Justyna Balzar, MEd, BCBA, co-founder of The Hangout Spot, has spent more than 20 years working alongside learners of all abilities, from birth through young adulthood, in schools, clinics, and community settings. She earned her BCaBA in 2014 through the Florida Institute of Technology, her Master’s in Curriculum and Education in Applied Behavior Analysis from Arizona State University, and became a BCBA in 2016.

Justyna has authored and co-authored publications in Behavioral Science in the 21st Century and Autism Parenting Magazine, and she has presented at professional conferences including CTAEYC and CTABA. Driven by a passion for educating others about the wide-reaching applications of ABA, she founded @Behaviorchik, an online platform dedicated to disseminating behavior analytic resources.

At the heart of her work, Justyna is committed to creating space for neurodivergent individuals to be seen, accepted, understood, appreciated, and valued. Through The Hangout Spot, she is dedicated to building a community where families, professionals, and individuals come together in support, advocacy, and celebration of neurodiversity.