Lori is the Executive Director and founder of Applied Behavioral Services Autism Learning Center. Ms. Watson has been serving children with Autism and other developmental disabilities for the past 18 years. Lori founded ABS in 2000, then established Applied Behavioral Services Learning Center in 2004 and ABS Dayton in 2007. Lori is dedicated to Applied Behavioral Services and its mission in providing the most intensive and comprehensive educational placement program for children and their families. Lori believes that with faith, hard work and dedication that ABS will continue to improve the lives of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and provide their families with the support that they need through this journey. Lori spent much of her college years working 1-1 with children with Autism and upon graduating had the opportunity to work with Dr. Tristram Smith at his clinical research program for children with Autism at Washington State University. Over the past 12 years Lori has been providing services to children in Dayton, Columbus, Northern Ky and the Greater Cincinnati area. She sits on the Partner’s for Autism Board, is a member of the board for Exceptional Children, is a member of the Young Professional’s Organization for Autism, Kindervelt for Children’s Hospital, as well as an advocate and sponsor of Autism Speaks. She enjoys working with an amazing population of children as well as working with a dedicated and fun staff each day at ABS Learning Center.
Lori grew up in Albia, Iowa, a small rural town in southern Ia. She moved to Northern Kentucky in 1999 and began working locally with children and their families. Initially working under the direction of Dr. Tristram Smith at the North West Young Autism Project in Vancouver, Washington. Upon moving to Ohio she began working with two supervising psychologists in Columbus Ohio who specialized in the treatment of children with Autism. After their passing Lori continued her work with children across the state and began a private program for children on the spectrum. In 2005 Lori married her husband Marc, and they have a daughter Grace and twins Oliver and Eleanor. In her free time she enjoys traveling, boating and spending time with her family at their cabin at Norris Lake.