Ms. Nicky Altikulac, MS BCBA
Founder and Executive Director
Originally from Turkey, Nicky Altikulac majored in Guidance and Psychological Consultation and received a minor in Education in 1991 at Marmara University in Istanbul. She also received her Master’s Degree in Special Education from Istanbul University.
Nicky completed a two year internship with Neurologist; Dr. Bülent Madi, M.D. (one top 100 neurologists in Turkey) who is working with children in Autism Spectrum Disorders (Pervasive Developmental Disorders) as well as Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities and mental illness. She completed a two-year internship with the Erol Sabanci Foundation for children with Cerebral Palsy. After completing her schooling, Nicky worked as a Psychological Consultant under Dr. Hüseyin Selendi, M.D., with children who had a wide range of behavior problems.
In her spare time, Nicky volunteered for 10 years as a coach for the Turkish Special Olympics Team. She also volunteered as a Psychological Consultant for CARITAS (an international humanitarian organization) working with children living on the streets in Bucharest/ Romania. From 1993-1999 Nicky was the owner and founder of the private Akatlar Rehabilitation Center in Istanbul, Turkey which served children with developmental disabilities. Additionally, from 1996 to 1999 she was the founder and owner of the Mirmir Preschool for children ages 1-5 years of age in Istanbul, Turkey.
In 1999, Nicky married and moved to the United States, finding a home in Atlanta, Georgia, where she continues to reside. She completed Applied Behavioral Analysis certificate program at Penn State University and completed a 1500-hour internship program at the Marcus Autism Institute in order to become eligible for the board exam. She is currently certified as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She has a Masters degree in Human Behavior from Capella University. In 2004, she opened “All Kids First Early Intervention Services, LLC.” Which offers a wide range of services. She and her staff offered Special Instruction services through Babies Can’t Wait Early Intervention Program in Gwinnett and DeKalb counties, private services as Early Interventionists and ABA Therapist to children with developmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder, pervasive developmental disorder, pervasive developmental disorder – not otherwise specified, Asperger Syndrome, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, intellectual disability, learning disabilities, etc. She is a co-leader of a group for adults with Autism needing low support called SPECTRUM.
Nicky travels internationally to provide private consultations for families with children who have ASD and has delivered talks at events for families with children who have special needs. She supervises a private ABA clinic in Istanbul/Turkey that provides ABA therapy to over 40 children with autism spectrum disorder.
Nicky is a member of ASAGA, NYAEC, AHHBEI, BCAB, GABA, SGC, ABAI, the APA.
Ms. Guniz Evirgen
Executive Director of Language Department
She was born in Turkey and completed her education at the Italian High School, followed by a degree in Turkish Language and Literature from Boğaziçi University. From 1992 to 1994, she volunteered at Michigan State University, teaching Turkish to those interested in learning the language. Upon returning to Turkey, she initially worked at Persona, and later spent 17 years at the American Consulate in Istanbul, where she taught Turkish to diplomats, their spouses, and expatriates. She then joined Sabancı University, teaching Turkish to Erasmus students for 15 years. Subsequently, she relocated to Virginia and began teaching Turkish at the Middle East Institute. She also taught Turkish to diplomats at the Diplomatic Language Services company for a period. Her first two books “Learning Turkish Step by Step ” for beginners and the intermediate level, were published in 2007. She is set to digitally publish her third book on verb conjugations soon. Visit Guniz’s services: www.nowyoulearn.com