Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist Intensive Training (ASDCS)

Temple Grandin, PhD, was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Temple’s achievements are remarkable because she was an autistic child. At age two, she had no speech and all the signs of severe autism. Fortunately, her mother defied the advice of the doctors and kept her out of an institution. Many hours of speech therapy and intensive teaching enabled Temple to learn speech. As a teenager, life was hard with constant teasing. Mentoring by her high school science teacher and her aunt on her ranch in Arizona motivated Temple to study and pursue a career as a scientist and livestock equipment designer.

Dr. Temple Grandin obtained her B.A. at Franklin Pierce College in 1970. In 1974, she was employed as Livestock Editor for the Arizona Farmer Ranchman and also worked for Corral Industries on equipment design. In 1975, she earned her M.S. in Animal Science at Arizona State University for her work on the behavior of cattle in different squeeze chutes. Dr. Grandin was awarded her Ph.D. in Animal Science from the University of Illinois in 1989 and is currently a Professor at Colorado State University.

She has done extensive work on the design of handling facilities. Half the cattle in the U.S. and Canada are handled in equipment she has designed for meat plants. Other professional activities include developing animal welfare guidelines for the meat industry and consulting with McDonalds, Wendy’s International, Burger King, and other companies on animal welfare.

Following her Ph.D. research on the effect of environmental enrichment on the behavior of pigs, she has published several hundred industry publications, book chapters and technical papers on animal handling, plus 63 referred journal articles in addition to ten books. She currently is a professor of animal sciences at Colorado State University where she continues her research while teaching courses on livestock handling and facility design. Her book Animals in Translation was a New York Times best seller and her book Livestock Handling and Transport, now has a fourth edition, which was published in 2014. Other popular books authored by Dr. Grandin are Thinking in Pictures, Emergence Labeled Autistic, Animals Make us Human, Improving Animal Welfare: A Practical Approach, The Way I See It, and The Autistic Brain. Dr. Grandin has received numerous awards including the Meritorious Achievement Award from the Livestock Conservation Institute, named a Distinguished Alumni at Franklin Pierce College and received an honorary doctorate from McGill university, University of Illinois, and Duke University. She has also won prestigious industry awards including the Richard L. Knowlton Award for Meat Marketing and Technology Magazine, the Industry Advancement Award from the American Meat Institute and the Beef Top 40 industry leaders, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Her work has also been recognized by humane groups and she received several awards. HBO has recently premiered a movie about Temple’s early life and career with the livestock industry. The movie received seven Emmy awards, a Golden Globe, and a Peabody Award. In 2011, Temple was inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame.

Dr. Grandin is a past member of the board of directors of the Autism Society of America. She lectures to parents and teachers throughout the U.S. on her experiences with autism. Articles and interviews have appeared in New York Times, People, Time, National Public Radio, 20/20, The View, and the BBC. She was also honored in Time Magazine's 2010 “ The 100 Most Influential People in the World.” In 2012, Temple was inducted into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame. Dr. Grandin now resides in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Photo by Rosalie Winard Photography.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Temple Grandin has an employment relationship with Colorado State University. She is author of numerous books by a variety of publishers including Future Horizons Inc. and receives royalties. She has DVD/CD products produced by PESI, Inc. and receives royalties. Dr. Grandin is a speaker for Future Horizons Inc. and receives compensation.
Non-Financial: Dr. Temple Grandin is an adult with high functioning autism.

Stephen W. Porges, PhD, is a distinguished University Scientist at Indiana University, where he is the founding director of the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium within the Kinsey Institute. He holds the position of Professor of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina and Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Maryland, and is a founder of the Polyvagal Institute. Dr. Porges served as president of both the Society for Psychophysiological Research and the Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences and is a former recipient of a National Institute of Mental Health Research Scientist Development Award. He has published approximately 400 peer-reviewed scientific papers across several disciplines including anesthesiology, biomedical engineering, critical care medicine, ergonomics, exercise physiology, gerontology, neurology, neuroscience, obstetrics, pediatrics, psychiatry, psychology, psychometrics, space medicine, and substance abuse. His research has been cited in more than 50,000 peer-review publications. In 1994, Dr. Porges proposed the Polyvagal Theory, a theory that links the evolution of the mammalian autonomic nervous system to social behavior and emphasizes the importance of physiological state in the expression of behavioral problems and psychiatric disorders. The theory is leading to innovative treatments based on insights into the mechanisms mediating symptoms observed in several behavioral, psychiatric, and physical disorders.

He is the author of The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-Regulation (Norton, 2011), The Pocket Guide to the Polyvagal Theory: The Transformative Power of Feeling Safe (Norton, 2017), Polyvagal Safety (Norton, 2021), co-author with Seth Porges of Our Body Polyvagal World (Norton, 2023), and co-editor with Deb Dana of Clinical Applications of the Polyvagal Theory: The Emergence of Polyvagal-Informed Therapies (Norton, 2018). Dr. Porges is also the creator of a music-based intervention, the Safe and Sound Protocol™, which currently is used by approximately 3,000 therapists to improve spontaneous social engagement, to reduce hearing sensitivities, and to improve language processing, state regulation, and spontaneous social engagement.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Stephen Porges is a Courtesy Professor with the University of Florida College of Medicine, a Distinguished University Scientist of Indiana University, and a Professor with the University of North Carolina. He receives royalties as a published author. Dr. Porges is co-owner of Polyvagal Music, LLC. He receives a speaking honorarium, book royalties, and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. He receives royalties and is a stockholder with integrated Learning Systems/Unyte.
Non-financial: Dr. Stephen Porges is an emeritus member of the American Psychological Association, the Association for Psychological Science, and the Society for Psychophysiological Research. He holds a patent on Televagal equipment.

Varleisha D. Lyons (formerly Gibbs), PhD, OTD, OTR/L, ASDCS, is an occupational therapist and author with over 20 years of experience working with children and adolescents diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, sensory processing disorders and neurological disorders. She developed and founded Delaware’s first occupational therapy program and became the first black indigenous American woman to serve as the Scientific Programs Officer at the American Occupational Therapy Foundation. 

Varleisha continues to lecture and provides training on sensory processing strategies and self-regulation to practitioners, parents, and teachers throughout the country and internationally. As co-author of Raising Kids with Sensory Processing Disorders, she has provided families with strategies to understand and care for their children. Dr. Lyons is the developer of the Self-Regulation and Mindfulness program and author of the best-selling book, Self-Regulation and Mindfulness: Exercises and Worksheets for Sensory Processing Disorder, ADHD, and Autism Spectrum Disorder (PESI Publishing & Media). She is the co-author of Trauma Treatment in ACTION: Over 85 Activities to Move Clients Toward Healing, Growth and Improved Functioning (PESI Publishing & Media). Her areas of expertise include neuroanatomy, self-regulation strategies across the lifespan, health inequities, and trauma responsive approaches.

Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this presentation belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to the author's employer, organization, committee or other group or individual. Varleisha D. Lyons PhD, OTR/L is employed by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). This work is independent of her role and not affiliated with AOTA, Inc.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Varleisha Lyons maintains a private practice and is the founder and CEO of Wasut Sanctuary & Education, LLC. She receives royalties as a published author. Dr. Lyons receives a speaking honorarium, recording and book royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Varleisha Lyons is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association and the National Black Occupational Therapy Caucus. She serves as a board member of the National Association for Hearing and Speech Action.

Rebecca Sachs, PhD, ABPP, is a clinical psychologist specializing in the assessment and treatment of individuals on the Autism spectrum who also experience difficult co-occurring disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and severe anxiety. She works with individuals across the life span and believes in empowering individuals and their families with knowledge and skills. Board certified in behavioral and cognitive psychology, Dr. Sachs was recently awarded a federally funded grant through the New York State Office of Mental Health, aimed at helping train community-based service providers better serve children and youth who are dually diagnosed with mental illness, like OCD, and a developmental disability. She has a private practice in New York and is co-director of Successful School Transitions, a comprehensive program for school refusal. Dr. Sachs received her bachelor’s degree, and PhD from New York University and Hofstra University, respectively, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Miami. In addition to these roles, Dr. Sachs is mom to an energetic and determined 6-year-old and stepmom to the coolest 15-year-old around.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Rebecca Sachs is the co-founder of Successful School Transitions and maintains a private practice. She has employment relationships with the International OCD Foundation and the LIU Post. Dr. Sachs receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Rebecca Sachs is a member of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, the Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Associations, the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, and the New York State Psychological Association.

Tamara Rosen, PhD, is trained in both assessment and therapeutic interventions. Dr. Rosen has worked with youth and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in a variety of settings for over a decade. She is currently completing her Postdoctoral Fellowship with an emphasis on the intersection of mental health and developmental differences at JFK Partners, University of Colorado School of Medicine. In her fellowship, Dr. Rosen provides consultation and supervision to developmental pediatricians, social workers, psychology trainees, Speech and Language pathologists and Occupational Therapists. She received a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from SUNY, Stony Brook University. Under the mentorship of ASD researcher Dr. Matthew Lerner, she completed her dissertation on the structure of co-occurring anxiety and depression symptoms in youth with ASD. Dr. Rosen is passionate about increasing access to evidence-based mental health services for individuals with developmental differences.

Speaker Disclosure:
Financial: Tamara Rosen is postdoctoral faculty fellow, LEND fellow at Children’s Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc.
Non-financial: Tamara Rosen has no relevant non-financial relationship to disclose.

James Ball, Ed.D., BCBA-D, is the President/Chief Executive Officer of JB Autism Consulting. He has been in the field of autism for over thirty-five years providing behavioral, educational, residential, and employment services to children and adults affected by autism. Dr. Ball provides private consultation to organizations, schools, and families regarding staff training, parent training, home support services, classroom design/support, functional behavior assessment and behavior management.

Dr. Ball is a member of the Autism Society’s (AS) National Board of Directors, he is currently an honorary board member, with only two other people, Dr. Ruth Sullivan and Dr. Temple Grandin. He was appointed as community member to the Interagency Autism Collaborating Committee (IACC); a past member of the Autism New Jersey; and a past member of the Autism New Jersey, Professional Advisory Board. Dr. Ball served as the co-chairperson of the AS’s Panel of Professional Advisors and is still a member of that panel. He is on the advisory board for the Autism Asperger’s Digest magazine and was a Featured Author for the magazine for 5 years and is on the Board of Directors of The Phoenix Center in Nutley, New Jersey.

Dr. Ball lectures nationally and internationally on various topics related to autism, such as early intervention, inclusion services, functional behavior assessment, social skills training, behavior management, direct instruction, sensory issues, and accountability.?He has published in many of the above areas and authored the award-winning breakthrough book Early Intervention and Autism: Real-life Questions, Real-life Answers, winning the 2008 NAPPA Gold Award Winner, Finalist for the 2008 ForeWord Book of the Year & Gold Award Winner in the 2009 Independent Publisher Book Awards. Dr. Ball’s second book, You Can’t Make Me: Proactive Strategies for Positive Behavioral Change released September of 2019. In 2020, he shared his talent with Future Horizons and 33 other Authors in the book, Autism in Lockdown, Expert Tips and Insights on Coping with the Covid-19 Pandemic. He co-authored a workbook with Kristie Brown-Lofland entitled, Autism after the Pandemic: A Step-By-Step Guide to Successful Transition Back to School and Work.

Dr. Ball has won numerous awards including: NYFAC’s Autism Inspiration Award, ASA’s Publication Award for his manual on Social Security and Employment for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, Autism New Jersey, formally known as COSAC highest honor, their Distinguished Service Award, and most recently was honored at the Phoenix Center in Nutley, New Jersey during their 20th Anniversary Gala as “Professional of the Year”.

 

Speaker Disclosure:
Financial: James Ball is president and CEO of JB Autism Consulting. He is the executive chair for the Autism Society – National Board of Directors. Dr. Ball receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc.
Non-financial: James Ball is a member of the Autism Society of America; International Association for Applied Behavior Analysis; and the New Jersey Association for Behavior Analysis.

Jed Baker, PhD, has been the director of the Social Skills Training Project, an organization serving individuals with autism and social communication problems, for 30 years. He has directed social skills training in numerous school districts and consulted with schools nationwide to develop programs. He writes, lectures, and provides training internationally on the topic of social skills training and managing challenging behaviors.

He is an award-winning author of 10 books, including Social Skills Training for Children and Adolescents with Aspergers Syndrome and Social Communication Problems; Preparing for Life: The Complete Handbook for the Transition to Adulthood for Those with Autism and Aspergers Syndrome; The Social Skills Picture Book; The Social Skills Picture Book for High School and Beyond; No More Meltdowns: Positive Strategies for Managing and Preventing Out-of-Control Behavior; No More Victims: Protecting those with Autism from Cyber Bullying, Internet Predators & Scams; Overcoming Anxiety in Children and Teens and School Shadow Guidelines. His work to develop social skills and reduce bullying has also been featured on ABC World News, Nightline, The CBS Early Show, and the Discovery Health Channel.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Jed Baker is a director of a social skill training project in private practice and has an employment relationship with Rutgers University. He receives royalties as a published author. Dr. Baker receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Jed Baker has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Carol Westby, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL, ASDCS, is an internationally-renowned expert on play assessment and development in children. She is the developer of the renowned Westby Symbolic Play Scale, a research-based scale used to assess children's social and play skills. Dr. Westby has written and implemented projects to support personnel preparation, clinical service, and research, including Project PLAY (Play and Language Attunement in Young Children), that trains caregivers to increase the development of play, theory of mind, and language.

Dr. Westby is a fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), is Board-Certified in Child Language and Literacy Disorders, and has received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Geneva College and the University of Iowa's Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, the ASHA Award for Contributions to Multicultural Affairs, the Honors of ASHA, and the Kleffner Lifetime Clinical Career Award.

Dr. Westby has published and presented nationally and internationally on topics including play, autobiographical memory, theory of mind, language-literacy relationships, narrative/expository development and facilitation, adverse childhood experiences, screen time, trauma, metacognition/executive function, and assessment and intervention with culturally/linguistically diverse populations. She has consulted with the New Mexico Preschool for the Deaf, which employs a play-based curriculum.

Dr. Westby has been a visiting professor at Flinders University in South Australia where she worked on a language/literacy curriculum, and at Brigham Young University where she consulted on SEEL, a systematic and engaging emergent literacy program that employs playful practice. She is a consultant for Bilingual Multicultural Services in Albuquerque, NM and holds an affiliated appointment in communication disorders at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT. Dr. Westby is certified as an Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist (ASDCS).

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Carol Westby has employment relationships with Brigham Young University and Bilingual Multicultural Services. She receives royalties as a published author. Carol Westby receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Carol Westby is a member of American Board of Child Language and Language Disorders.

Sean Inderbitzen, DSW, LCSW, is an autist psychotherapist and researcher through Mayo Clinic Health System, and the author of the Interpersonal Series work Autism in Polyvagal Terms (Norton, 2024). He serves as a clinical advisor to companies like Unyte Health, Stanford University, and Drexel University on issues related to autism and polyvagal theory. He regularly trains healthcare professionals to be more confident when working with people on the spectrum.  

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Sean Inderbitzen has employment relationships with Northlakes Community Clinic and Inderbitzen Consulting Services, LLC. He receives royalties as a published author. He receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Sean Inderbitzen has a professional relationship with Dr. Stephen Porges, Barry Prizant, and Pat Ogden.

Cara Marker Daily, PhD, BCBA, is a licensed psychologist and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over 20 years of experience providing assessment and treatment for children, adolescents and young adults with autism in the home, school, hospital and community settings. She works directly with educators, speech/language pathologists, occupational therapists, BCBAs and other professionals. Dr. Daily is the president and training director of Daily Behavioral Health, a leading behavioral health provider in northeast Ohio specializing in assessment, consultation, and treatment of autism, anxiety and disruptive behavior disorders. She is the founder and executive director of the Building Behaviors Autism Center, which has received numerous grants to provide free and reduced cost applied behavioral analysis services to individuals with autism.

Dr. Daily has written several cognitive-behavioral and behavioral-based curriculums focusing on teaching daily living skills to children with autism and published a peer-reviewed journal article supporting evidence for success of these programs. She has presented nationally on topics of autism, disruptive behaviors disorders, anxiety and chronic health conditions in the pediatric population. Dr. Daily has been featured in radio, television, and other media platforms in northeast Ohio. She is the author of The Key to Autism: An Evidence-Based Workbook for Assessing and Treating Children & Adolescents (PESI, 2016).

Dr. Daily received her Ph.D. in School Psychology at the University of South Carolina, and completed an internship in Pediatric Psychology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and a postdoctoral fellowship in Pediatric Psychology at The Children’s Hospital at The Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Daily is a member of the Department of Pediatrics at Fairview Hospital at the Cleveland Clinic, the American Psychological Association, the Ohio Psychological Association, and the Christian Association of Psychological Studies.

 

Speaker Disclosures:

Financial: Cara Marker Daily is the president/training director for Daily Behavioral Health, Inc.  She is the founder/executive director of the Building Behaviors Autism Center.  She is an author for PESI Publishing & Media and receives royalties. Dr. Daily receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.

Non-financial: Cara Marker Daily is a community advisory board member of the Fairview Hospital. She is a board member for Building Behaviors Autism Center. She is a member of the American Psychological Association and the Ohio Psychological Association.

 

Laura K. Sibbald, MA, CCC-SLP, ASDCS, CYMHS, is a nationally-certified speech-language pathologist who has extensive experience supporting the social-emotional and pragmatic language needs of students and families within the Washington, DC, metropolitan region. She works as an instructional specialist for students with autism in Prince George's County Public Schools, Maryland and has developed and implemented a variety of professional learning opportunities surrounding social-emotional competence at the state and national level.

Laura is a coauthor of the Trauma-Informed Social-Emotional Toolbox for Children & Adolescents: 116 Worksheets & Skill-Building Exercises to Support Safety, Connection & Empowerment (PESI, 2020) and the Parenting Toolbox: 125 Activities Therapies Use to Reduce Meltdowns, Increase Positive Behaviors & Manage Emotions (PESI, 2018). Both workbooks provide practical strategies that can easily transfer into clinical and educational professional practices. Most recently, Laura was a guest speaker and moderator at PESI's 2021 Autism Symposium, where she discussed Navigating Autism through a Trauma Informed Lens. Laura also had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Temple Grandin in the key note Different... Not Less. Laura was an expert panelist for the 2020 Parenting Autism Summit, sponsored by The Behavior Revolution, LLP., and is certified as an Autism Spectrum disorder Clinical Specialist (ASDCS). She is a member of the multicultural affairs committee of the Maryland Speech-Language and Hearing Association, focusing on the promotion of equity practices n diverse communicators. To further support growth and achievement of children with disabilities, Laura earned additional certifications as a Relationship Development Intervention (RDI) Certified Educator and in Educational Leadership and supervision. She graduated from The George Washington University in 2011 with a Master's in speech-language pathology.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Laura Sibbald is the founder and CEO of ND SLP Advocate, LLC., and has an employment relationship with Chestnut Hill College. She receives royalties as a published author. Laura Sibbald receives a speaking honorarium, recording, and book royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Laura Sibbald serves on the advisory board for Shrub Oak International School.

Jay Berk, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and an internationally recognized expert in the child/adolescent behavioral field who brings both a clinical and education perspective to his work with children, adolescents and their families. For over 25 years, Dr. Berk has been treating clients with ODD, ADHD, autism, anxiety and stress, depression, learning disabilities, Tourette’s Syndrome and individuals who have multiple impairments. He conducts 15 social skills/mental health groups for children and adolescents and works daily with school and community professionals, families and parents. Dr. Berk continually consults for several school districts. In his private practice, in Beachwood, Ohio, he provides therapy for children, adolescents, families, testing and evaluation, school consultation as well as an alternative educational program.

Dr. Berk presents nationally on the topics of autism, disruptive behavior disorders, mental health issues in the classroom, ODD and social skills competency. In his workshops, he teaches professionals who work with children and adolescents, practical treatment and intervention strategies. He has been invited to present at hundreds of schools and conferences including being a repeated consultant to the Department of Education in Hawaii. As a past consultant to the United Nations, Dr. Berk authored a manual for UNICEF that was used by teachers working with children throughout Bosnia during the war. He has also worked in London, England with defiant teenagers; Kristiansand, Norway with traumatized youth; and the American Red Cross with trauma response.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Jay Berk maintains a private practice, is the owner of Social Skills 360, and the director of REBOOT. He receives compensation as an international speaker and consultant. Dr. Berk receives royalties as a published author. He receives a speaking honorarium, recording, and book royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Jay Berk has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Jennifer Cook was identified as being on the spectrum in 2011. An autism advocate and the on-camera expert for Netflix’s triple-Emmy-Award-Winning Love on the Spectrum US, she is the author of nine bestselling books, available in eight languages – including the foundational The Asperkids (Secret) Book of Social Rules, groundbreaking memoir Autism in Heels, and upcoming My Friend Julia: A Sesame Street Book About Autism. Among her titles are a Wall Street Journal bestseller, ASA Book of the Year, a Publishers Weekly “Best Book” title winner, and six of BookAuthority’s “Best-Selling”, “Best Memoir”, and “Top Autism Books of All Time” picks.

Jennifer is an alumna of Brown and Columbia Universities. Jennifer sits on the Autism Society of America’s Council of Autistic Advisors, consults for Congress’ Autism Research Panel, and is a multi-award-winning international presenter who has spoken everywhere from the White House to the National Institutes of Health, to royal audiences in Europe. In her work, she helps unzip hidden social rules for neurodiverse people of all ages, coaching them toward more connected, fulfilling lives and relationships. Jennifer is based in Charlotte, NC.

Kellie Doyle Bailey, MA, CCC-SLP, MMT/SELI, is a veteran speech-language pathologist of more than 30 years and a certified mindfulness/social-emotional learning (SEL) specialist. She is the founder of Calm Cool Kids Educate and provides workshops and trainings for families, educators, and community partners to learn the importance of using mindful practices as a tool for SEL development. Some days I Flip My Lid and Some Nights I Flip My Lid are her two other books.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Kellie Doyle Bailey is a published author and receives royalties. She receives a speaking honorarium, recording, and book royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Kellie Doyle Bailey has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Jennifer Cook was identified as being on the spectrum in 2011. An autism advocate and the on-camera expert for Netflix’s triple-Emmy-Award-Winning Love on the Spectrum US, she is the author of nine bestselling books, available in eight languages – including the foundational The Asperkids (Secret) Book of Social Rules, groundbreaking memoir Autism in Heels, and upcoming My Friend Julia: A Sesame Street Book About Autism. Among her titles are a Wall Street Journal bestseller, ASA Book of the Year, a Publishers Weekly “Best Book” title winner, and six of BookAuthority’s “Best-Selling”, “Best Memoir”, and “Top Autism Books of All Time” picks.

Jennifer is an alumna of Brown and Columbia Universities. Jennifer sits on the Autism Society of America’s Council of Autistic Advisors, consults for Congress’ Autism Research Panel, and is a multi-award-winning international presenter who has spoken everywhere from the White House to the National Institutes of Health, to royal audiences in Europe. In her work, she helps unzip hidden social rules for neurodiverse people of all ages, coaching them toward more connected, fulfilling lives and relationships. Jennifer is based in Charlotte, NC.

Kellie Doyle Bailey, MA, CCC-SLP, MMT/SELI, is a veteran speech-language pathologist of more than 30 years and a certified mindfulness/social-emotional learning (SEL) specialist. She is the founder of Calm Cool Kids Educate and provides workshops and trainings for families, educators, and community partners to learn the importance of using mindful practices as a tool for SEL development. Some days I Flip My Lid and Some Nights I Flip My Lid are her two other books.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Kellie Doyle Bailey is a published author and receives royalties. She receives a speaking honorarium, recording, and book royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Kellie Doyle Bailey has no relevant non-financial relationships.