Advisory Board

Paxton

First Name: 
Laura
AWN Title: 
Advisory Board
Photo: 
Sharon

Laura Paxton holds two Master's Degrees, one in Psychology and one in Guidance and Counseling, with an emphasis on Special Education. She has worked as both a Developmental Disabilities Case Manager and a Special Education Teacher.

Laura is the author of Borderline and Beyond, a book which shows similarities between personality disorders and autism spectrum disorders.  She has created over 70 videos on the subject of autism on YouTube/White Tiger Dream's Channel.

Laura has Asperger Syndrome, Nonverbal Learning Disability, and Bipolar Disorder.

Nichols, Ph.D.

First Name: 
Shana
AWN Title: 
Advisory Board, Chair
Photo: 
Sharon

Shana Nichols, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and researcher and has worked in the field of autism spectrum disorders and child development for over fifteen years. She received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada and completed her internship and post-doctoral training at JFK Partners Center for Autism in Denver, Colorado.

She currently specializes in adolescence and growing up, dual diagnosis and mental health issues, and the experiences of girls with autism spectrum disorders. Originally from Ontario, Canada, she now lives on Long Island, NY and is Clinical Director of the Fay J. Lindner Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities. Her book, entitled Girls Growing Up on the Autism Spectrum: What Parents Should Know about the Pre-teen and Teenage Years was published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers in December 2008. She was a recipient of the Canadian Psychological Association Certificate of Academic Excellence in 2005 Award for her Ph.D. thesis work.

Fuentes

First Name: 
Carolyn
AWN Title: 
Advisory Board
Photo: 
Dr. Carolyn Fuentes

Carlolyn Fuentes is an educator, author, developer of web games for students of all ages, and a self described "forever technology career student."

Her commitment to helping others understand ASD's is fueled by the inspiration she receives from her son Aeric, a young adult on the autism spectrum.  Ms. Fuentes has tirelessly advocated throughout Aeric's life to ensure he received a progressive education alongside his peers.  Currently, Aeric is attending classes for Culinary Arts after successfully graduating from High School.

Ms. Funtes was awarded US Honor Society in 2009.  An accomplished author, Dr. Fuetes' book Autism has received critical acclaim as useful, relevant, and helpful for anyone looking into an introduction of autism.

Chew

First Name: 
Kristina
AWN Title: 
Advisory Board
Photo: 
Sharon

Kristina Chew is a Classics Professor at Saint Peter’s College in Jersey City, USA; a translator and teacher of Latin and ancient Greek; and the Director of Special Scholarships & Fellowships.

Happily married to Professor of Theology & Cultural Historian, James T. Fisher, and mother to 12 year old son, Charlie, who is on the moderate to severe end of the autism spectrum, she is currently writing a book about life on the long road with Charlie, and  blogging about autism at:  We Go With HimHer web page is: kristina chew.com

Moreno

First Name: 
Susan
AWN Title: 
Advisory Board
Photo: 
Sharon

Mrs. Susan Moreno is the Founder and President of MAAP Services for Autism and Asperger Syndrome, and a proud parent of two adult daughters, one of whom is on the autism spectrum.  With a Master of Arts in Applied Behavioral Science from Valparaiso University, Susan is trained in Neurocognitive Rehabilitation. 

Mrs. Moreno has 24 years of experience in working with parents, spouses, teachers, and others who are as she describes, "Individuals who care about developing new possibilities, and progress for individuals with Autism, Asperger Syndrome, and related challenges.

Ne'eman

First Name: 
Ari
AWN Title: 
Advisory Board
Photo: 
Sharon

Ari Ne'eman is the Founding President of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, where he initiates and directs efforts to increase the representation of autistic individuals in public policy discussions.   He is an adult on the autism spectrum and a leading advocate in the neurodiversity movement, frequently briefing policymakers and speaking publicly on disability and autism policy issues. Appointed by Governor Jon Corzine, he served as Vice Chair of the New Jersey Adults with Autism Task Force, where he represented autistic adults in reviewing the state’s autism services. He also previously served on the New Jersey Special Education Review Commission, where he authored a minority report on the topic of aversives, restraint and seclusion. He previously served as the Policy Workgroup Leader for the Youth Advisory Council to the National Council on Disability.

Baron-Cohen

First Name: 
Professor Simon
AWN Title: 
Advisory Board
Photo: 
Sharon

Simon Baron-Cohen is Professor of Developmental Psychopathology at the University of Cambridge and Fellow at Trinity College, Cambridge. Director of the Autism Research Centre (ARC) in Cambridge, he also holds degrees in Human Sciences from New College, Oxford, a PhD in Psychology from UCL, and an M.Phil in Clinical Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry.  He is Director of CLASS (Cambridge Lifespan Asperger Syndrome Service), a clinic for adults with suspected AS.

He is author of Mindblindness (MIT Press, 1995), The Essential Difference: Men, Women and the Extreme Male Brain (Penguin UK/Basic Books, 2003), and Prenatal Testosterone in Mind (MIT Press, 2005). Anthologies he edited include:  Understanding Other Minds (OUP, 1993, 2001), The Maladapted Mind (Erlbaum, 1997) and Synaesthesia (Blackwells, 1997).

Holliday Willey, EdD

First Name: 
Liane
AWN Title: 
Advisory Board
Photo: 
Sharon

Liane is an accomplished Writer, Editor, Communications Consultant for people with ASD at B.R.A.I.N.S. Inc. in Grand Rapids Michigan, a mother and wife. She helps others to understand the importance of accepting the diversities of people as an inspirational and motivational speaker. With a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome, Liane seeks to help others realize their full potential by sharing with them how she learned to rise above the challenges of her life to settle into a new understanding of the person she is today. In her own words she describes herself as "Happy, healthy, and well balanced." 

Syndicate content