX. Greenberg, A.L., Erickson, M.A., & Charlop, M.H. (May, 2010)
  • “An analysis of parents’ use of evidence-based treatments in four different populations.” “Parents’ adoption of evidence-based treatments for their children with autism.” Symposium at the California Association for Behavior Analysis Annual Convention, Irvine, CA. Erickson, M.A., Berquist, K., & Charlop, M.H. (February, 2010)
  • “Is evidence based treatment important to parents of children with autism? A comparison of CAM use between parents of children with Cerebral Palsy and Down Syndrome. In D. B. Malmberg (Chair). “Evaluating interventions available for children with autism: The Importance of Evidence Based Treatments.” Symposium at the Association for Behavior Analysis International Annual Convention, Scottsdale, AZ. Erickson, M.A., Berquist, K., & Charlop, M. H. (May, 2009)
  • “Does the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) result in speech acquisition? An assessment of language development in children learning to communicate with PECS. In D. B. Malmberg (Chair). “Using Visual Strategies to Promote the Acquisition of Communication and Social Skills of Children with Autism.” Symposium at the Association for Behavior Analysis International Annual Convention, Chicago, IL. Erickson, M. A., Greenberg, A.L., & Charlop-Christy, M. H. (May, 2008)
  • “Is the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) Functional? An Assessment of PECS Generalization. In D. B. Malmberg (Chair). “Using Visual Strategies to Promote the Acquisition of Communication and Social Skills of Children with Autism.” Symposium at the Association for Behavior Analysis International Annual Convention, Chicago, IL. Greenberg, A.L., Erickson, M.A., Charlop-Christy, M.H. (May, 2008)

Publications

  • “Social Skills: What are they and how are they taught at the Claremont Autism Center?” Charlop, M.H. & Tomaino, M.E. (Manuscript in press)
  • “Teaching conversation to children with autism: Assessment of the efficacy of a parent-implemented script procedure” Tomaino, M. E. & Charlop, M.H. (2011)
  • “Assessing generalization of the Picture Exchange Communication System in children with Autism,” Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 24, 539-558. doi: 10.1007/s10882-012-9288-y. Greenberg, A. L., Tomaino, M. E., & Charlop, M.H. (2012)
  • “Adapting the Picture Exchange Communication System to Elicit Vocalizations in children with Autism,” Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities. doi: 10.1007/s10882-013-9344-2. Greenberg, A. L., Tomaino, M. E., & Charlop, M.H. (2012)
  • “Social Skills: What are they and how are they taught at the Claremont Autism Center?” Charlop, M.H. & Tomaino, M.E. (Manuscript in press)
  • “Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine by Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Comparison to Children with Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, and No Diagnosis.” Tomaino, M.E., Berquist,K. & Charlop, M. H. (Manuscript in preparation)
  • “Increasing Vocabulary through Question-asking for Children with Autism.” Charlop, M.H., Le, L., Tomaino, M.E. (Manuscript in preparation)preparation)

Personal

Dr. Tomaino spends her free time playing with and caring for her two children. She loves to cook and volunteer at the preschool when she is not at Port View Prep. When she needs to decompress you can find her running or at pilates.