Cathy Pratt, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Indiana University
Dr. Cathy Pratt is the Director of the Indiana Resource Center for Autism at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community located at Indiana University. Dr. Pratt is on the faculty at Indiana University and presents internationally. She is the past Chair of the Board for the national Autism Society.
Catherine Lord, Ph.D.
Director
University of Michigan Autism and Communication Disorders Center
Catherine Lord, Ph.D. is the Director of the University of Michigan Autism and Communication Disorders Center (UMACC) and a professor of psychology, psychiatry and pediatrics. She is a clinical psychologist who has worked in Canada and the U.K and at various universities in the U.S., including the TEACCH program. She was involved in developing standardized diagnostic instruments for ASD [the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), an observational scale, and the Autism Diagnostic Interview – Revised (ADI-R), a parent interview], considered the gold standard for research diagnoses. She was the Chair of the Committee on Effectiveness of Early Intervention in Autism for the National Research Council.
As Director of UMACC, she provides clinical evaluations and consultations and trains university students and professionals in the diagnosis of ASD. Current projects include the development of a toddler module for the ADOS and use of it in longitudinal follow-up of very young children with possible ASD; organization of the Simons Simplex Collection, a repository of cell lines and phenotypic data for families with a child with autism and a typical child; the development of a measure of spontaneous, functional language in children with ASD; several studies of different interventions with very young children; and a longitudinal study of children followed from age 2 who are now in their teens.
Ruth Aspy, Ph.D.
The Ziggurat Group
Ruth Aspy, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and author. She specializes in assessment and intervention for individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Dr. Aspy is co-creator of the Ziggurat Model and speaks internationally on this and other topics. She has experience in both clinical and school settings.
Jeff Sell, J.D.
Vice President, Advocacy & Public Policy
Autism Society
Jeff Sell has been blessed with four children, Natalie (17), Ben and Joe (16 year-old twins with autism), and Gracie (12). Jeff is the Vice President, Advocacy & Public Policy for the Autism Society. He has served as the 1st Vice Chairman of the Autism Society's Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Autism Society's Government Relations Committee and Director of Chapters & Membership. Jeff presently serves on the Professional Advisory Boards of New York Families for Autistic Children (NYFAC) and he is the Vice President of the World Autism Organization (WAO).
Carolyn Garver, Ph.D.
Director
Autism Treatment Center
Carolyn Garver, Ph.D completed her doctorate in Health Studies and is a licensed Child Care Administrator, international speaker on autism, and a published autism researcher. She has thirty years of experience in creating and administering autism services in Texas. She is an advisor to the Burkhart Center Autism Program, Texas Tech University and Parliamentarian of Autism Society of America Dallas Chapter.
Lars Perner, Ph.D.
Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California
Lars Perner is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Marketing at the University of Southern California. He developed an interest in the autism spectrum after being diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome at age 31, and has since written extensively on topics such as college preparation, autism subtypes, and back-to-school issues.
