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 Members:
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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Ruth Elaine Hane
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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Sharisa Joy Kochmeister
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 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, delivering an opening keynote at their 2007 conference in Edmonton, Canada, and co-presenting 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 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.
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 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. Zosia earned a M.Ed. in Rehabilitation Counseling from Hunter College and has a degree in Technical Journalism from Polytechnic University. Zosia 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 Zosia 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, Zosia 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 
