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WHO WE ARE
US Autism & Asperger Association (USAAA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization for Autism and Asperger education, support, and solutions. Our mission: to Provide the Opportunity for everyone with autism spectrum disorders to achieve their fullest potential, by enriching the autism community with education, training, accessible resources, and partnerships with local and national projects.
Federal Tax i.d. # 20-3372933
Staff
Lawrence P. Kaplan, PhD, CEO
Richard Dunie, MPh, MBA, CPA, Treasurer |
Board of Directors
Jay D. Burstein, MD, F.A.C.S.
Richard Dunie, MPh, MBA, CPA
Lawrence P. Kaplan, PhD
Susan Schulman, MA, CCRA
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Advisory Board (Scientific)
Phillip C. DeMio, MD, Chief Medical Officer
Valerie Hu, PhD
J. Michael Uszler, MD
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Advisory Board (Community)
Valerie Herskowitz, MA-CCC-SLP
Raun K. Kaufman
Patricia S. Lemer, MEd, NCC
Michael P. McManmon, EdD
Tim Page, DFA
James W. Partington, PhD, BCBA
Stephen M. Shore, EdD
Marlo Payne Thurman, MS
Theresa K. Wrangham
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Chairman, CEO
Lawrence P. Kaplan, PhD
 Dr. Kaplan is a parent of child with autism. Dr. Kaplan’s work in autism evolved in 1995 when his son was diagnosed with PDD-NOS. He founded Special Abilities, a non-profit charitable organization. It was one of the first organizations to offer assistance to special education schools and provide educational programs for parents who have children with ASD. Drawing on his decade long tenure in professional and collegiate sports, he created a "team approach" to develop a parent-physician partnership that has been presented at national and international autism conferences. This innovative concept led to authoring the book, "Diagnosis Autism: Now What? 10 Steps to Improve Treatment Outcomes; A Parent-Physician Team Approach." Dr. Kaplan was the chief investigator for the first study on early diagnosis of ASD. Dr. Kaplan is editor of the USAAA WeeklyNews e-newsletter and has created multiple Conference Proceedings Manuals. Dr. Kaplan has spent many years collaborating with the non-profit community. Prior to working with the autism community, he worked on many projects, over a ten year period, with the March of Dimes, the American Cancer Society, the National Stoke Association, and the American Heart Association.
In the summer of 2005, Special Abilities evolved into US Autism & Asperger Association, Inc. with a mission to Provide the Opportunity for everyone with autism spectrum disorders to achieve their fullest potential, by enriching the autism community with education, training, accessible resources, and partnerships with local and national projects. Dr. Kaplan’s vision was to create an annual conference that concentrated on family, health and sibling issues, adolescence, diet and nutrition, autism and Asperger’s concerns, as well as the latest autism research and treatment. That vision became a reality in the summer of 2006. Thousands of people have attended USAAA World conferences since 2006. For more information on USAAA conferences, click on the following link: USAAA conferences. |
 Secretary/Treasurer
Richard Dunie, MPh, MBA, CPA
Mr. Dunie is an Assistant Professor (Lecturer) in the Finance Department (formerly in the Accounting and Information Systems Departments) at the David Eccles School of Business, University of Utah. In addition to teaching accounting to undergraduate and graduate students, he teaches an introductory course in which students have the opportunity to read a collection of classic readings on various topics related to business, commerce, and economics. Before coming to the University of Utah, he spent fifteen years working in the oil industry in a variety of accounting and financial analysis positions. He completed several years of graduate study at the University of Utah and recently received a Masters in Philosophy. He was also Treasurer and a member of the Board of Directors of the Heritage Academy in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Mr. Dunie is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the American Accounting Association. His son was diagnosed with nonspecific developmental delay at the age of four. |
 Chief Medical Officer
Phillip DeMio, MD
Dr. DeMio 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 currently 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 affiliated with the Cleveland Clinics as an ER Physician. As a father of a child with autism, Dr. DeMio explains his mission to help patients reach their maximum potential through biomedical care with the philosophy, "that our children and loved ones are first and foremost in all of our treatments."
Dr. DeMio's practice includes primary care and integrative medicine/toxicology for children and adults. The Centers are the largest participant in a research program regarding the use of multiple enzyme preparations. He has also emphasized other broad issues. "We must address the immune system in every child so that this major piece of the biological aspects of Autism Spectrum Disorders can be treated," said Dr. DeMio. Ongoing research also emphasizes early diagnosis including methods to identify at-risk children before symptoms develop, along with helping families prepare for subsequent pregnancies.
Dr. DeMio is Chief Medical Officer for the US Autism & Asperger Association and the Executive Director for the American Medical Autism Board. More...
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 Jay D. Burstein, MD, F.A.C.S.
Dr. Burstein is a board-certified urologist specializing in incontinence, interstitial cystitis, and prostate disorders. He was recently appointed Clinical Assistant Professor at University of Wisconsin, School of Medicine and Public Health. He is certified by the American Board of Urology and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (F.A.C.S.). He spent more than a decade teaching medicine in Chicago-area hospitals and is now in private practice at the DeKalb Clinic in Illinois. He completed his undergraduate work at Drake University, graduating magna cum laude, and is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa society. He graduated from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in 1979. His publications include several articles on embryology and anatomy published in urology textbooks. He has been involved with bladder suspension modifications since the introduction of that procedure in the Midwest in 1984. Dr. Burstein is a past president of the local American Cancer Society Chapter. As a parent of a child with disabilities, his interest in the area of ASD grew, and he teamed up with Dr. Kaplan as editor of "Diagnosis Autism: Now What? 10 Steps to Improve Treatment Outcomes." Dr. Burstein is now finding new ways to help parents of children with disabilities find urological solutions. |
 Susan Schulman, MA, CCRA
Ms. Schulman is a Certified Clinical Research Associate. She has worked for over thirty years as a medical/technical writer and clinical research coordinator for a variety of academic facilities and private businesses including the University of Utah, University of Washington, Vanderbilt University, University of Chicago and the Huntsman Cancer Institute. She investigated research developments in autism and tutored an autistic child using the Lovaas method. She has written, reviewed and edited numerous clinical trials, manuscripts, and ethics committee submissions. Her publications include over forty articles on cancer therapy and management published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the British Medical Journal, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute and other noted publications. Ms. Schulman has taught history taking skills and administered examinations to medical and physician assistant students. She has volunteered for a number of non-profit organizations, including the University of Utah. Her greatest joy is being a mom to her two fantastic children, a son and a daughter. |
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In 1994, USAAA began improving the quality of life of individuals and others affected by ASD. Since then, our initial goal has not changed, but our ambitions have expanded. USAAA is dedicated to:
- Providing immediate solutions through expert guidance and compassionate support.
- Consolidating the overwhelming amount of information and resources to simplify the lives of all associated with autism.
- Individualizing education on treatments and services for the diverse population of those affected.
- Providing networking opportunities for parents, professionals, students, educators, and individuals.
By recognizing the highly individual and diverse nature of treatment and services, USAAA offers information and education that reflects a variety of views and practices regarding these interventions and resources to allow maximum choice and benefit for the ASD community.
WHAT WE DO
US Autism & Asperger Association has worked continuously to Provide the Opportunity for individuals with ASD to achieve their fullest potential. We have assembled a team of world-renowned experts to address the many questions and problems that parents, families, individuals, practitioners, teachers, and caregivers confront daily. USAAA has impacted the ASD community through:
- USAAA World Conferences. Since August of 2006, we have hosted some of the most comprehensive autism and Asperger conferences in the world.
- Disseminated news, information, and resources on autism and Asperger’s Syndrome.
- USAAA WeeklyNews reaches over fifty thousand people every week.
- Community events nationwide. We have supported and aligned with many autism organizations to carry out the mission of Improving Lives, Together.
- Webcasts, publications, USAAA TV, the US CAP program, and our website.
It is our mission to continue improving the quality of life of all affected by ASD. We continue to work on current as well new initiatives including awards programs, sibling-support programs, a virtual autism information center, residential options, and future conferences. Our promise is to support you and provide you with answers in your quest.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Your support enhances the quality of life of individuals and their families and caregivers touched by autism spectrum disorders.
There are many ways you can help support our cause:
DONATE
BECOME A MEMBER
BECOME A CORPORATE PARTNER
VOLUNTEER |
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