Panel of Professional Advisors

Barbara Becker-Cottrill, Ed.D.
Panel of Professional Advisors Chairperson
West Virginia Autism Training Center

Barbara Becker-Cottrill received her doctorate in education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She has been involved in education and developmental disabilities for the past 30 years, has served as the Executive Director of the statewide West Virginia Autism Training Center (WV ATC) at Marshall University for the past 19 years, and is also an Adjunct Graduate Professor at Marshall University, teaching courses related to autism. The WV ATC utilizes a service delivery model for West Virginia families of children with autism spectrum disorders that incorporates a positive behavior support approach. Dr. Becker-Cottrill was a key developer of this model entitled “Family Focus Positive Behavior Support.”

She has served as the principal investigator for the West Virginia Autism Monitoring Project, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She has also served as a director of the Network of Autism Training and Technical Assistance Programs (NATTAP) and is a co-founder/developer of the College Program for Students with Asperger Syndrome at Marshall University. Dr. Becker-Cottrill is a co-author of the book Autism: A Primer for Educators.

James Ball, Ed.D., BCBA-D
JB Autism Consulting

James Ball, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral, has been in the autism field for over 20 years providing educational, residential, and employment services to children and adults affected by autism. Dr. Ball is the President/CEO of JB Autism Consulting. He is also the Director of Clinical Services for New York Families of Autistic Children, Inc. (NYFAC), a private not-for-profit organization providing support and training for children and families. He provides private consultation to organizations, schools, and families regarding staff training, parent training, home support services, classroom design/support, and behavior management/assessment.

Dr. Ball is also a member of Autism New Jersey, formally known as the New Jersey COSAC, Board of Trustees, and Professional Advisory Board, and also sits on the advisory board for Autism Asperger’s Digest magazine. A member of the Autism Society Board of Directors. Dr. Ball has lectured nationally and internationally on various topics such as early intervention, inclusion services, functional behavior assessment, social skills training, behavior management, direct instruction, sensory issues, and accountability. He has published in many of the above areas and authored the breakthrough award- winning book Early Intervention and Autism: Real-life Questions, Real-life Answers. Dr. Ball has won numerous awards including: NYFAC’s Autism Inspiration Award, the Autism Society’s Publication Award, and the Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor of Autism New Jersey.

This past year Dr. Ball has been concentrating a great deal on assisting public schools in developing consistent ways in dealing with problem behaviors, the major emphasis being on capacity building with staff, while helping young people on the autism spectrum develop the skills they need to be successful.

Margaret L. Bauman, M.D.
Director, Learning and Developmental Disabilities Evaluation & Rehabilitation Service

Margaret Bauman is the Associate Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, Associate Pediatrician and Assistant Neurologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, and the Director of LADDERS (Learning and Developmental Disabilities Evaluation and Rehabilitation Service), which is a satellite multidisciplinary clinic of the Mass General Hospital for Children. Dr. Bauman is also the Director of the Autism Research Foundation and the Autism Research Consortium in Boston, MA. An Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology at the Boston University School of Medicine, she is also a Child Neurology consultant for Casa Colina Centers for Rehabilitation, Inc., in Pomona, CA.

Dr. Bauman founded and serves as Chairperson of the Autism Research Consortium (ARC), and is the Past Medical Director of the Autism Treatment Network (ATN). Her research interests include the study of the microscopic brain structure in autism, Rett syndrome and other disorders of neurological development. She is co-editor of the book, The Neurobiology of Autism, which was originally published in 1994 by Johns Hopkins University Press. The second edition of this book was released in January 2005.

Lois J. Blackwell
Judevine Center for Autism

Lois Blackwell, founder of the Judevine Center for Autism (1970), served as its president and director until her retirement in 2004. Ms. Blackwell originated and developed a unique self-supporting model system through which hands-on training programs for parents of children with autism, as well as professional teachers and trainers, may be implemented and maintained over time in diverse locations.

Ms. Blackwell has been a member of the Autism Society’s Panel of Professional Advisors since 1986 (co-chair, 1997-1999) and then served on the Board of Directors (1997-1999). She represented the Autism Society on the Council for Quality and Leadership Board of Directors during 1996-2002. She was a founding member of the National Association of Residential Providers for Adults with Autism (NARPAA) in 2002. Ms. Blackwell received a distinguished alumni award from Washington University in St. Louis in 1975 and an honorary degree from the University College in 2004. She was the 2008 recipient of the Autism Society’s Founders Award.

Eric Courchesne, Ph.D.
Children’s Hospital at San Diego

Eric Courchesne is a professor in the Department of Neurosciences at the University of California, San Diego. He is also Director of the Autism Center of Excellence at UCSD. His center is dedicated to uncovering the brain bases and biological causes of autism. Current postmortem cellular and molecular research, as well as MRI studies, aim to identify the neural defects in autism and to discover patterns of abnormal brain growth from infancy through adulthood. Current structural and functional brain-imaging techniques are used to establish links between autistic symptoms and the brain sites responsible for them.

Dr. Courchesne’s studies have resulted in over 170 publications. His research is supported through grants from the National Institutes of Mental Health and Autism Speaks.

Margaret Creedon, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist

Margaret Creedon is a Fellow in the American Academy of Clinical Psychology and Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychology; a professional advisory member of the Autism Society of Illinois; attending staff at the Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago; instructor for the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board; and an independent consultant to families and schools, including the Department of Education in Ireland.

Dr. Creedon is also a co-founder of the international Autism Network for Individuals with Hearing and Visual Impairments (www.autism.com) and a coalition for the prevention of abuse to persons with disabilities. She was a school and research director of a demonstration program at Michael Reese Hospital (started in 1969) and an adolescent parenting program including teens with autism. Initially, the focus was on augmentative and alternative-total communication, then on developing an interactive play model and more recently on work in sensory-related skills, Project SMART. These have been presented to national and international professional groups as well as parent organizations.

Geraldine Dawson, Ph.D.
Autism Speaks

Geraldine Dawson became Autism Speaks’ first Chief Science Officer in January 2008. In this role, Dr. Dawson serves as the scientific leader of Autism Speaks, working with the scientific community, stakeholders, and science staff to shape, expand, and communicate the foundation’s scientific vision and strategy. Dr. Dawson is also Research Professor of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University.

Prior to joining Autism Speaks, Dr. Dawson was Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Washington and Founding Director of the University of Washington Autism Center, which has been designated an NIH Center of Excellence since 1996. Dawson remains on the UW faculty as a Professor Emeritus. While at the University, Dr. Dawson led a multi-disciplinary autism research program focusing on genetics, neuroimaging, diagnosis, and treatment. Her own research has been in the areas of early detection and treatment of autism, early patterns of brain dysfunction (electrophysiology), and more recently, development of endophenotypes for autism genetic studies. Dr. Dawson has co-edited or authored a number of books about autism spectrum disorder and brain development, including Autism Spectrum Disorders; Human Behavior, Learning, and the Developing Brain; and A Parent’s Guide to Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism. She has been widely published in academic journals. Dr. Dawson founded and directed the University of Washington Autism Center’s multi-disciplinary clinical services program. A strong advocate for families, she has testified before the U.S. Senate on behalf of individuals with autism and played a key role on the Washington State Autism Task Force.

Dr. Dawson earned a Ph.D. in developmental and child clinical psychology from the University of Washington. After graduate school, she studied as a postdoctoral fellow at the Neuropsychiatric Institute at UCLA and, a year later, accepted a position as Assistant Professor at University of North Carolina. In 1985, she returned to the University of Washington as a faculty member, where she continued her research on autism and practiced as a clinical psychologist specializing in autism until she accepted her current position.

Anne M. Donnellan, Ph.D.
University of San Diego

Anne Donnellan has a distinguished career in teaching, research and writing on autism and related disabilities. Dr. Donnellan is a leader in developing and promoting positive and human approaches to support and understand individuals with autism. She is a pioneer in the understanding and application of information on sensory and movement differences as these affect the development and performance of individuals with autism. Currently, she is a Professor in the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, and Director of the Autism Institute, at the University of San Diego and Professor Emerita at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Her recent publications include: "Rethinking Autism: Implications of Sensory Movement Differences" with Martha Leary and David Hill (in press, Disabilities Studies Quarterly); “Properties of Supportive Relationships from the Perspective of Academically Successful Individuals with Autism” with Jodi Robledo in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 2007; “I Can’t Get Started: Stress and the Role of Movement Differences for Individuals with the Autism Label” in Stress and Coping in Autism, with Martha Leary and Jodi Robledo; “Invented Knowledge and Autism: Highlighting our Strengths and Expanding the Conversation” in JASH; and “Movement Differences and Diversity” in Autism/Mental Retardation.

Dr. Donnellan has been a member of the Autism Society PPA for more than 30 years. She is working with Sally R. Young on a book of research on the effects of facilitated communication on the lives of individuals with autism as well as developing a book on the role movement and sensory differences play in our understanding/misunderstanding of autism. The field is beginning to appreciate that an outsider’s perspective is insufficient to describe and define autism and that our socially defined descriptions often cause great confusion and frustration. Incorporating information from researchers and self-advocates that neurological differences may result in behaviors that the individual does not intend, or may limit his/her ability to perform, can greatly improve our understanding of and support for the unique challenges faced by each person labeled autistic.

Glen Dunlap, Ph.D.
University of South Florida

Glen Dunlap is a professor in the Division of Applied Research and Educational Support at the University of South Florida, where he works on research, training and demonstration projects in the areas of positive behavior support, early intervention and family support.

Dr. Dunlap has been involved with individuals with disabilities for more than 35 years and has served as a teacher, administrator, researcher and university faculty member. He was involved in developing and directing state-wide service systems for individuals with autism spectrum disorders in West Virginia and Florida - at the West Virginia Autism Training Center and Florida’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. Dr. Dunlap moved to Reno, NV, in 2005, although he continues to work on research and training projects as a member of the faculty at the University of South Florida.

Dr. Dunlap has directed numerous research and training projects, authored more than 195 articles and book chapters, co-edited 4 books and served on 15 editorial boards. He was a founding editor of the Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, and is the current editor of Topics in Early Childhood Special Education.

In the past year, Dr. Dunlap served as co-editor of a major textbook on positive behavior support (Sailor, Dunlap, Sugai, & Horner, Editors, 2009, Handbook of Positive Behavior Support. Springer Publishers), and as lead author of an upcoming manual describing an individualized, school-based model for students with challenging behaviors (Dunlap, Iovannone, English, Wilson, Kincaid, Christiansen, & Strain, in press, Prevent-Teach-Reinforce: A School-Based Model of Positive Behavior. Paul Brookes Publishing Co).

V. Mark Durand, Ph.D.
University of South Florida, St. Petersburg

Mark Durand is a professor of psychology at the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg. Dr. Durand previously was a faculty member at the University of Albany- State University of New York, where he received the University Award for Excellence in Teaching, and founded the Albany Center for Autism and Related Disabilities.

Dr. Durand is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and has administered more than $4 million in federal research and training grants. He has over 100 research publications and developed (with Ted Carr) Functional Communication Training, a positive treatment for challenging behavior that is used world-wide and that is described in his classic book Severe Behavior Problems: A Functional Communication Approach (Guilford Press, 1990). Dr. Durand also created (with Dan Crimmins) the Motivation Assessment Scale, a functional behavioral assessment instrument that is now translated into 15 languages.

His current research is documenting how Positive Family Intervention combining behavioral parent training with cognitive-behavior therapy helps families address and cope with their child’s difficult behavior.

back to top

William L.E. Dussault received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Washington School of Law in 1972. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Washington State Bar Association and Seattle-King County Bar Association. Mr. Dussault recently completed two terms on the Washington State Bar Association Rules of Professional Conduct Committee. He maintains a private practice in Seattle, with an emphasis on the rights of persons with disabilities.

Mr. Dussault has served as counsel to TASH, was Vice-Chair of the American Bar Association Family Law Committee on Mental Disability and is counsel to the Washington Association for Persons with Disabilities. He also served as a member and vice president of the Brain Injury Association of America. He was a legal advisor to NARC, the Autism Society and the Epilepsy Foundation of America.

Stephen M. Edelson, Ph.D.
Autism Research Institute

Stephen Edelson is involved in many autism and autism-related organizations. He is Director of the Autism Research Institute in San Diego, founded by Dr. Bernard Rimland. Dr. Edelson is on the Board of Directors of the Autism Society, and he was a past president of the Oregon Chapter of the Autism Society.

Dr. Edelson’s research endeavors have spanned a variety of areas in autism, including sensory interventions (auditory, vision, and deep pressure), aberrant behaviors (self-injury, aggression, and stereotypic repetitive behaviors) and cognition (stimulus over selectivity, classification learning, perceptual discrimination). He co-edited a book with Dr. Rimland, Treating Autism: Parent Stories of Hope and Success, and he is editor of the quarterly newsletter Autism Research Review International. Dr. Edelson also hosts several popular web sites: www.autism.org, www.autism.com, www.autism.tv, and www.sait.org. In 2000, the Autism Society named Dr. Edelson “Volunteer of the Year.”

back to top

Judith E. Favell, Ph.D.
AdvoServ

Judith Favell is CEO of AdvoServ, a multi-state network of treatment programs for children and adults with developmental and behavioral challenges. Dr. Favell received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1966 and her Ph.D. in developmental and child psychology from the University of Kansas in 1970. Throughout her career as a clinician, researcher, teacher, lecturer and administrator, she has focused on the understanding and treatment of serious behavioral challenges, such as self-injurious and aggressive behavior, in individuals with autism. Her work has encompassed not only clinical domains, but also organizational, regulatory, legal and policy issues.

Dr. Favell has authored numerous publications, edited a leading journal and several newsletters (and served on the editorial boards of many others), and presented nationally and internationally. Her offices have included president of the International Association for Behavior, president of the American Psychological Association’s Division on Developmental Disabilities, and president of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board.

back to top

Michelle Garcia Winner is a specialist in treating persons with social learning challenges. She is a speech language pathologist who specializes in the treatment of students with social cognitive deficits, which includes diagnoses such as autism, Asperger syndrome and non-verbal learning disorder. She coined the term “Social Thinking” and developed related treatment strategies at the clinic she founded in 1998 in San Jose, CA, where she works with clients, and consults with families and schools. She also travels internationally, giving workshops as well as being invited to train psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, and state policymakers. She presents many different all-day workshops and helps to develop programs for schools and classrooms.

Ms. Garcia Winner has authored or co-authored numerous books, training videos, etc. She was honored with a “Congressional Special Recognition Award” in 2008. Ms. Garcia Winner’s goal is to help administrators, educators and parents appreciate how learning social thinking and social skills is important for our students’ academic and social improvements that are critical for transitioning into adulthood and living in the adult world.

Peter Gerhardt, Ed.D.
Organization for Autism Research

Peter Gerhardt is president of the Organization for Autism Research. Dr. Gerhardt has over 25 years’ experience working with adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders in educational, employment and community-based settings. As director of the Division of Transition and Adult Services at the Douglas Developmental Disabilities Center, he co-founded the Douglas Group, a social and support service for adults with Asperger’s Disorder.

He is the author and/or co-author of articles and book chapters on the needs of adults with autism spectrum disorders, the school-to-work-transition process, and analysis and intervention of problematic behavior.

He has presented nationally and internationally on these topics. Dr. Gerhardt received his doctorate from Rutgers University Graduate School of Education. He currently serves on numerous professional advisory boards including the Autism Society, Autism New Jersey, Chapel Haven, and Ivymount.

Temple Grandin, Ph.D.
Colorado State University

Temple Grandin is inarguably the most accomplished and well-known adult with autism in the world. She has been featured on major television networks and programs, such as ABC’s “Primetime Live,” NBC’s “Today Show,” “Larry King Live,” “The View,” BBC, “48 Hours” and “20/20,” and has been written up in national publications, such as Time magazine, People magazine, Forbes, U.S. News and World Report and New York Times.

Doreen Granpeesheh, Ph.D., BCBA
Center for Autism & Related Disorders

June Groden, Ph.D.
The Groden Center, Inc.

June Groden has been the Executive Director of the Groden Center in Providence, RI, since 1976. The Groden Center provides intensive learning and living environments for children and youth with autism, behavioral disorders and developmental disabilities. Dr. Groden serves on the clinical faculty at the University of Rhode Island and Salve Regina University, and is also a visiting research associate at the Center for the Study of Human Development at Brown University.

Dr. Groden holds a Ph.D. and master of arts degree in psychology from Boston College, a master of education degree from Rhode Island College and a bachelor of science degree in business administration from New York University. Dr. Groden is also a Fellow of the American Psychotherapy Association. As a researcher, Dr. Groden has produced three videos on the use of relaxation as well as written numerous articles and book chapters on stress, relaxation and picture rehearsal. She is an editor of the book Stress & Coping in Autism and has co-authored Relaxation: A Manual for Adults, Children and Children with Special Needs.

In 2009, Dr. Groden became a member of the Rhode Island Global Consumer Choice Compact Waiver Taskforce to assure public input with respect to the reforms to the Medicaid program. Also in 2009, Dr. Groden became a member of the Rhode Island State Commission to study the education of children with autism.

back to top

Paul Millard Hardy, M.D.
Hardy Healthcare Associates, PC

Paul Hardy received his medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, and trained in neurology at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. He is a former Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. fellow in medical ethics at Harvard University, and completed his fellowship training in behavioral neurology at the Boston VA Hospital. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Medicine and the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

In 1978, Dr. Hardy joined the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center in Waltham, MA, and became an instructor in neurology at Harvard Medical School. In 1980, he joined the faculty of the Tufts University School of Medicine, holding joint appointments as an assistant professor of neurology and psychiatry. From 1985 to 1992, Dr. Hardy co-founded the Boston Higashi School and served as the school’s medical director and president. In 1992, he started a private behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry practice in Hingham, MA.

Currently he incorporates the biomedical evaluation and treatment practices of the Defeat Autism Now! movement into his practice of mainstream neuropsychiatry. He is currently collaborating on a major review article of epilepsy in autism.

Robert Hendren, D.O.
University of California, San Francisco

Robert Hendren is Professor of Psychiatry and Vice Chair, Director of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, and the immediate past president of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Hendren is board certified in general as well as child and adolescent psychiatry. He has been listed in the Best Doctors in America each year since it was published in 1996. His primary areas of research and publication interests are translational clinical pharmacology and nutritional trials using biomarkers (MRI, measures of inflammation, oxidative stress, immune function and pharmacogenomics) in neurodevelopmental disorders.

Martha Herbert, M.D., Ph.D.
Massachusetts General Hospital

Martha Herbert is an assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, a pediatric neurologist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and a member of the Harvard-MIT-MGH Martinos Centre for Biomedical Imaging and Director of the TRANSCEND Research Program. Dr. Herbert earned her medical degree at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and her Ph.D. at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She trained in pediatrics at Cornell University Medical Center and in neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital. She is co-chair of the Autism Society’s Environmental Health Advisory Board and directs the Autism Society’s Treatment Guided Research Initiative.

Dr. Herbert’s research program includes studying what makes some autistic brains unusually large, how the parts of the brain are connected and coordinated with each other, how metabolism may affect brain function, and how we can measure changes in brain function that can result from treatment interventions.

Jill Hinton, Ph.D.
Autism Consultant

Jill Hinton obtained her B.S. in psychology from North Carolina State University and her Ph.D. in psychology from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Dr. Hinton is a licensed psychologist and autism consultant in North Carolina. She has worked in the field of autism for over 21 years. Currently, Dr. Hinton serves as an autism consultant working with The Arc of North Carolina, Easter Seals UCP, and the NC Division of Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities/Substance Abuse. She also chairs the North Carolina Practice Improvement Collaborative for Developmental Disabilities.

Dr. Hinton’s previous work with individuals with autism includes preschool services and classroom experience. She also coordinated a supported employment program for several years. Dr. Hinton served as Executive Director for the Autism Society of North Carolina for 12 years. Under her leadership, the organization added many new services and supports. More recently, Dr. Hinton has been involved with the development and implementation of crisis services for individuals with DD and mental health issues/challenging behaviors in North Carolina. She serves as Clinical Director for NC-START Central, a model of crisis prevention and response based on the START model of Boston developed by Dr. Joan Beasley. She also serves on the National Advisory Team for the Center for START Services at UNH Institute on Disability.

Anne Holmes, M.S., CCC, BCBA
Eden Autism Services

Anne Holmes is the Chief Clinical Officer for the Eden Autism Services, located in Princeton, New Jersey. Ms. Holmes received her master’s degree in speech pathology from Douglass College and holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence as well as New Jersey licensure, and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She is also an adjunct faculty member of the College of New Jersey.

Ms. Holmes has worked in the field of autism for over 30 years and is responsible for oversight of monitoring standards of care including staff development and student/participant outcomes by means of a comprehensive quality management system, as well as supervision of outreach, diagnostic, evaluative, and consultative services. In addition, she is a primary consultant to families, schools, and agencies, locally and nationwide. Ms. Holmes has written numerous papers and articles, and is the primary editor of Eden’s curriculum.

back to top

David L. Holmes, Ed.D.
Lifespan Services, LLC

David Holmes is Chairman and CEO of Lifespan Services, LLC, a full-service consulting company established to help families and individuals with autism and related disabilities get what they need.

Dr. Holmes is board certified in forensic science, behavioral science and psychology. He is a certified/licensed chief school administrator/supervisor/principal and teacher. He is immediate past president and founder of The Eden Family of Services (now Eden Autism Services) and he has been a featured guest on several television and radio shows, including National Public Radio’s “Talk of the Nation” and CNN’s “House Call.” Dr. Holmes is a national award-winning author of numerous books, book chapters and articles, most notably Autism through the Lifespan - The Eden Model. He recently served as a Fellow to the 32nd Federal Institute on Rehabilitation Issues (IRI) in Washington, D.C.

During the past year, Dr. Holmes co-authored an article, “Divorce and Child Custody: When Autism is a Consideration” and has testified in numerous court cases regarding education, residential services, child custody and forensic matters, all pertaining to autism. Dr. Holmes is the host of the national/international radio show “Adults with Autism; TODAY!”

Susan Kabot
Nova Southeastern University, Center for Psychological Studies

Martin Kozloff, Ph.D.
Department of Specialty Studies
University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Martin Kozloff is a Watson Distinguished Professor at the Watson School of Education, University of North Carolina-Wilmington. Martin Kozloff and his research team are currently investigating strategies for pilot and school-wide implementations of direct instruction; the effects of direct instruction on children’s academic achievement, teachers’ skills and school organization; and direct instruction as a form of social organization.

Dr. Kozloff has written the following books: Reaching the Autistic Child; Improving Educational Outcomes for Children with Disabilities: Principles for Assessment, Program Planning, and Evaluation; Improving Educational Outcomes for Children with Disabilities: Guidelines and Protocols for Practice; Productive Interaction with Students, Children and Clients; A Program for Families of Children with Learning and Behavior Problems; and Educating Children with Learning and Behavior Problems.

Rebecca Landa, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Rebecca Landa received a B.A. in speech pathology and audiology from Towson State University, an M.S. in communication sciences and disorders from Penn State, and a Ph.D. from the University of Washington. She pursued postgraduate work at the University of Maryland, Washington State College of Veterinary Medicine and Johns Hopkins, and worked extensively as a speech-language pathologist before joining the Hopkins faculty in 1989. Dr. Landa is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and serves on the Maryland State Department of Education Autism Task Force, the First Signs Clinical Advisory Board and the Working Committee on Brain Growth Factors in Autism at NINDS.

Dr. Landa received the National Institute of Mental Health’s Shannon Award for excellent and innovative research design and content, the Rita Rudel Prize for research in developmental neuropsychology and the Maryland Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s prize for outstanding contribution to the field.

Gary LaVigna, Ph.D.
Institute for Applied Behavior Analysis

Gary LaVigna is Clinical Director of the Institute for Applied Behavior Analysis in Los Angeles, which he co-founded in 1981 with Thomas Willis. IABA provides behavior management services, and supported employment, living and educational services to individuals with disabilities in southern California. IABA is committed to providing the most advanced and high-quality services in support of people with challenging behavior.

Dr. LaVigna co-authored the books Alternatives to Punishment, Progress Without Punishment and The Periodic Service Review: A Total Quality Assurance System for Human Services and Education.

Dr. LaVigna consults with organizations on establishing positive support plans rooted in non-linear Applied Behavior Analysis for individuals exhibiting severe and challenging behavior. He also presents seminars and teaches courses on the topic throughout the world.

Bennett L. Leventhal, M.D.
Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research and New York University

Bennett Leventhal received his M.D. from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans, and completed his residency and fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center. Following two years as a medical officer at the Naval Regional Medical Center in Portsmouth, VA, Dr. Leventhal joined the faculty of the University of Chicago where he served for more than 25 years and remains the Irving B. Harris Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Emeritus. He moved to the University of Illinois Medical Center where he was Director of the Center for Child Mental Health and Developmental Neuroscience. In 2009, he moved to New York where is Deputy Director of the Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, as well as Professor, Vice Chair and Deputy Director for Research in the NYU Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Dr. Leventhal has worked extensively in the areas of attention disorders, autism, community services, developmental disorders, genetics, juvenile justice and psychopharmacology. Dr. Leventhal is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the American Psychiatric Association. He is past president of the Society of Professors of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the Illinois Council of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Cathy Pratt, Ph.D.
Indiana Resource Center for Autism/IIDC

Cathy Pratt is the Director of the Indiana Resource Center for Autism at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community located at Indiana University. Dr. Pratt is on faculty at Indiana University and presents internationally. She serves on numerous advisory boards, including MAAP Services, Inc., the College Internship Program, and the Autism Society of Indiana. She currently serves as Chair of the Board for the Autism Society. Dr. Pratt also serves on the Panel of Professional Advisors for the Autism Society and is part of NATTAP (Network of Autism Training and Technical Assistance Programs). Currently, Dr. Pratt serves on the advisory board for the National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders grant funded through the U.S. Department of Education. She has been involved with the Institute on Rehabilitation Issues focused on autism, participant on the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee as a member of the Expert Working Group on Services, and served on the Scientific Advisory Board for IMFAR (International Meeting for Autism Research). She also served as a member of the public review committee for the Research Roadmap of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee.

Dr. Pratt has received the Autism Society Individual Achievement Award, 2005 Princeton Fellowship Award, and various awards through NYFAC (New York Families for Autistic Children, Inc.), as well as recognition from the United States House of Representatives. In 2008, Dr. Pratt was awarded with the Distinguished Service Award by the Indiana Council of Administrators of Special Education. She has written articles and presents on the following topics: autism spectrum disorders, functional behavior assessment/positive behavior supports, instructional approaches, systems change, and policy. Prior to pursuing her doctorate at Indiana University, Dr. Pratt worked as a classroom teacher for students across the autism spectrum and with other disabilities.

Edward Ritvo is an internationally recognized medical expert, researcher and pioneer in the field of autism and Asperger’s Disorder, and co-author of the official diagnostic criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Much of what is known about these disorders today is based on his research and groundbreaking discoveries.

Dr. Ritvo has over 40 years of experience in autism and is professor emeritus at the UCLA School of Medicine. He is the author of more than 100 scientific papers on autism and Asperger’s syndrome and several books on autism, including Understanding the Nature of Autism and Asperger’s Disorder. Dr. Ritvo began his quest for understanding autism and Asperger’s Disorder in 1963, and has been on the research trail ever since.

Frank R. Robbins, Ph.D.
Quabbin Valley Educational Consultants

Frank Robbins has done extensive work in the areas of autism, early intervention, challenging behaviors and parent training, and has numerous publications and professional presentations in these areas. Prior to developing a consulting practice in 1994 (which has worked with hundreds of students, families, school districts and agencies), Dr. Robbins served as the director of a program at the May Institute/University of Massachusetts that provided services for young children with autism/PDD in an integrated preschool context.

Dr. Robbins helped coordinate a home-based early intervention program for children with autism in West Virginia and a state-wide service delivery program for persons with autism in Florida. He was previously on the faculty at the University of South Florida and has worked on a number of federal grants. Dr. Robbins has served as an editorial reviewer for a variety of professional journals and is a member of a number of professional organizations.

Stephen Shore, Ed.D.

back to top

Brenda Smith-Myles, Ph.D.
The Autism Society and the Ziggurat Group

Brenda Smith Myles, a consultant with the Ziggurat Group and Chief Program Officer for the Autism Society, is the recipient of the 2004 Autism Society’s Outstanding Professional Award and the 2006 Princeton Fellowship Award. She has written numerous articles and books on Asperger Syndrome and autism, including Asperger Syndrome and Difficult Moments: Practical Solutions for Tantrums, Rage, and Meltdowns (with Southwick) and Asperger Syndrome and Adolescence: Practical Solutions for School Success (with Adreon). The latter is a winner of the Autism Society’s Outstanding Literary Work.

Dr. Smith-Myles has made over 500 presentations all over the world and written more than 150 articles and books on autism and Asperger Syndrome. She served as the co-chair of the National ASD Teacher Standards Committee and is on the National Institute of Mental Health’s Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee’s Strategic Planning Consortium. Dr. Smith-Myles is also on the executive boards of several organizations, including the Organization for Autism Research and MAAP Services, Inc. In addition, she was acknowledged as the second most productive applied researcher in autism spectrum disorders in the world from 1997 to 2004.

Ruth Christ Sullivan, Ph.D.
Autism Services Center

Ruth Christ Sullivan was the founder and Executive Director of the Autism Services Center in Huntington, WV, one of the few agencies in the United States to offer comprehensive, across-the-lifespan, autism-specific services in a community-integrated setting. She also founded the National Association of Residential Providers for Adults with Autism. Dr. Sullivan has been a professional in the field of autism for over 45 years. She was the first elected president of the Autism Society and now serves as an honorary member of the Autism Society’s Board of Directors.

Dr. Sullivan has lectured throughout the United States and around the world. She has published books, book chapters, and articles, and for many years was a columnist for the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disabilities. She was a consultant for the movie “Rain Man” and her son, Joseph, an autistic savant, was one of the two major autistic models for the character of Raymond (played by Dustin Hoffman). The movie was premiered in Huntington, WV, with Dustin Hoffman present. In November 2005, she was appointed to the 32nd Institute on Rehabilitation Issues. She received the Autism Society Founders Award in 2007, as well as a Citation of Honor from the WV State House of Delegates at a special session in January 2008.

Luke Y. Tsai, M.D.
University of Michigan Medical School

Luke Tsai is a scholar, researcher, teacher and, most importantly, a father of a young man with autism. He received his medical degree from Taipei Medical University in Taiwan and completed his residency training in general psychiatry and fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Iowa Hospitals. He held academic and professional appointments at the University of Iowa College of Medicine and the University of Kansas School of Medicine.

Dr. Luke Tsai is a professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at the University of Michigan Medical School. He is also founder and Director of Developmental Disorders at the University of Michigan Medical Center. In addition, Dr. Tsai is consultant editor of the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, and is on the editorial board of Focus on Autistic Behavior.

Dr. Tsai is a Diplomate in psychiatry and child psychiatry, certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Tsai has received awards and honors for his work with individuals with neuropsychiatric disorders. His publications include more than 80 articles and 40 books or chapters.

Diane Twachtman-Cullen, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
ADDCON

Diane Twachtman-Cullen is a communication disorders specialist and licensed speech-language pathologist specializing in autism, Asperger’s Syndrome and related conditions. She holds an M.A. in speech-language pathology, a Sixth Year Diploma in early childhood education and a Ph.D. in special education.

She has authored numerous chapters and articles, as well as the following books: A Passion to Believe: Autism and the Facilitated Communication Phenomenon, Trevor Trevor, and How to Be a Para Pro: A Comprehensive Training Manual for Paraprofessionals. Her book, How Well Does Your IEP Measure Up?, is co-authored with her daughter, Jennifer Twachtman-Reilly. Dr. Twachtman-Cullen is the Editor-in-Chief of Autism Spectrum Quarterly magazine.

Dr. Twachtman-Cullen is a member of the following professional advisory boards: ASPEN (Asperger Syndrome Parent Education Network), The Gray Center for Social Learning and Understanding, MAAP, Inc., The Special Minds Foundation, and the Virtual Autism Clinic. She provides consultative services and training seminars internationally on a variety of topics related to autism spectrum disorders and language development.

Jennifer Twachtman-Reilly, M.S., CCC-SLP
Connecticut Children’s Medical Center

Jennifer Twachtman-Reilly is a speech-language pathologist who provides consultation/training for people with autism through the ADDCON Center, LLC, and direct services through the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center (CCMC). At CCMC, Ms. Twachtman-Reilly is part of a unique collaborative program between developmental pediatrics and speech-language pathology that focuses on the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders. She has also served on CCMC’s clinical feeding team, where she focused her clinical work on evaluating children with ASD and feeding difficulties.

Ms. Twachtman-Reilly is the associate editor of Autism Spectrum Quarterly, where she contributes a column devoted to translating research into practice. She is also a member of the National Advisory Board of Directors of the Special Minds Foundation and serves on the Board of Directors of the Autism Society of Connecticut. Ms. Twachtman-Reilly has contributed her expertise to several chapters, articles, and a book. She has also presented her clinical work at state, regional and national conferences, and provides a number of professional workshops and online training and consultation.

Margaret Whelan
Geneva Centre for Autism

Harry Wright, M.D., MBA
University of South Carolina

Harry Wright, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, is a professor in the Department of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Science at the School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, in Columbia, SC. He is also Director of the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Programs and the Developmental Disorders Clinic at the William S. Hall Psychiatric Institute.

Dr. Wright received his B.S. in chemistry from the University of South Carolina. He did graduate work in biophysical chemistry at Brown University, completed his M.D. from Brown University School of Medicine, and earned his M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He completed residencies in administrative, general, and child and adolescent psychiatry in Philadelphia, PA, and Columbia, SC.

Dr. Wright is a team leader for the Child and Adolescent Certification Examination of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Dr. Wright’s clinical practice is focused on young children and children and adolescents with developmental problems. He received the Teacher of the Year Award from the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Residency Training Program and the Clinical Science Research and Research Advancement Awards from the School of Medicine.

Dr. Wright has contributed to more than 200 publications and has made more than 400 presentations at scientific meetings. His research interests include psychiatric genetics, psychiatric epidemiology, developmental disorders, multicultural issues, health services research, and infant and preschool mental health issues.