A Little About Us
Who we are.
Aim High Ascent is a center-based behavior therapy clinic that specializes in early intervention. To understand the history of Ascent, you would have to go back to the original department that started it all.
Aim High Impact, our sister organization was established in 2017 as an additional department of the non-profit organization Aim High PDX. Aim High Impact provides ABA services to children, teens, and young adults aged 7-25 diagnosed with autism. The success of this organization has brought about a new opportunity, allowing us to broaden our ability to reach those in need of support. The center-based service allows us to focus on your child's needs in an environment specifically designated for treatment in order to provide structure and enhance your child's development from an early age.
What Sets us Apart
Safe and Enriching
Aim High Ascent is a program that is unique within the world of ABA. We provide center-based instruction intended to boost learning opportunities. It is an atmosphere where children and families can work in a safe and enriching environment, despite any challenges due to the severity of behaviors.
Sensory Gym
When providing ABA treatment to younger children it is important to have a stimulating environment because of their constant and quickly developing brains. Sensory play allows children to open brain pathways and subsequently build nerve connections resulting in improvement in social interaction, speech and communication skills.
Collaboration with Providers
Our collaborative approach is designed to maximize family inclusion and provides support beyond the center. This integration of those close with the child and those who treat the child allows for a well-rounded and tailored experience that produces optimal results.
Autism Spectrum Disorder affects so many children and families. ABA is a scientific approach to understanding behavior which refers to a set of principles that focus on how behaviors change, or are affected by the environment, as well as how learning takes place. Aim High Ascent is able to provide a safe, team based, and enriching environment where all children can succeed, learn and grow.
Our Mission Moving Forward.
High quality care is more than just treating the child. Here, we support every child as we would our own. When you step into Aim High, you will quickly notice the family-like atmosphere which has led to so much success. We truly believe that all children are capable, and we embrace exactly what is needed with kindness and care for all to reach their potential and beyond.
Taking the lead.
Paige Wagner
Practice Director
Paige was hired on as a BCBA for our sister program, Aim High Impact, where the clients typically demonstrate behaviors considered to be severe. Paige is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst with over 10 years of experience working with children. She holds a master’s degree in General and Special Education and a second master’s degree in Behavior Analysis. Paige comes to us as a former Special Education Teacher, having completed her Masters and practicum in New York City. Paige has worked with a variety of individuals within Home-Based Therapy, Residential Therapy, Animal Therapy, School based Services, and Center Based services. Paige has diverse experience in effectively treating individuals affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder using the principles and procedures of applied behavior analysis (ABA).
Doug Ownby
Executive Director
Doug has been a part of Aim High since 2013 and later became the Executive Director in 2018 after playing an integral part in the creation of Aim High Impact. With an extensive background in business management, Doug was able to aid the previous Executive Director and the soon-to-be Clinical Director, Dana Donaldson, in expanding Aim High's services to include the ABA clinic, Impact, which would go on to help children and families in need. Since then, Doug and his management team have seen an uptick in requests for early intervention services which prompted him to begin the journey of developing Aim High's newest department, Aim High Ascent.