Erica Lighter

Specialised Education Lead

Erica was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. She was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at the age of two. She has overcome many challenges through perseverance, strong family support, and professional help.

Erica’s experience of confronting societal barriers and overcoming them has inspired her to make it a lifelong goal to advocate for an inclusive society. Also passionate about traveling and culture, at the age of 21, Erica spent time in Belize as a volunteer educator working with elementary-aged children on the autism spectrum. She delivered presentations to teachers and students to improve their understanding of autism to promote acceptance.

This volunteer experience inspired Erica to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis with a concentration in autism from Capilano University in Vancouver, BC. As an ardent lover of education, upon completion of her university degree, Erica sought out supervised training in Florida at Full Spectrum Behavior Analysis, where she lived for one year and worked under the supervision of several doctorate-level practitioners specialized in different domains of behavior analysis.

Additionally, Erica is an autistic advocate and co-director of neurodiversity and inclusion with the A.E. Wood Foundation. She has experience working with a diverse clientele – she has worked with individuals with autism, physical exceptionalities, and rare genetic conditions, with both children and adults, in schools, specialised centres, and private family homes.

As her experience evolves, Erica has become increasingly interested in working with not only her clients but with the entire family unit. She firmly believes in the importance of disseminating information and education on concrete strategies to achieve greater inclusion and equitable access to activities and experiences for everyone.