Psychologist BCBAD Trauma Special Ed 504 Autism LD

Specialties & Experience of this Expert Witness

Additional Information

Dr. Taylor holds a PhD in Professional Psychology/School, Community and Clinical Child Psychology (APA-accredited program) from the University of Pennsylvania, MA in Multicultural Counseling from Teachers College/Columbia University, MEd in Counseling Psychology from Teachers College/Columbia University, and BS in Psychology from the University of Florida. She also has graduate certificates in Applied Behavior Analysis and Educational Leadership. Her predoctoral internship in Pediatric Psychology was at the Children's Seashore House/Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and her four-year National Institute of Mental Health-funded postdoctoral fellowship was at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Taylor has been involved in 100+ legal cases based on her extensive clinical training and experience, as well as decades of experience overseeing programs of individuals with trauma, emotional, physical, learning, intellectual and/or developmental disabilities in a variety of settings and placements. She is a Licensed Psychologist and a Doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst in private practice since 2008 (NJ, FL, PSYPACT/APIT). She has certifications as a Clinical Trauma Professional-II, QPR Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention Trainer, PEERS Social Skills Provider, School Administrator, School Psychologist, Supervisor and Principal Certificate of Eligibility. Dr. Taylor is certified in the National Association of School Psychologists PREPARE-2 School Safety and Crisis Preparedness. She has approximately 10 years of experience as an Adjunct Professor teaching psychology, behavior analysis, and/or educational assessment graduate level courses at Rider University, Rutgers University and University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Taylor has been qualified by the NJ Court of Administrative Law (*upheld at Federal level) as an Expert in: Section 504*, Special Education*, Applied Behavior Analysis*, Psychology*, Psychometrics*, Educational Programming, IEP Development, Transition Planning, Manifestation Determination, Suicide Risk Screening, Social Skills, and Autism. Before becoming an administrator, she served as a Consultant Expert to the NJ Education Law Center on many legal cases involving individuals with disabilities in public schools. As a special education administrator, she served as both the LEA representative and Expert Witness in many special education cases. More recently, she has served as an Expert Witness for professional organizations (i.e. FL Applied Behavior Analysis v. the State of FL), NJ federal public school cases, civil abuse cases as a trauma evaluator, and in civil group home abuse cases in support of individuals with disabilities in PA and FL. Dr. Taylor is a Subject Matter Expert in Special Education for ETS and serves as a Special Education Litigation Coach and Special Education Administrator Coach. Until January 2025, she served as Chair of the NJ Principal and Supervisors Association Special Education Committee for 7 years. With 25+ years of experience from preschool to high school, Dr. Taylor was Director of Special Services and a special education administrator for more than 12 years where she: developed and oversaw suicide risk assessment processes; provided oversight of state and federal legal compliance for 504, special education programs/services, homeless, education stability (foster care, group homes, residential treatment facilities); all district litigation; school-based mental health services; and held the titles of: 504 Hearing Officer, Civil Rights Coordinator/Section 504/ADA Compliance Officer Title II, and Special Services Compliance Officer Title II. Dr. Taylor has conducted 25+ trainings on School Threat Assessment as well as the use of the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale. She was a member of the NJDOE Autism Advisory Panel-School Age throughout 2022-2023, where she collaboratively developed the NJDOE Autism Program Quality Indicators -Revised (2023).