The Autism Society’s Board of Directors maintains a Panel of People on the Spectrum of Autism Advisors (PSA). This volunteer panel provides expertise and guidance to the Autism Society in all aspects of its work. The panel includes some of the most recognized and influential names in the autism community.
Panel of People on the Spectrum Co-Chairs:
Panel Members:
Valerie Paradiz, Ph.D.,
Panel of People on the Spectrum of Autism Co-Chairperson
Valerie Paradiz develops educational programs for children and adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Her work in schools and agencies has been featured in the New York Times, Redbook magazine, and The Guardian. Dr. Paradiz is the developer of Integrated Self AdvocacyTM (AAPC, 2009), a curriculum and training series for educators and therapists who wish to support individuals with ASDs in achieving greater ability in self-advocacy. Her memoir, Elijah’s Cup (Jessica Kingsley, 2005), is the compelling story of the author’s experiences raising her autistic son, their involvement together in the advocacy community, and her own ultimate diagnosis with Asperger syndrome. Dr. Paradiz is also a member of the Autism Society Board of Directors and the Government Relations Committee.
Outside the autism field, she enjoys an active career in literary and non-fiction writing and translation. In the 2009-2010 academic year, Dr. Paradiz will continue ongoing professional development for the New York City Department of Education’s Office of Autism, working with teachers and therapists to initiate new pilots and build capacity in supporting young self-advocates with autism using the Integrated Self AdvocacyTM curriculum. Dr. Paradiz is a member of the newly founded Institute for Cognitive Diversity at Bank Street College in Manhattan, where she will be offering training and development for schools and agencies, and teaching a graduate seminar on “Advocacy and Collaboration.” For more information about seminars or projects, visit www.ValerieParadiz.com.
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Ruth Elaine Hane
Panel of People on the Spectrum of Autism Co-Chairperson
Ruth Elaine holds a B.S. in Human Sciences from the University of Minnesota. She was diagnosed with high-functioning autism in 1995. Ms. Hane serves as Secretary of the Autism Society’s Board of Directors. She is also a member or chair of the Autism Society Executive and Nominating Committees, Bylaws Task Force, Safe and Sound Task Force, Strategic Planning Committee and several other Autism Society committees.
Ms. Hane is a contributing author of the book, Ask and Tell: Self-Advocacy and Disclosure for People on the Autism Spectrum and invented a product for viewing faces, the Hane Face Window©, assisting individuals who have face blindness. She mentors many people with ASD and facilitates the Aspie Get-Together Social Group.
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Dena L. Gassner, MSW
Married to Rick, Dena Gassner is the parent of Katie (a graduate student in Louisville) and Patrick (entering his senior year of high school and completing his third year as the team manager for the Centennial High School hockey team). Ms. Gassner is the 2009 winner of the Jo Andrews Award from the Nashville Mayor’s Committee on Disability for outstanding disability advocacy by a person living with disabilities. She has been featured in a PSA (no-myths.org) and an online video for the Dan Marino Foundation (au-tube). Ms. Gassner is a faculty member for Health-Education Network, presently completing a one-year national tour speaking about vulnerabilities in Asperger’s Syndrome.
Her personal mantra empowers persons to leave shame and inadequacy behind for an empowered life embracing autistic authenticity. This year she opened a private coaching practice in the Greater Nashville area called the Center for Understanding. In January 2010 the C4U after-school program will open, providing life skills and social thinking supports to middle and high school students on the spectrum. Her book Exiting the Shame Train: Finding Authenticity and Living Well with Asperger’s Syndrome is due out this year. She is also an executive board member for GRASP and a collaborator with ASAN.
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Sharisa Joy Kochmeister
Writer/Advocate/Researcher/Educator/Publisher/Editor
Sharisa Joy Kochmeister is a writer/advocate/researcher/educator regarding the rights of children and adults with disabilities. She holds an honors degree in Sociology and Psychology from the University of Denver. Ms. Kochmeister publishes and manages a new electronic worldwide free magazine called The Voices and Choices of Autism. She was appointed by the Governor to the Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council and is now an elected executive committee member of that board. Ms. Kochmeister is the president of AutCom and delivered an opening keynote at their 2007 conference in Edmonton, Canada, and co-presented with Stephen Shore, Ed.D. at their 2008 conference in Michigan. This year she will be presenting a keynote and groundbreaking workshop at their conference in New Hampshire.
Ms. Kochmeister conducts on-site seminars, needs assessments and in-service training at many organizations and schools. She is as an expert consultant/advocate in the areas of disabilities, communication, assistance, adaptive technology, and inclusive education, and has delivered a variety of keynote addresses in a variety of venues. She is a published poet, author and songwriter, and her life story has been featured in journals, print media and broadcast media. She is currently working on her autobiography, as well as a fairytale about autism and several books of poetry.
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Lars Perner, Ph.D.
Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California
Lars Perner is an assistant professor of clinical marketing at the Marshall School of Business of the University of Southern California. He holds a Ph.D. in marketing from USC and an M.B.A. and B.A. in political science and psychology from the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
His main research interests center on consumer behavior, non-profit fundraising and “win-win” deals. Dr. Perner became interested in the autism spectrum after being diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome in 1996 and has since written extensively on this topic. He maintains several web sites, including www.consumerpsychologist.com, which is top ranked in major search engines under the terms “consumer psychology” and “consumer marketing,” as well as several autism web sites focusing on such issues as college preparation for people on the autism spectrum.
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Sondra Williams
Sondra Williams is a person diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, which she refers to as “high functioning autism.” She is married and has four children, all of whom are diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. Ms. Williams is the grandmother of Delaney, who is developing typically so far. She is an author, speaker and presenter, and says when in these roles “she feels successful for a brief moment in her life.” Ms. Williams enjoys many interests, primarily writing poetry, trees and cultures.
Ms. Williams is preparing several new presentations that will be ready for 2010: “I am Communicating, Can’t You Hear Me?” and “When Mental Health Goes Wrong.” This second presentation will highlight Ms. Williams’ review and re-evaluation of her past mental health records in a more careful, diagnostic view, and will explore how poor care and wrong diagnosis can cause more harm than benefit. Ms. Williams is also currently working on a book titled The Painful Laughter In-Between.
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Zosia Zaks, M.Ed.
Zosia Zaks is the author of Life and Love: Positive Strategies for Autistic Adults and writes and speaks nationally on issues of importance to the autism community. Ms. Zaks earned her M.Ed. in Rehabilitation Counseling from Hunter College and has a degree in Technical Journalism from Polytechnic University. Ms. Zaks works as a vocational rehabilitation counselor, and advocates on the state and federal levels for employment policies and programs that meet the unique needs of adults across the spectrum. Because life was a struggle until she was properly diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome at age 31, and because it took years to obtain a proper diagnosis and appropriate services for her children, Ms. Zaks also advocates for earlier detection for young children who do not fit the typical profile of autism and focuses in particular on outreach to minority communities that lack access to information and resources.
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Panel of People on the Spectrum of Autism Advisors 
