About Us

Behavior Analysts of New York and BANY Partners are two companies with a single mission: helping children build their potential, from their earliest years through their school-age journey.

Behavior Analysts of New York is a New York State Education Department–approved 4410 preschool special education program serving children ages 3 to 5. Working under contract with the Westchester County Department of Health, our team provides special education, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and dedicated Parent Liaison support — all grounded in dynamic intervention and positive change.

BANY Partners carries that support forward as children grow. Serving school-age children (ages 5 and up) and their families through contracts with public school districts across Westchester County, BANY Partners provides home instruction, parent training, and school-based consultation.

One team. A lifetime of support.

Our Team

In addition to the dozens of wonderful, dedicated, and hardworking special education teachers and related service providers, our team includes:

Josephine Barletta, MS, MSEd — Program Administrator Jo brings 30 years of experience to the field of Special Education, Applied Behavior Analysis and Parent Training and Counseling. She holds a NYS Certification in Special Education, and Master’s degree in Special Education and Criminal Justice from Long Island University.  She currently oversees the CPSE SEIT and Related Service Program with Behavior Analysts of NY. 

Diane Costomiris — Parent Liaison
Diane is a special education advocate who guides families through every stage of the special education process — evaluations, IEP and 504 review, CPSE/CSE meeting preparation, and placement decisions. As Parent Liaison, she helps parents understand their rights, prepare for meetings, and navigate New York State's disability systems with confidence, and she connects families with a trusted network of psychologists, speech therapists, and behavioral specialists. She holds a B.S. from Fordham University and is the voice behind this blog.

Chris McDonough, PhD, BCBA-D — Owner & Operator
Chris is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst at the doctoral level (BCBA-D) and a New York State Licensed Behavior Analyst, and he holds New York State certifications as a Special Education Teacher, School Administrator/Supervisor, and School District Administrator. He earned his Ph.D. from Columbia University — where his graduate work spanned special education, behavior disorders, applied behavior analysis, and education administration — along with a B.A. in Philosophy & Religion from Boston University. He brings more than three decades of experience to the field, co-owns Behavior Analysts of New York and BANY Partners with his wife, Susan Silvestri, PhD, BCBA-D, and oversees the day-to-day operations of both organizations.