OAR-funded researcher Audrey Blakeley-Smith, PhD, is an assistant professor in the departments of psychiatry and pediatrics at the University of Colorado, School of Medicine. She is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in developmental disabilities, most specifically autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Through funding from OAR, Dr. Blakeley-Smith is collaborating with local school districts on strategies to…
Geoff Crist is the proud parent of a beautiful, energetic, curious, daughter, Sydney (aka Beanie), 11, who was diagnosed with moderate/severe autism when she was 18 months old. He is a career firefighter and nationally registered paramedic, has worked in the 911 system for the past 16 years, and is an Indiana State-approved autism awareness…
Dennis Debbaudt is the author of the book, Autism, Advocates and Law Enforcement Professionals, and parent of a young man with an autism spectrum disorder. He’s also written for the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin and Sheriff Magazine and contributed numerous reports and book chapters about this subject matter. He’s produced the training videos Autism &…
Glenda Fuge is co-founder of Developmental Pathways for Kids, a private practice in Redwood City, Calif., where she specializes in Sensory Integration treatment and Integrated Play Groups for children with autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, behavioral dysfunction and other self-regulation problems. In addition to her professional career, she served on the Commission on Disabilities for…
Ryan Rivera is the founder and publisher of CalmClinic.com. As someone who spent seven years of his life suffering from, as he calls it, the “whole package” – panic attacks, severe anxiety, agoraphobia, social anxiety, unbearable physical symptoms, headaches, neck pains, constant tension, diarrhea, palpitations, pounding heart, he understands the effects of anxiety and how…
Repetitive behavior is a trademark characteristic of autism. This behavior can range from odd and harmless, such as hand flapping, to self-injurious and harmful. In Effects of a Family-Implemented Treatment on the Repetitive Behaviors of Children with Autism, researchers lead by Brian A. Boyd, Ph.D.at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill investigated a…
Dr. Thomas Zane is a professor of education and director of the Applied Behavior Analysis Online Program at the Van Loan Graduate School of Endicott College. He is a licensed psychologist in New York and Massachusetts. Dr. Zane has published in various journals and books, presented at regional, national, and international conferences, and been an…
Jamie Pagliaro is executive vice president and co-creator of Rethink Autism, an award-winning educational technology company headquartered in New York City. He has spent the past 15 years working in programs for individuals with autism and related disorders. Prior to Rethink Autism, Jamie was executive director of the New York Center for Autism Charter School,…
Ernst O. VanBergeijk, PhD, MSW, is the associate dean and executive director of New York Institute of Technology Vocational Independence Program (V.I.P.). Prior to joining V.I.P., Dr. VanBergeijk was an assistant professor at Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Service, where he served as chairman of the college’s local institutional review board and as a…
Shelly Huhtanen originally wrote this column for Exceptional Parent Magazine as part of its Military section in its April 2011 issue. She is a columnist and advocate for people with autism as well as an active-duty military wife and mother to two sons, Hayden, 6, and Broden, 5. Her husband, Mark, is a major in…
