Michael Thomas Ota

Michael Thomas OTA, with credentials in MEd, MA, BCBA, and LBA, has dedicated over 20 years to shaping the educational landscape. As a seasoned educator, behavioral analyst, editor, author, and consultant, he has effectively worked in both general and special education environments, spanning from Pre-K to college-level settings. His focus lies in behavioral intervention, particularly within educational and community contexts. Michael's unique blend of training and graduate education in technology integration and autism spectrum disorders equips him with innovative tools to tackle challenging situations and implement practical, successful strategies. He advocates for understanding disabilities as all-abilities and views cognitive differences through the lens of neurodiversity. His approach to working with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder emphasizes that they may encounter challenges when external influences try to alter their natural behaviors. Offering services at Raising the Ground, Michael promotes a non-clinic-based model of Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) that employs in-home and in-school services. This person-centered plan respects the individuality of each client, embracing alternatives to behavioral functions instead of relying on compliance training.