Temple Grandin, PhD - KEYNOTE
Temple Grandin, PhD is one of the most accomplished and well-known adults with autism in the world. Dr. Grandin’s fascinating life was brought to the screen in 2010 in the HBO production full-length film, "Temple Grandin", which claimed seven Emmy Awards, including outstanding made for TV movie. She has been featured on NPR (National Public Radio), major television programs, such as the BBC special "The Woman Who Thinks Like a Cow", ABC's Primetime Live, The Today Show, Larry King Live, 48 Hours and 20/20, and has been written about in many national publications, such as Time magazine, People magazine, Forbes, U.S. News and World Report, and New York Times. This will be Temple's fourth USAAA appearance. Dr. Grandin didn't talk until she was three and a half years old, communicating her frustration instead by screaming, peeping, and humming. In 1950, she was diagnosed with autism and her parents were told she should be institutionalized.

There will be a book signing after her presentation. Dr. Grandin's has also authored "The Way I See It: A Personal Look at Autism and Asperger's", "Unwritten Rules of Social Relationships", "Animals Make us Human", "Animals in Translation", "Thinking in Pictures", "Emergence: Labeled Autistic" and produced several DVDs. All books and DVD's are available through Future Horizons. More...

Martha Herbert, MD, PhD - KEYNOTE
Martha Herbert, MD, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, a Pediatric Neurologist at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and an affiliate of the Harvard-MIT-MGH Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging. She is director of the TRANSCEND Research Program (Treatment Research and Neuroscience Evaluation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders). Dr. Herbert earned her medical degree at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Dr. Herbert's main research interests are in addressing autism as a "dynamic encephalopathy" (something that can change) rather than a "static encephalopathy" (something that is fixed for life) and in how environmental vulnerability affects brain and body health. Dr. Herbert's recently published book is entitled "The Autism Revolution: Whole Body Strategies For Making Life All It Can Be". More...

Rebecca Anderson, MA
Rebecca Anderson graduated from Utah State University with a degree in Special Education with an emphasis in moderate/severe disabilities. Rebecca moved to California where she worked for eight years at Spectrum Center, a school for students with disabilities who exhibit severe behaviors. While there she assisted in setting up and supervising classrooms for students with Asperger Disorder including all Pervasive Developmental Disorders. Rebecca Anderson received her Masters of Arts in Special Education from California State University Sacramento. Rebecca moved back to Utah and has been teaching for the past four years at Jordan Valley School, a center-based specialized school located in Midvale, Utah and in the Canyons School District. More...

Phillip C. DeMio, MD
Phillip C. Demio, MD is board-certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine. He received his M.D. from the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine with honors in Neurosurgery, Endocrinology/Metabolism, Advanced OB/GYN, and Advanced Internal Medicine. Dr. DeMio has been a faculty member at several teaching hospitals including Case Western University School of Medicine and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. He is accredited by the Teaching System of U.S. Armed Forces Medical Core and his career includes an emphasis on toxicology.

Dr. DeMio is the Medical Director for the Whole Health and Wellness Centers located in Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. His practice focuses on the diagnosis and treatment for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. In addition to his practice, Dr. DeMio is an ER Physician at Case Western Reserve University Hospitals. Dr. DeMio is a father of a child with autism. Dr. DeMio is Chief Medical Officer for the US Autism & Asperger Association and the Executive Director for the American Medical Autism Board. More...

Alex Doman
Alex Doman is an author and producer whose products are used by people in more than 35 countries. His work is based on music effects research and principles of human development and neuroplasticity focusing on improving academic, cognitive, and communication abilities. He is founder and CEO of Advanced Brain Technologies, a leading provider of products, which improve brain function with solutions for consumers, schools, therapy clinics, health care facilities, and the military. Creator and co-producer of the multi award winning Music for Babies music collection and collaborator on more than 50 other albums and programs including the Sound Health series, The Listening Program®, and Music for the Mind™, he has trained thousands of healthcare, education, and music professionals in the application of music-based therapies around the world.

Alex has lectured throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, Latin America and the Middle East. Alex is co-author of Healing at the Speed of Sound™ a non-fiction book about how the new science of sound and music can help us improve our lives. Hudson Street Press (Penguin USA) Release October 2011. More...

Stuart H. Freedenfeld, MD
Dr. Freedenfeld presently holds a position as clinical instructor with the Rutgers Medical School and is Medical Director for Stockton Family Practice in Stockton, New Jersey. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree with Distinction from the University of Rochester in 1970. He received his Medical Degree, with honors, from the College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in 1975. He completed a three-year residency in Family Practice at Hunterdon Medical Center in 1978 and served as chief resident there from 1977-1978. He became board certified and a diplomat of the Academy of Family Practice in 1978, and was re-certified in 1984, 1990, 1996, 2002 and 2008. Dr. Freedenfeld served as clinical instructor at Delaware Valley Family Health Center until opening his practice in December 1978. His forte is in the areas of autism, chronic fatigue, chronic pain, allergy, autoimmune disease, colitis, cancer, heart and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, detoxification, longevity and health maintenance. He believes there is a vast array of routes to health and healing, and teaches the integration of the routes most appropriate to the individual. He is a respected international lecturer in areas including autism, ADD/ADHD, detoxification and many afflictions associated with aging. More...

Christopher M. Gauthier, MFA
Christopher M. Gauthier is an actively exhibiting artist teaching Fine Art Photography at Utah State University. He holds a MFA from Ohio University in photography and received a BA from Southern Illinois University. His work can be found in the permanent collections of the Mississippi Museum of Art; Webster University, The Netherlands; Koltsovo Airport, Yekaterinburg, Russian Federation and in private collections nationally and internationally. Autism advocacy became a personal imperative when he became aware of the link between his environmental concerns and his children's autism. Chris is a collaborative partner in the photographic project Evidence and Artifacts: Facing Autism. More...

Jacqueline F. Gauthier
Jacqueline F. Gauthier studied Social Work at Eastern Mennonite University and is currently the Director for Morningside School, a private Preschool and Kindergarten in Logan, UT. Jacqueline became invested in autism related issues with the birth of their children, Madeline and Caleb. She is a collaborative partner in the photographic project Evidence and Artifacts: Facing Autism. More...

Elaine Hall
When traditional therapies did not work for her son, Neal, Elaine Hall sought out a creative team of actors, musicians, and writers to join his isolated autistic world. These methods evolved into the creation of The Miracle Project. The New York Times references Elaine as the "Child Whisperer." She is the subject of the two-time Emmy Award-winning HBO documentary, Autism: The Musical, and has appeared on CNN, CBS News, Oprah Radio and featured in the LA Times, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. She presents workshops throughout the United States and Canada. Hall serves on the L.A. Senate Select Task Force on Autism, and has been honored to speak at the United Nations. She created and directed an arts enrichment program and a Bar/Bat Mitzvah program for children with autism at Vista Del Mar, in Los Angeles. Her expertise in bringing Jewish studies to children with autism assures that they are able to share the joy of celebrating ceremonial rites of passage at the core of Judaism.

Elaine is the author of Now I See the Moon: A Mother, a Son, a Miracle, and has recently starred in and co-produced a series entitled 7 Keys to Unlocking the World of Autism. Elaine lives in Santa Monica, CA, with the two loves of her life, her teenage son, Neal, and her husband Jeff, a Play Therapist. More...

Lawrence P. Kaplan, PhD
Dr. Kaplan is a parent of child affected by autism. He is the Founder and Chairman of US Autism & Asperger Association (USAAA). Dr. Kaplan was the chief investigator for the first study on early diagnosis of ASD. He is the author of "Diagnosis Autism: Now What? 10 Steps to Improve Treatment Outcomes: A Parent-Physician Team Approach". He is editor of the highly acclaimed USAAA WeeklyNews, editor of multiple USAAA Conference Proceedings Manuals and a contributor to other autism publications. Dr. Kaplan spent the first decade of his post-graduate studies in professional and collegiate sports. He has spent the last twenty-one years improving the quality of life of individuals and others affected by Autism, Asperger Syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorders. More...

Raun K. Kaufman
Raun K. Kaufman is an international speaker, writer and teacher for The Son-Rise Program® at the Autism Treatment Center of America™. In his work with families, children, and professionals from around the world, Raun brings a distinctive qualification to the realm of Autism treatment—his own personal history. At 18 months, Raun was diagnosed as severely and incurably autistic. Raun's story was recounted by his father, Barry Neil Kaufman, in the best-selling book "Son-Rise: The Miracle Continues", and was also the subject of an award-winning NBC television movie, Son-Rise: A Miracle of Love.

After graduating from Brown University with a degree in Biomedical Ethics, Raun continued his professional development as the director of an educational center for school-aged children as well as a presenter and lecturer at conferences and symposia worldwide. Raun serves on the US Autism & Asperger Association Advisory Board. More...

Frances D Kendall, MD
Dr. Frances Dougherty Kendall is board certified as a biochemical geneticist and has extensive experience in the diagnosis and management of children & adults with a wide array of inborn errors of metabolism, specifically mitochondrial & metabolic disorders. She received her medical degree from UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School. Dr. Kendall was an instructor in pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, and an Assistant Professor at Emory University School of Medicine.

Dr. Kendall currently is an attending physician at the Department of Genetics, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite Center, Atlanta, GA, and an attending physician at the Division of Genetics, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston Center, Decatur GA. She founded Virtual Medical Practice, the brainchild of Dr. Kendall that is dedicated to mitochondrial disease. She currently serves on the Medical Advisory Board to www.MitoAction.org. She is a frequently requested speaker at various venues with her most recent lecture on Mito-Autism - diagnoses, testing and treatment. More...

Kim Korpady
Kim Korpady has worked with hundreds of children on the autism spectrum from around the world, across all age ranges and skill levels. With her extensive Son-Rise Program training and qualification, as well as her degree in Early Childhood Development, she brings a great depth of skill and experience to the children and parents with whom she works. She has lectured at locations throughout the U.S., where attendees especially appreciate her warmth, sincerity, playfulness, and ability to make concepts and techniques easily understood. More...

Julie Matthews, CNC
Julie Matthews is a Certified Nutrition Consultant specializing in autism spectrum disorders and is a co-founder of Nourishing Hope. She is the author of Nourishing Hope for Autism, an award-winning parent and clinicians guide to the fundamentals of autism nutrition, dietary implementation and supplementation. She is the creator of "Cooking to Heal", an autism education and cooking class program that provides public education in cities across the country.

Julie is an expert at applying food, nutrition, and diet to aid digestive health and system healing. Her presentations are supported by rigorous scientific research and extensive clinical experience. Julie educates parents and physicians at the leading biomedical autism conferences in the US and abroad, and is the nutrition editor for The Autism File magazine. Julie is a graduate of Bauman College and University of California, Davis, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Managerial Economics. More...

Michael P. McManmon, EdD
Dr. McManmon grew up the youngest son in a family of nine children. He is the father of six children and nine grandchildren. He received his BA in English from Mt. St. Mary's College in Maryland and went on to complete his Masters in Counseling from Shippensburg University. He obtained his Doctorate in Special Education from the University of Nevada. Subsequently, he was licensed as a Psychologist by the State of Massachusetts. He worked for state, private and non-profit organizations in several states prior to founding The Berkshire Center in 1984.

During his 35 years of experience with students with Learning Differences and Asperger's syndrome, Dr. McManmon has worked on Curriculum Development, Staff Training, Program Evaluation, and Administering Community Based Programming. Dr. McManmon's program philosophy is to provide a loving and trusting environment in which personal growth can occur. He is the author of "Made for Good Purpose: What Every Parent Needs to Know to Help Their Adolescent with Asperger's, High Functioning Autism or a Learning Difference Become an Independent Adult". Dr. McManmon serves on the US Autism & Asperger Association Advisory Board. More...

Christine Motokane
Christine was diagnosed with high functioning autism at the age of four. Through the assistance of many professionals, family and friends, Christine successfully navigated through the public school system as a full inclusion, diploma bound student. After graduating from Mira Costa High School (Manhattan Beach, California) in 2010, she has attended El Camino College (Torrance, California). Christine will be a transfer student at Loyola Marymount University in the fall of 2013 majoring in psychology. She has ambitions to become a therapist to help other children on the autism spectrum. Christine is currently writing a book that chronicles her journey to adulthood and hopes it will be an inspiration to parents and others on the autism spectrum.

Hanne O'Brien, MS, OT
Originally from Denmark, Hanne O'Brien moved to the United States and graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo with a BS in Occupational Therapy in 1987. She then earned her MS in Occupational Therapy from A. T. Still University of Health Sciences in 2010. Prior to moving to Utah, she worked at Buffalo General Hospital, NY and at the University of Irvine Medical Center, CA.

Since 2001, Hanne has worked at Jordan Valley School (JVS), a center-based specialized school located in Midvale, Utah and in the Canyons School District. The Occupational Therapy team at JVS works closely together and focuses their treatment on fine motor skills, sensory integration, self-care skills, and adaptive equipment as related to the school environment. Jordan Valley School students come from throughout the entire school district and are bussed to and from school each day. All of the students have severe multiple disabilities including autism, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, seizure disorders, communication impairments, genetic disorders and syndromes, deaf-blindness and students who are extremely medically fragile. More...

Tim Page, DFA
Tim Page was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome at the age of forty-five and says, "I am very grateful to have the diagnosis [of Asperger Syndrome] because it explains a lot." He is a professor at both the Thornton School of Music and the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California. Page won the Pulitzer Prize for criticism in 1997 for his writings about music in The Washington Post, where he held the position of chief classical music critic since 1995. Prior to coming to the Post, he served as the chief music critic for Newsday and as a music and cultural writer for The New York Times. During his years in New York, he was the host of an afternoon program on WNYC-FM that broadcast interviews with hundreds of composers and musicians. Page has produced concerts at venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to New York's once-infamous Mudd Club. From 1999 to 2001, he was the artistic advisor and creative chair for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.

His books include "The Glenn Gould Reader" (Alfred A. Knopf, 1984), "Selected Letters of Virgil Thomson" (Summit, 1988), "William Kapell: A Documentary Life History of the American Pianist" (IPAM, 1992), "Music From The Road: Views and Reviews 1978 - 1992", an anthology of previously published work (Oxford University Press, 1992), "The Unknown Sigrid Undset" (Steerforth, 2001), and "Tim Page on Music" (Amadeus Press, 2002). He is the author of "Parallel Play", an autobiographical account of "Growing up with Undiagnosed Asperger's". Page serves on the US Autism & Asperger Association Advisory Board. More...

James W. Partington, PhD, BCBA
Dr. Partington is the director of Behavior Analysts, Inc., and provides services to children and their families at the STARS Clinic in Walnut Creek, California. He is a licensed psychologist and a board certified behavior analyst, doctoral level (BCBA-D), and has more than 35 years experience working with children with developmental disabilities. His expertise is in language-based intervention with children who are experiencing language delays as a result of autism and other related developmental disorders. Dr. Partington has been a faculty member of several universities including West Virginia University, University of San Francisco and St. Mary's College.

Dr. Partington has co-authored with Dr. Mark L. Sundberg the book, "Teaching Language to Children with Autism or Other Developmental Disabilities". He is the author of "The Assessment of Language and Learning Skills-Revised (The ABLLS™-R): An Assessment, Curriculum Guide and Skills Tracking System for Children with Autism or Other Developmental Disabilities". Dr. Partington serves on the US Autism & Asperger Association Advisory Board. More...

Robert E. Rada, DDS
Dr. Robert Rada received his DDS in 1985, from the University of Illinois - Chicago. He then completed a general practice residency at Loyola University. He currently is a clinical associate professor in the Department of Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences at the University of Illinois College of Dentistry. For the past 25 years he has also maintained a private practice in LaGrange, Illinois focusing on restorative and aesthetic dentistry, care for the dental phobic patient, as well as dentistry for special needs patients and hospital dentistry.

In 2010 Dr. Rada facilitated a statewide program in Missouri entitled "Effective Dental Treatment for Individuals who have a Diagnosis of Developmental Disability". Approximately half of his private practice is devoted to individuals with developmental disabilities and he treats patients with autism on an almost daily basis. He has lectured to dental professionals throughout the country on this topic as well as written numerous articles and book chapters. More...

Robert W. Sears, MD, FAAP
Robert W. Sears, MD, FAAP, is a board-certified physician in full-time general pediatric practice in Dana Point, California, where he provides a unique blend of mainstream and integrative medical care. He is also a Defeat Autism Now and MAPS trained provider for biomedical treatments for autism. Dr. Bob, as he likes to be called by his little patients, received his medical degree from Georgetown University and did his pediatric residency training at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. He is a co-author in the Sears Parenting Library, including The Baby Book and The Portable Pediatrician. Dr. Bob is the solo author of The Vaccine Book, and is very involved in speaking and writing to help parents make an educated decision for their families. He is also the solo author of The Autism Book, a comprehensive guide to mainstream and biomedical treatments for autism.

Dr. Bob has appeared on Dr. Oz, The Doctors, CNN, CBS Early Show, Fox Morning News, and Dr. Phil to discuss parenting advice and pediatric health issues. He is on the medical advisory board for various organizations, including Talk About Curing Autism, Autism Care and Treatment Today, SafeMinds, and Kaplan University Department of Health Sciences. He is the proud father of three boys, ages 20, 17, and 11, and lives with his wife and kids in Dana Point, CA. More...

William Shaw, PhD
Dr. Shaw is board certified in the fields of clinical chemistry and toxicology by the American Board of Clinical Chemistry. Before he founded The Great Plains Laboratory, Inc., Dr. Shaw worked for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Children's Mercy Hospital, University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Medicine, and Smith Kline Laboratories. He is the author of Biological Treatments for Autism and PDD, originally published in 1998 and Autism: Beyond the Basics, published in 2009. He is also a frequent speaker at conferences worldwide.

He is the stepfather of a child with autism and has helped thousands of patients and medical practitioners to successfully improve the lives of people with autism, AD(H)D, Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, bipolar disorder, chronic fatigue, depression, fibromyalgia, immune deficiencies, multiple sclerosis, OCD, Parkinson's disease, seizure disorders, tic disorders, Tourette syndrome, and other serious conditions. More...

Stephen Shore, EdD
Dr. Shore was diagnosed with "Atypical Development with strong autistic tendencies." Dr. Shore was viewed as "too sick" to be treated on an outpatient basis and recommended for institutionalization. Nonverbal until four, and with much help from his parents, teachers, and others, Dr. Shore completed his doctoral degree in special education at Boston University in 2008 with a focus on helping people on the autism spectrum develop their capacities to the fullest extent possible.

In addition to working with children and talking about life on the autism spectrum, Dr. Shore presents and consults internationally on adult issues pertinent to education, relationships, employment, advocacy, and disclosure as discussed in his book Beyond the Wall: Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Ask and Tell: Self-advocacy and Disclosure for People on the Autism Spectrum, and Understanding Autism for Dummies. Dr. Shore serves on the US Autism & Asperger Association Advisory Board. Dr. Shore presently works as a Professor at Adelphi University in New York. More...

Cheryl C. Smith
Cheryl C. Smith, a longtime autism advocate, is President and a founding member of the Autism Council of Utah, serves on the board of Valley Mental Health and the Pingree Center for Children with Autism, is a founding member of Utah FEAT (Families for Effective Autism Treatments), and is appointed by the Governor as chair of the Autism Treatment Account Advisory Committee. She has received the Autism Advocacy Award from Autism Speaks, the Mental Health Advocate Award, the Council for Exceptional Children’s Ben Bruse Distinguished Service award, and was instrumental in passing the Carson Smith Special Needs Scholarship legislation of 2005, which is named after her son, and makes state funding available for private school scholarships awarded to Utah students with disabilities.

An owner of Cheryl Smith Consulting in Salt Lake City, Ms. Smith specializes in labor law (EEO, AAP, FMLA & ADA), management training, and federal and state regulations. She served as Human Resources Manager for Boeing, and as a legal assistant in the Kennewick City Attorney’s office. She has worked at Utah State University, and has a Bachelor’s in Human Services, with a certificate in Human Resource Management.. More...

Marlo Payne Thurman, MS
Marlo Payne Thurman is a school psychologist and a national education consultant who obtained her Specialist Master's degree from the University of Utah. Marlo started her work with special needs children in 1986. Early in her career, Marlo developed a special interest in the unique needs of those individuals who were both highly intelligent and asynchronously developed. Marlo specializes in assessment, advocacy, cognitive training, sensory and behavior support, and socio-emotional coaching. In 1999 Marlo founded the Brideun Learning Communities and built the Brideun School for Exceptional Children, a play-based, therapeutic school. Marlo later founded 2E Consulting Services that is an expansion of her private consulting services.

In addition to client based support, 2E Consulting provides training to programs that work with individuals who despite adequate intelligence are unable to find success in traditional settings. Marlo holds a board position with 2E Newsletter. Marlo has been recognized for her work by People Magazine, the Special Educator, ADDitude Magazine, the New York Times, National Public Radio and numerous local venues. Marlo is also the mother of two gifted, twice-exceptional young adults who she credits for the inspiration to much of her professional career. Marlo serves on the US Autism & Asperger Association Advisory Board and is the Director for the US College Autism Project, an initiative of USAAA. In addition to working full-time, Marlo is a PhD student at Northern Colorado University. More...

J. Michael Uszler, MD
Dr. Uszler is Medical Director of the Nuclear Medicine Department at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California, Assistant Clinical Professor of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology at UCLA, and Medical Director of DrSpectScan.com. He received his medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin (previously known as Marquette University School of Medicine) and his master's degree in medical physics from UCLA as part of his academic fellowship in Nuclear Medicine. As a board certified Nuclear Medicine physician, he has 3 decades of academic and clinical experience in hospital-based care, including 8 years at UCLA-Harbor General Hospital and 20 years as Medical Director of Nuclear Medicine at Santa Monica Hospital.

Dr. Uszler is nationally recognized for his expertise of brain SPECT imaging of disorders such as Autistic Spectrum Disorders, Cerebral Palsy, ADD/ADHD, near-drowning, closed head trauma, toxic encephalopathy, stroke and dementia. Dr. Uszler serves on the US Autism & Asperger Association Advisory Board. More...

Michelle Vance, MCD, CCC-SLP
Michelle Vance earned her Bachelors Degree in Speech and Hearing Science with a Minor in Psychology from the University of Utah. She went on to earn her Masters from Brigham Young University in 1986 in Communicative Disorders. Michelle has worked in the school system serving students ages 5-22 for the past 26 years and has been a member of the Utah Assistive Technology Team for over 10 years. She is currently working at Jordan Valley School, a center-based specialized school located in Midvale, Utah and in the Canyons School District. More...

Sandra R. Wise, PsyD
Dr. Wise is a licensed clinical psychologist, an Assistant Professor of Medical Education at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine, and a guest lecturer at the School of Psychology at Florida Institute of Technology. Dr. Wise has worked in private practice and was the Director of Mental Health for several Colorado prisons and for the Delaware State Department of Corrections. She has taught graduate-level courses in clinical psychology and has conducted numerous workshops on topics ranging from non-verbal communication, to hands-on experiential learning, to nature exposure. In 2002, Dr. Wise, who has long understood the powerful dynamics inherent in human-animal relationships and the mental health benefits of exposure to nature (plants and animals), began utilizing principles of applied behavioral analysis to train horses and cows, with the goal of using interactions with these animals in their natural setting to help clients with communication and social skills deficits. Dr. Wise's animal-assisted outdoor programs focus on issues such as impulse control, resistance, anger management, problem-solving, goal setting, and social functioning. She facilitates interactions that build skills in non-verbal communication, self-awareness, focus, cooperation, timing, boundaries, and empathy.

Dr. Wise sees this treatment model as one of the few that offer opportunities to address social deficits through interactions with living, breathing, responsive "beings" that can provide honest and immediate feedback without judgment, bias or condemnation. Moreover, clients need not be concerned with verbal language, which can often obfuscate and overshadow the important non-verbal aspects of social interactions. These qualities make this model particularly well-suited for persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders who need a safe, non-threatening environment to practice social thinking and non-verbal communication skills. More...

Theresa Wrangham
Theresa K. Wrangham became a parent advocate as a result of her daughter Deanna's life-threatening asthma, as well as her daughter Rachel's diagnosis of PDD-NOS. In 2001 she co-founded the Autism Society of Boulder County (ASBC) in Colorado and served five terms as its president and, served on the Board of Directors for the Autism Society of Colorado. Theresa collaborated with Google to create Project Spectrum, a program designed to assist the autism community to identify possible career paths and to give educators classroom tools, and assist parents to obtaining special education services for their children. She has been featured in local and national television and print news reports and recently was featured in Parade Magazine. Within her community, she has helped to raise public awareness by publishing Colorado's first autism specific resource guide. Theresa is the Executive Director for NVIC.org. She serves on the US Autism & Asperger Association Advisory Board. More...