About Ponte Pathways
Our Story
Hi, I’m Erica — the founder of Ponte Pathways, where lived experience, professional expertise, and neurodiversity-affirming practice come together to support learners and their families.
I’m an Ontario Certified Teacher with over a decade of experience in special education — but my roots in this work began long before I ever stepped into a classroom. Growing up with a younger autistic brother shaped my understanding of neurodivergence in a way training alone never could. It taught me to see strengths first, honour differences, and meet people with deep respect and curiosity. That perspective continues to guide everything I do.
Professionally, my career began in clinical and community settings as an ABA therapist, supporting autistic children in homes, schools, and multidisciplinary teams. Over time, I transitioned into education, earning my Special Education qualifications and teaching in both public and private schools — including within the Regional Autism Program. I’ve collaborated closely with psychologists, SLPs, OTs, and behaviour analysts, bringing a collaborative, whole-child lens to every learner I support.
Across my years in the field, I’ve developed and implemented countless IEPs and Safety Plans, guided families through complex identification and placement processes, and advocated for learning environments where students are truly understood, supported, and celebrated. My approach today is rooted in evidence-based practice, trauma-informed care, and the belief that neurodivergent learners thrive when their strengths are recognized and their needs are honoured without judgment.
Ponte Pathways brings all of this together — a space where families can access clear guidance through the special education system, and where students receive individualized academic, executive functioning, and social-emotional support tailored to how they learn best.
The name Ponte — meaning “bridge” in Italian — is deeply personal to me. It honours my grandparents, who immigrated from Italy to Canada and built new pathways for our family. That legacy inspires my work: bridging gaps, building understanding, and helping learners move toward possibility with confidence.
At its core, Ponte Pathways is about connection — between home and school, strengths and supports, challenges and solutions.
When students are understood and families feel empowered, they don’t just succeed — they flourish.