Want to know more about the speakers in Autism Awareness Centre's conferences, trainings or events? Scroll down for a list of bios on past or upcoming speakers, including links to books that they have authored for purchase at our store. Not finding who you are looking for? Feel free to contact us and we will see if we can help!
Ryan Hendrix is a Social Cognitive Therapist at Social Thinking Stevens Creek in San Jose and a private therapist in San Francisco. She trained and works directly with Michelle Garcia Winner and Dr. Pamela Crooke. Her diverse caseload experience includes preschool-age children through young adults with varying levels of social cognitive learning challenges. In addition to running groups, she actively…
Linda Hodgdon, M.ED., CCC-SLP is a Speech Pathologist, who for over 25 years has specialized in addressing the communication needs of students with Autism, Aspergers Syndrome, behavior disorders, and others with moderate to severe communication and behavior difficulties. She pioneered the development of visual strategies and is the author of two of the most recommended books in the field: Visual…
Lauren H. Kerstein, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in working with children through adults with autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, depression, and relationship skill difficulties. Lauren is the author of A Week of Switching, Shifting, and Stretching: How to Make My Thinking More Flexible; My Sensory Book: Working Together to Explore Sensory Issues and the Big Feelings…
Paula Kluth is a consultant, teacher, author, advocate, and independent scholar who works with teachers and families to provide inclusive opportunities for students with disabilities and to create more responsive and engaging schooling experiences for all learners. Her research and professional interests include differentiating instruction, and supporting students with autism and significant disabilities in inclusive classrooms. Paula is a former…
Carol Stock Kranowitz is the author of The Out-of-Sync Child, the bestseller that demystifies Sensory Integration (SI). As a music, movement and drama teacher for 25 years, she developed a purposeful curriculum that integrates sensory-motor activities into the preschool day. In her presentations, she shows parents, educators, caregivers, and other early childhood professionals what healthy SI means for the whole…
Leah Kuypers earned a BS in Occupational Therapy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Graduate Certificate in Autism, and a MA in Education from Hamline University in St. Paul, MN. She has practiced as an OT/autism specialist in school and clinical settings, specializing in self-regulation and social learning, and has worked with students of all ages and challenges, including anxiety,…
Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson is a licensed clinical psychologist and Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. Dr. Laugeson is the Founder and Director of the UCLA PEERS Clinic, which is an outpatient hospital-based program providing parent-assisted social skills training for adolescents…
Amy Laurent, Ph.D., OTR/L is a developmental psychologist and a registered pediatric occupational therapist. She is also the co-director and co-founder of Autism Level UP!, a neurodiverse partnership aiming to provide accessible resources, consultation, training and services that are informed by and developed in collaboration with the autistic community. She specializes in supporting autistic children and related developmental disabilities, as…
Stephanie Madrigal is a speech-language pathologist and senior therapist at the Social Thinking Center. She has worked alongside Michelle Garcia Winner since 2003. She graduated in 1993 with a BA degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from San Jose State University and completed her MA degree in Speech Pathology from the same university in 1995. Known for her warm, friendly…
Kelly Mahler earned a MS in Occupational Therapy, as well as a Post-Professional Pediatric Certificate from Misericordia University, Dallas, PA. She is an occupational therapist and autism consultant who supports school-aged individuals and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders. In the evenings, Kelly is co-founder of Destination Friendship, an organization providing fun opportunities targeted at developing friendship skills in young…
Kerry Mataya is the creator and visionary behind Bridgeway Services providing intervention based services including school consultations, summer camps, after-school social groups, and individualized programming for high functioning individuals with ASD. With a Master’s in Education with emphasis in Autism and Asperger Syndrome from the University of Kansas, Mrs. Mataya holds many contracts with school systems for individualized teaching, social…
Gareth D Morewood is the Educational Advisor for Studio III (www.studio3.org). Previously he has worked for 25 years in U.K. schools; the last 17 of which were as SENCo (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) in a large, inclusive secondary school in the North West of England. Gareth has extensive ‘front-line’ experience supporting schools, families and working directly with young people in…
Mrs. Rebecca Moyes, a former teacher in both public and private schools for nine years, is the mother of two children. Her oldest is diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. Rebecca is currently an autism consultant/trainer for several school districts in Pennsylvania and serves as President of the AVID Learning Center, a therapeutic center for children with disabilities located in New Kensington.…
Brenda Smith Myles Ph.D., Brenda has made over 1000 presentations all over the world and written more than 250 articles and books on ASD. In addition, she served as the co-chair of the National ASD Teacher Standards Committee, was on the National Institute of Mental Health’s Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee’s Strategic Planning Consortium, and collaborated with the National Professional Center…
Kari Palmer is a speech language pathologist/social cognitive therapist at her private practice, Changing Perspectives, in Excelsior, MN. She has co-authored, with Michelle Garcia Winner, Ryan Hendrix, and Nancy Tarshis The Incredible Flexible You: A Social Thinking Curriculum for the Preschool and Early Elementary Years. Additionally, Kari consults with local school districts on implementing Social Thinking into their programming. Kari’s…