President & CEO
Jennifer Helten
President and CEO
Hi there! I am the founder, owner, and CEO of Unique Pathways. I did not plan a career in ABA, and I did not anticipate owning a company at any point in my life. My love was, and still is, the ocean. I had planned on becoming a Marine Biologist specializing in the study of sharks. God had other plans and is continuing to lead me through the journey I am currently on. I began my career over 25 years ago when I took a job as a nanny in Dallas. One of the kids was diagnosed with Autism. At that time, I had not heard of ABA, and my knowledge of autism was limited; think “Rain Man.” As I observed and learned more about the science, I made the decision to become a direct therapist, and so began my journey.
I have worked with children as young as 18 months and as old as 23 all of whom had varied skill, behavior, and development levels. I have assisted in designing numerous IEPs and accompanied families of school-age children to their annual ARD meetings. I shadowed 20 of my 25 years in private schools throughout the DFW metroplex. I designed and led yearly-held summer camps; targeting social and emotional development, and had the privilege of traveling with families, domestically and abroad, in order for their child to actively participate in family vacations. In 2015, I was hired to start and oversee the shadowing program for a private Christian school in Grapevine, Texas. Shortly thereafter, I was promoted to Director and, after five years, resigned to focus solely on Unique Pathways. Additionally, I sit on multiple expert panels designed to assist ABA business owners. ABA must remain child-focused, tailoring each program to meet the child’s development and needs. I value quality over quantity.
I am originally from Kansas and the oldest of seven children. I have been with my husband for 25 years. We have a beautiful daughter, a German Shepherd named Sophie, and a cat named Goldie. Once upon a time, you would have found my husband and me cruising around town on our Harleys; however, we have traded our bikes in for the next best thing, an oldie but Goldy, CJ-7 Jeep. I enjoy meeting new people and look forward to God’s path for me.
#notanotherABAmill