KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Dr. Stephen Shore - Diagnosed with “Atypical Development and strong autistic tendencies” and “too sick” for outpatient treatment Dr. Shore was recommended for institutionalization. Nonverbal until four, and with much support from his parents, teachers, wife, and others, Dr. Shore is a professor at Adelphi University where his research focuses on matching best practice to the needs of people with autism.
In addition to working with children and talking about life on the autism spectrum, Dr. Shore presents and consults internationally on adult issues pertinent to education, relationships, employment, advocacy, and disclosure as discussed in his books Beyond the Wall: Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Ask and Tell: Self-advocacy and Disclosure for People on the Autism Spectrum, the critically acclaimed Understanding Autism for Dummies, and the newly released DVD Living Along the Autism Spectrum: What it means to have Autism or Asperger Syndrome.
President emeritus of the Asperger’s Association of New England, Dr. Shore serves in the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, the Board of Directors for Autism Society of America, Advocates for High Functioning Autism, and other autism related organizations.
WORKSHOP SPEAKERS
Dr. Linda S. Heitzman-Powell earned her MPH in 1997 from San Diego State University in Public Health/Health Promotion, her Ph.D. in 2002 from the University of Kansas in Human Development, and did post-doctoral work in Behavior Analysis. She is currently a Research Assistant Professor, Center for Child Health and Development, University of Kansas, School of Medicine and the Director of Community Research and Training in Kansas City, Kan. Dr. Heitzman-Powell has served on the Kansas Legislative Task Force on Autism and is a member of the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA). She works with children with autism and assists parents in creating ABA therapy plans.
Susan Hollar, a licensed pediatric speech/language pathologist and certified RDI consultant, is owner of Hollar Pediatric Speech and Language. She teaches at the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences, California State University, Northridge. Mrs. Hollar is the 2009 recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award from the California Speech and Language Association. Mrs. Hollar also maintains a practice in Kansas. She is a frequent presenter at such conferences as the Back to School Autism Conference, Autism Society of America and California Speech and Language Association as well as interviews on NPR Radio. Her background includes specialized fellowship training in Clinical Intervention for children with Autism at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles UAP USC. She currently holds Supervisor level certification in the Relationship Development Intervention by Steven Gutstein, Ph.D. for children with Autism where she trains other professionals in RDI and presents parent workshops.
Dr. Debra Kamps is the Director of the Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training “K-CART” a new initiative at the University of Kansas. Dr. Kamps is a Senior Scientist with the Life Span Institute at the University of Kansas and the Associate Director of Juniper Gardens Children’s Project in Kansas City, Kan. She also holds Courtesy Appointments in the Departments of Applied Behavioral Science and Special Education at KU.
She was been a classroom teacher of children with Autism and other disabilities for five years, and a consultant to school districts for 25 years. Dr. Kamps has directed 11 research grants from the U.S. Department of Education. Her expertise includes a long history of published research in the area of Autism Spectrum Disorders including a five-year study of Peer Networks and Peer Tutoring for 45 children with Autism Spectrum Disorders; and a new study of Peer Networks for Kindergarten and First Grade children with ASD. She has published 65 articles and 12 chapters.
Dr. Jessa R. Love is a board certified behavior analyst and a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Missouri, and the director of Early Behavioral Intervention Services at the MU Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Dr. Love received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Michigan, where she also gained experience working with children with autism spectrum disorders at the William Beaumont Hospital Center for Child Development CARE Program. She then earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology (Behavior Analysis Program) at Western Michigan University. The focus of her graduate coursework, research, and clinical experience was on working with individuals of all ages with developmental disabilities. Dr. Love specializes in working with young children with autism spectrum disorders and their caregivers. Her research interests have also focused on this population with respect to skill acquisition procedures, problem behavior, and training staff to conduct research with clients.
Nan Perrin is currently the director of the Early Childhood Autism Program, within Community Living Opportunities. Ms. Perrin is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and has a graduate degree in Human Development from the University of Kansas. She has worked with individuals with autism for 19 years. Her primary areas of focus are autism, behavior support for individuals and families, as well as policy and systems change. She currently oversees Positive Behavior Support facilitation, Autism Waiver Services, behavioral consultation and Targeted Case Management. She is an instructor for the Kansas Institute for Positive Behavioral Support. She is a member of the Governor’s Commission on Autism.
Dr. Jennifer L. Smith is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who earned her Ph.D. in Behavioral Psychology from the University of Kansas’ Department of Applied Behavioral Science. She held the position of Program Director at the Kansas City Autism Training Center from 2006 through 2009. She is currently providing private consultation for families of children with diagnoses of autism spectrum disorders. Her private consultation services include parent and staff training, development of educational and behavioral interventions, and the direct implementation of intervention plans with her clients.
Mike Wasmer is the founder of the Kansas Coalition for Autism Legislation (KCAL) and is an Autism Speaks Kansas Chapter Advocacy Chair. He also served on the Kansas Autism Task Force, is a member of the Kansas Governor’s Commission on Autism and serves on the Community Advisory Council for the Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training. Mike is a veterinary internal medicine specialist and practices at Mission MedVet in Mission, Kan. Dr. Wasmer has two children – his daughter was diagnosed with autism in 2001.
Nicole Wence earned a B.A. in biology from Truman State University in 1998 where she was the Distinguished Military Graduate. She served as a U.S. Army Medical Service Corps Officer from 1998-2002. In 2004, she became the mother of twins, one of whom was diagnosed with Autism. She has been employed with USD 383 since 2007 as an assistant to the District Autism Coordinator.