Temple Grandin earned her Ph.D. in animal science from the University of Illinois and is currently a Professor at Colorado State University. Dr. Grandin is one of the most respected individuals with high-functioning autism in the world. She presents at conferences nationwide, helping thousands of parents and professionals understand how to help individuals with autism, Asperger''s syndrome, and PDD. She is the author of Emergence: Labeled Autistic, Thinking in Pictures, Animals in Translation (which spent many weeks on The New York Times Best-Seller List), The Autistic Brain, and The Loving Push, co-written with Debra Moore, Ph.D.
One of the most celebrated -- and effective -- animal advocates on the planet, Dr. Grandin revolutionized animal movement systems and spearheaded reform of the quality of life for the world''s agricultural animals. Carol Gray is the author of The New Social Story Book. She has over twenty-five years of experience educating students with autism. Carol initiated the use of Social Stories (TM) in 1991 and has written numerous articles, chapters, and books on the subject. Currently, Carol works privately with students, parents, and professionals in a variety of educational and vocational settings. Every year, Carol gives many presentations and workshops throughout the world. She addresses topics related to the teaching of social understanding, bullying prevention, and friendship skills.
Carol has received several awards for her work and international contributions to the education of individuals with autism and those who work on their behalf. She lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Dr. Tony Attwood is a practicing clinical psychologist with more than twenty-five years of experience. He has worked with over 2000 individuals of all ages with Asperger''s syndrome. He presents workshops and runs training courses for parents, professionals, and individuals with AS all over the world, and is a prolific author of articles and books on the subject. Carol Stock Kranowitz, M.A.
, is the author of The Out-of-Sync Child Grows Up, The Out-of-Sync-Child, The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun, and a children''s book, The Goodenoughs Get In Sync: 5 Family Members Overcome their Special Sensory Issues. She was a preschool teacher for 25 years and helped to develop an innovative program to screen young children for Sensory Processing Disorder. She speaks regularly about the subject in the United States and abroad. In her books and presentations, she offers a fun and functional approach that integrates sensory-motor activities into everyday life at home and school. A graduate of Barnard College, she has an M.A. in Education and Human Development from The George Washington University. Beth Aune is the owner-therapist of Desert Occupational Therapy for Kids, Inc.
, a pediatric outpatient clinic in Palm Desert, California. Beth and her team of dedicated and passionate professionals provide assessment and intervention for at-risk children with a variety of diagnoses, including autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing disorder, developmental delay, feeding dysfunction, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and others. Desert OT for Kids, Inc. provides skilled intervention in the clinic, school, and home settings. Beth is a co-author of Behavior Solutions for the Inclusive Classroom (2010) and Behavior Solutions in and Beyond the Inclusive Classroom (2011), and sole author of Behavior Solutions for the Home and the Community (2013). She is a knowledgeable, fervent, and energetic speaker throughout the nation on the topic of identifying, understanding, and treating children''s problematic behaviors and sensory issues. Her presentations, workshops, and books offer practical solutions and strategies for teachers and parents to implement in the school, home, and community settings. Beth is a clinical instructor for Loma Linda University School of Allied Health Professions and is on the advisory board for the Masters of OT program.
She is a board member for Future Horizons, Inc., a major publisher for the autism and sensory processing disorder. Jed Baker, Ph.D. is the director of the Social Skills Training Project, an organization serving individuals with autism and social communication problems. He is on the professional advisory board of ASPEN, ANSWER, YAI, the Kelberman Center, and several other autism organizations. In addition, he writes, lectures, and provides training internationally on the topic of social skills training and managing challenging behaviors. He is an award winning author of seven books, including Social Skills Training for Children and Adolescents with Asperger''s Syndrome and Social Communication Problems; Preparing for Life: The Complete Handbook for the Transition to Adulthood for Those with Autism and Asperger''s Syndrome; The Social Skills Picture Book; The Social Skills Picture Book for High School and Beyond; No More Meltdowns: Positive Strategies for Managing and Preventing Out-of-Control Behavior, and No More Victims: Protecting those with Autism from Cyber Bullying, Internet Predators & Scams.
His work has also been featured on ABC World News, Nightline, Fox News, the CBS Early Show, and the Discovery Health Channel. Dr. James Ball is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and the President/Chief Executive Officer of JB Autism Consulting. He is also a member of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee as a public member. This committee, as outlined in the Autism Cares Act, makes recommendations to the Secretary on autism research gaps and submits to the Congress and the President an annual update on the summary of advances and to the strategic plan. He has been in the field of autism for over thirty years providing preschool, educational, residential, and employment services to children and adults affected by an autism spectrum disorder. He is also the Director of Clinical Services for New York Families of Autistic Children (NYFAC), a private, not-for-profit organization providing support and training for children and families in New York City. He provides private consultation to organizations, schools, and families regarding home program, staff/parent training, home support services, classroom design/support, behavior management/assessment, and functional behavior assessment.
Anita Lesko author of Temple Grandin: The Stories I Tell My Friends, is an internationally recognized autism advocate and member of Autism Society of America''s Panel of Autistic Advisors. She was diagnosed with Asperger''s Syndrome at the age of fifty. A graduate of Columbia University, Anita was an honored speaker at the United Nations Headquarters for World Autism Awareness Day 2017. She is a contributing author for numerous publications including the Autism Asperger''s Digest and The Mighty, and is a blogger for the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards. Anita''s first book, Asperger''s Syndrome: When Life Hands You Lemons, Make Lemonade, a memoir, was written after she was diagnosed. She co-wrote Been There. Done That. Try This! The Aspie''s Guide to Life on Earth with Dr.
Tony Attwood and Craig Evans. She lives in Florida. Sean Barron is a very interesting and intelligent young man who has faced the challenge of autism. There''s a Boy in Here has won many accolades for offering the unique perspectives of two people who look at the same world but see and feel entirely different things. He is now a journalist, lives independently, and has co-authored Unwritten Rules of Social Relationships with Dr.Temple Grandin. Sean is a graduate of Youngstown State University and writes for The Youngstown Vindicator. Dr.
Wendela Whitcomb Marsh, MA, BCBA, RSD, has been a special education teacher, school psychologist, autism specialist, speaker, writer, counselor, university instructor, and board-certified behavior analyst. She is the mother of two awesome individuals with autism, and was married for twenty-seven years to an amazing man with Asperger''s syndrome. People on the spectrum, and the dedicated teachers who work with them, are among her favorite people in the world. Dr. Marsh lives in Salem, Oregon with her three children. Katie Saint is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and licensed professional therapist. She presents locally and internationally on topics related to Autism, mental health, and Applied Behavior Analysis, and has a private mental health counseling practice. She is also the Director of Training at an autism treatment program and has designed college courses as well as published books and articles related to mental health.
She lives in Wisconsin. Stephen Sicoli is a licensed associate at one of the largest, fastest-growing financial firms in Canada. Helping Canadian families prepare for their future is only one of the facets of his life. When he is not spending time working with families to achieve financial freedom, he is spending his time out at his farm enjoying nature, working in his garden, and the company of his own family. Karen Simmons is the Founder and CEO of Autism Today, the first online information and resource center for autism worldwide. She brings over twenty years of expertise to the organization and has created over fourteen publications including Chicken Soup for the Soul, Children with Special Needs and gold medal award- winning The Official Autism 101 Manual. She has hosted sixty-eight conferences in both the biomedical and behavioral autism and special needs space and is deeply rooted in the autism community worldwide. As a parent of six children, two on the spectrum, she strongly believes in manifesting miracles for the global community in a very big way.
Ronald Caissie Earning a reputation as a trusted advisor, counselor and mediator to parents, families and to the military, Ronald''s passion for helping children arose from a situation he witnessed in a traumatic event during his military service overseasAfter his service to his country, Ronald joined hi.