What is your educational background?
I received a B.A. degree in Psychology from Stanford University, an M.A. in Developmental Psychology from the University of Michigan, a Ph.D. in Psychology from Brandeis University and did a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Child Clinical Psychology from the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill with specializations in Pediatric Psychology and Developmental Disabilities. What is your professional background?
I am licensed psychologist and spent much of my career at UNC-Chapel Hill program TEACCH, working to further develop the structured teaching method for people with autism. In 2010, I retired as the director but continue to work as a consultant and speaker.
What are your greatest professional accomplishments?
Thousands of people in the USA and 17 countries worldwide have been trained in the module that I developed for organizing classroom programs for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Tell us about the upcoming Autism Conference in Charlotte?
Child & Family Development and Charlotte AHEC are offering this April 22nd event to parents and professionals, discussing the Culture of Autism, along with the latest research and interventions that emphasize quality of life. In addition to my presentation, there are three breakout sessions about Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), Executive Functioning In the Classroom and Sensory Processing. Learn more about the conference by visiting Charlotte AHEC.
How did you get involved in the conference?
Devon Redmond PhD is a child psychologist who trained with me at UNC-CH. She starting working at Child & Family Development in January 2015 and recommended me for the conference.
How does research at University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill compare?
Carolina ranked number one public in autism research - Carolina is the number one public institution in the world for autism research, according to a 2012 report from the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, a federal advisory committee. Ranked No. 2 overall, Carolina is just behind Harvard University.
What questions do concerned parents typically want to ask about autism?
My recent interview with Charlotte Parent answers a few questions parents want to ask:
-What does autism look like in a toddler and preschooler?
-What behaviors should parents be on the lookout for?
-How are degrees of autism now defined?
-How should a parent approach early education for a child with autism?
-What is the structured teaching method that TEACCH developed?
What autism support groups do you recommend?
I think the best support groups are the Autism Society of America and the Autism Society of North Carolina.
