My name is Dana Long Affrunti and I have Aspergers. I am a wife, mommy and BCBA. Growing up, my love was animals and behavior. I was the go to girl if you wanted to find the perfect breed of dog to match your life. I was the teen to call if you wanted a dedicated caretaker for your dogs. I could often be found in the swamp looking for frogs, tadpoles, snakes , followed by younger neighborhood kids. I grew up with near a zoo in my bedroom including several snakes a green iguana, lizards, mice, guinea pig, chinchilla, a dog, turtle, and a sugar glider. Although I am an observant social investigator/learner my success can be attributed to my dedicated tenacious mother, who never stopped setting me up for success then ‘kicking me through the door’ as she liked to say. I was also fortunate to have a great group of girls in my girl school troop who were always there for me. While I did most things different than my peers I graduated valedictorian of Brighton MI high school. With my Fletcher, service dog/co-pilot in life, I graduated from Hope college in Holland Michigan. It was my intention to go to vet school to become an applied veterinary behavior specialist but instead I found my true calling in behavior analysis and earned my masters degree from Southern Illinois University in Behavior Analysis and Therapy. My husband is understanding of my quirks and loves me all the more for them. My kiddos are my joy! Empowering individuals and families through applied behavior analysis is my passion.

Dana Affrunti
Springfield, IL