ProfNet Experts Available on Autism, Brain Tumors, IBS, Shakespeare, More

NEW YORK, April 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Below are experts from the ProfNet network that are available to discuss timely issues in your coverage area.

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EXPERT ALERTS

• May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month
• IBS: The Role of Probiotics and a Low-FODMAP Diet
• Take the Sting out of Summer and Protect the Bees
• Shakespeare's Legacy
• Four Spring Break Dating Ideas

EXPERT ROUNDUP: Autism Awareness Month (31 experts)

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EXPERT ALERTS:

May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month
Dr. James Robinson, M.D.
Neurosurgeon
Piedmont Hospital
"Thanks to advancements in neurosurgery and overall preventative brain health, a brain tumor does not have to be a death sentence. To help educate the general public on brain tumor symptoms and treatments, May 2016 is National Brain Tumor Awareness Month."
Dr. Robinson is available to discuss brain tumor awareness/neurosurgery, such as brain skull base tumors, pituitary tumors, trigeminal neuralgia, spinal tumors. He has published several book/journal chapters and has been the principal investigator on a number of clinical trials. He is based in Atlanta and is fluent in Spanish.
Website: http://www.brainexpert.com
Contact: Hillary Zody, [email protected]

IBS: The Role of Probiotics and a Low-FODMAP Diet
Patsy Catsos, R.D., L.D.
Medical Nutrition Therapist, Author
It is estimated that Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) affects almost 20% of the U.S. population. Oftentimes, it can cause anxiety and preoccupation at mealtime, leaving you, and even families, frustrated. Says Catsos: "While there is no known cause or cure for IBS, incorporating VSL#3, a high-potency probiotic medical food into your diet, is clinically proven to be beneficial in the dietary management of IBS. In addition, it is also important to establish good eating habits. The trick is to know which foods trigger IBS symptoms, eliminate them, and yet prepare meals that will still please everyone's palate. In fact, 80% of IBS sufferers reported a low-FODMAP diet helped managed their symptoms. While taking on a low-FODMAP diet sounds like a daunting task, it is easier than it sounds, and I encourage IBS sufferers to talk with a dietitian to see if it could be right for them. It's a dietary change that can provide big rewards."
According to a new survey conducted for VSL#3, 68% of IBS sufferers admit to having no knowledge about the benefits of a low-FODMAP diet. Catsos, an advocate for VSL#3, is available to explain the benefits of a low-FODMAP diet is, debunk the myths and misconceptions about a low-FODMAP diet, and offer nutritional tips for IBS sufferers to manage their symptoms. She is the author of "IBS-Free At Last."
Contact: Laura Giardina, [email protected]

Take the Sting out of Summer and Protect the Bees
Larry Kalkstein, Ph.D.
Climatologist, Professor of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Sciences
University of Miami
"Unless you have a serious allergy, bees are generally an annoying summer nuisance that can threaten outdoor BBQ guests and campers with painful stings. Before reaching for insecticide, there are creative ways to keep the bees at bay. However, sometimes these bees win and a bee sting can last a few hours, which can be quite itchy and painful. When it comes to sting pain and itch, you want real medicine at the site of the sting(s)."
Dr. Kalkstein is available to offer unique tips to take the sting out of summer by protecting the bees and killing the stings instead. He is an expert for Sting-Kill, the No. 1 choice of pharmacists for bee stings and bug bites.
Website: www.Sting-Kill.com
Contact: Laura Giardina, [email protected]

Shakespeare's Legacy
Jim Warren
Artistic Director and Co-Founder
American Shakespeare Center
"Shakespeare died 400 years ago, but his influence on contemporary culture remains strong. His works have influenced popular television programs, such as "House of Cards," and many movies. Shakespeare's Legacy Year is an opportunity to re-discover how influential his work remains in contemporary theatre and beyond."
Based in Staunton, Va., Warren is available to discuss Shakespeare performance and direction, and early-modern theatre history. In 2008, Gov. Tim Kaine awarded Warren and Ralph Alan Cohen the Virginia Governor's Award for the Arts for their work with the American Shakespeare Center, which they founded in 1988. The Virginia Governor's Awards for the Arts have been presented only three times. Website: http://www.americanshakespearecenter.com
Contact: Katie McCaskey, [email protected]

Four Spring Break Dating Ideas
Anita Covic
Dating Specialist
AsianDate.com and AnastasiaDate.com
After binge-watching 'House of Cards' in sweatpants under a warm blanket and eating comfort food, the first day of spring, which sprung on March 20, told us to get outside! Dating expert Anita Covic explains how that also includes your love life: "Fresh air and activities that get you moving can really spark some romance and land you that second date," says Covic, who offers the following recommendations for international online daters who are meeting each other for a first date: 1) Take a hike: "You don't have to climb Mount Everest together, but consider walking by a lake, looking at the koi fish in the pond, watching surfers in the waves or strolling through the promenade." 2) Outdoor activity: "From a Segway tour to kayak rentals or biking through Central Park or down a boardwalk, this will really get the serotonin levels up, making you happy and likely wanting to spend time with that special someone again." 3) Go for a picnic: "Not only will you save money from going to a fancy restaurant, you'll create memories together and show you are capable for cooking for a significant other. You don't need a fancy picnic basket -- just use a backpack! Don't forget the blanket or yoga mat for you to sit on together!" 4) Go to a sporting event: "Spring training for baseball has ended and the season starts again on April 3. What is more American than baseball to introduce your international date to U.S. culture? From traditions like singing 'Take Me out to the Ballgame' to wearing a baseball cap and bringing a glove to the game, this is another fun cultural event to share together. When participating in an activity together, conversation typically comes more naturally, rather than a forced conversation that appears more like a job interview with a prospect. Remember, be creative. Be yourself. Have fun, and you'll see if there is chemistry."
AnastasiaDate.com and AsianDate.com are the leading international dating services facilitating exciting and romantic companionship between men and women all over the world. Founded in 1993, AnastasiaDate and AsianDate are committed to member safety, customer satisfaction and the ongoing pursuit of innovation. The sites have representation in every country it touches, providing a high level of customer service to a worldwide clientele.
Contact: Mark Goldman, [email protected]

EXPERT ROUNDUP: Autism Awareness Month (31 experts)

Dr. Temple Grandin
Autism Advocate and Author
Dr. Grandin, inarguably the most well-known person with autism in the world, is the person who redefined autism with her first book, "Thinking in Pictures," by illustrating how those with on the autism spectrum (ASD) think differently. Now, in her last two books, "The Loving Push" and "Temple Talks . . . About Autism and the Older Child," Dr. Grandin continues to "revise" attitudes, focusing on how young children should be raised differently than they have been so they can become self-sufficient and able to enter the job market. The unemployment rate for those with ASD is in the 85% range, even though a substantial number of those are talented, bright, and, often, extraordinarily capable. Dr. Grandin received the "hero award" from Time magazine when they recognized her as one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World" in 2010, the year that HBO won the "Best Movie of the Year" with the biopic about Temple's life. She is a regular contributor to and on the board of the Autism Asperger's Digest.
Contact: Lyn Dunsavage Young, [email protected]

Dr. Jim Ball
Chairman of the Board
Autism Society of America
For the last six years, Dr. Ball has been chairman of the board of the ASA, the oldest organization in support of those who care for children and adults with autism, and is on the board of the longest-published magazine on autism, the Autism Asperger's Digest. He is well-known as a national and international speaker, and is the author of a triple-award-winning book (including Book of the Year), "Early Intervention & Autism: Real-Life Questions, Real-Life Answers," as well as for his extensive network providing educational, residential, and employment services to children and adults affected by autism. A Board-Certified Behavior Analyst, he has been in the autism field for over 25 years and was appointed by the Secretary of Health & Human Services to the interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, which oversees allocation of resources for those on the autism spectrum nationally.
Contact: Lyn Dunsavage Young, [email protected]

Teresa Anne Power
Children's Yoga Expert
"A recent study found that elementary school kids with autism spectrum disorder who participated in a daily yoga program had reduced aggressive behavior, social withdrawal, and hyperactivity. Children with autism who practice yoga begin to feel more calm and comfortable in their bodies. As a result, they experience less anxiety and it becomes easier for them to control their behavior and emotions. As well as some of the benefits typically associated with yoga such as improved strength, concentration, and flexibility, there are three additional benefits for kids with autism: reduced anxiety; less obsessive and aggressive behavior; more control in regulating emotions. Children with autism are visually oriented, so colorful pictures depicting how to do yoga poses can be very helpful. The capability to understand one's actions and imitate those actions are directly correlated to the development of social-communication skills."
A yoga teacher for more than 10 years and practitioner for more than 30, Power is an internationally recognized children's yoga expert and the bestselling author of "The ABCs of Yoga for Kids." Available in English, Spanish, French, Italian and Danish, her book has won multiple awards, including The Mom's Choice Award, Family Choice Award, Living Now Book Award, Moonbeam Children's Book Award, and National Best Books Award. Power has since released yoga pose cards, a calendar, coloring book, and posters. Her newest book, "The ABCs of Yoga for Kids: A Guide for Parents and Teachers," is scheduled to be released on Kids' Yoga Day, an inaugural international day Power created to celebrate the health and wellness of our youth worldwide through the practice of yoga. She has appeared on both local and national television and radio, and has been featured in/on Parenting Special Needs Magazine, Parenting.com, Girls' World, MindBodyGreen, Sirius XM, Glamour.com, Yogi Times, and more. She currently writes articles about children's health and fitness on Examiner.com.
Website: www.abcyogaforkids.com
Contact: Marissa Madill, [email protected]

Robin LaBarbera
Director of Special Education, Graduate School of Education
Biola University's
"I talk frequently about the importance of educators and families working together to continue what was learned at school in the home environment. The learning day shouldn't end when the child leaves the classroom. It takes extra effort for teachers to train and support parents to implement strategies at home that were implemented in the classroom, but it is worth the effort. Anything we can do to extend classroom learning into natural environments (home and community) will benefit our students."
Dr. LaBarbera started her teaching career in inner city Los Angeles as a kindergarten teacher, 3/4th combination class teacher, and finally as an educational therapist working with children in K-5 with learning difficulties. She has two bachelor's degrees in business administration/marketing and criminal justice, two master's degrees in education and special education/autism, and a Ph.D. in educational studies. Her dissertation focused on psychological variables that affect the college completion rate for individuals with learning disabilities. She is currently earning her School Psychology (PPS) credential as well. She serves Biola students as the director of special education, implementing a fully online Mild/Moderate Education Specialist Credential program. She is currently writing a textbook for educators on how to collaborate with families of students with autism, and is available to discuss: educating students with autism; social skills development; behavior supports; environmental supports; collaborating with families.
Contact: Jenna Loumagne, [email protected]

John Elder Robison
Scholar in Residence
College of William and Mary
Robison, who co-teaches annually a course on neurodiversity, is the New York Times best-selling author of "Look Me in the Eye, Be Different: Adventures of a Free-Range Aspergian" and "Raising Cubby." He is an autistic self-advocate and an appointed member of national and international scientific and science policy-making bodies, including the federal government's Interagency Coordinating Committee on Autism, the World Health Organization, and the International Society for Autism Research.
Contact: Justin K. Thomas, [email protected]

Dr. Teresa Garate
President and CEO
Anixter Center
Anixter Center is one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the Chicago area serving people of all ages with disabilities. Over the years, it has matured into an assemblage of 37 programs that serve over 7,400 children and adults with disabilities, including autism. Garate's focus is on growing the breadth of services provided, as well as the number of people served, with an intense focus on service quality and accountability. She is a recognized authority and advocate in the fields of disabilities, education, human services and public health, and has an extensive background in government, nonprofit and private sectors. Prior to coming to Anixter Center, Dr. Garate held senior-level positions at Neumann Family Services and the Illinois Department of Public Health and Chicago Public Schools, among other organizations. She is very active in the community, serving on the Steering Committee of Kennedy Forum Illinois, the boards of HDA (Health & Disability Advocates) and the Illinois Community College Board, and co-chair of the state task force for Employment and Economic Opportunities for People with Disabilities (EEOPD). She is also a faculty member in the Department of Disability and Human Development at the University of Illinois, Chicago. She has been a frequent speaker in the United States and abroad on the issues of disability and empowerment. She is available to speak to the center's involvement in advocating for people with autism by proving job training, job coaching, housing, learning, basic skills to improve their lives, etc.
Contact: Victoria Walden, [email protected]

Susan Hyman, M.D.
Professor of Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
University of Rochester Medical Center
Dr. Hyman, former chair of the AAP's subcommittee on autism, is an expert on clinical management of children and adolescents with autism, how diet and nutrition can affect autism, and comorbidities that can exist alongside autism.
Contact: Sean Dobbin, [email protected]

Dr. Dean Mooney
Founder
Maple Leaf Clinic
Dr. Mooney is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist – Doctorate an a Licensed School Psychologist in the state of Vermont. In addition, he is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. He is co-author of "Nonverbal Learning Disabilities: A Guide to School Success" (May 2006), "Nonverbal Learning Disabilities: A Guide to School Success – The Teacher's Manual" (September 2007), "A Train Ride to Grandma's (With NO Chocolate Donut!)" (September 2009), and "A Snapshot of Me – A Student with NLD" (2016). He has lectured on the topic of nonverbal learning disabilities for local and national organizations throughout the United States, Canada, and England. Additionally, he serves on or has served on the following boards: The Professional Advisory Board for the College Internship Program at The Brevard Center, Melbourne, Fla., and The Berkshire Center, Lee, Mass.; The Medical Advisory Board for the Turner Syndrome Foundation; The Medical Advisory Board for the Turner Syndrome Society of the United States; Child First Advocacy Center of Rutland County; Brain Injury Association of Vermont; Vermont Autism Task Force; College Steps Program.

Dr. Clara Lajonchere
Chief Scientific Officer
Cognoa
The former VP of clinical programs at Autism Speaks, Dr. Lajonchere is the chief scientific officer of Cognoa, a digital healthcare company that helps parents assess and support their child's development. She can speak on everything autism, i.e., proactive tips for families, different ways socioeconomic factors affect diagnosis, and new tech available to support early detection.
Contact: Sydney Hirst, [email protected]

Marguerite Elisofon
Autism Advocate
Elisofon, author of "My Picture Perfect Family: What Happens When One Twin has Autism," is the mother of now young-adult girl/boy twins. Her daughter Samantha is on the autistic spectrum, and most experts weren't optimistic about her chances for leading a "normal" life. Samantha's twin brother Matthew is neurotypical. Despite jumping over many hurdles, their story is truly an inspiring one. Samantha graduated from college with honors, is an amazing singer, and is in a short film about love/relationships and autism.
A graduate of Vassar, Elisofon blogs about parenting young adults and disability related issues in The Never Empty Nest, which was featured on Fox 5 News in NYC, and her essays have been published in various literary magazines. She is available to discuss: how to advocate for your autistic child; the impact that raising a child on the spectrum has on a mother, father, marriage and family; how to keep your marriage/relationship together even if the focus is on your autistic child; the various approaches to treating autism in children; the gender disparity (why autism is diagnosed more in boys than girls); what advantages of schools where majority of students have ASDs vs. mainstream schools; misinformation about the abilities and potential of children on the spectrum; programs available to help students with ASDs transition to a higher education setting; how a young adult on the spectrum can search for employment; how an autistic person approaches social situations and potential romance differently than someone not on the spectrum; how parents of ASD students can protect their child and educate their classmates to promote greater understanding; red flags that a school may poorly control, or even promote, bullying; and more.
Contact: Tracy Minsky, [email protected]

John J Cannell, M.D.
Founder
Vitamin D Council
Dr. Cannell, Phi Beta Kappa, activist, researcher and author of "Autism Causes, Prevention and Treatment: Vitamin D Deficiency and the Explosive Rise of Autism Spectrum Disorder," is an internationally recognized practitioner in the field of autism causes, treatment, and prevention. Routinely quoted in academic and research circles, Dr. Cannell maintains a private practice in San Louis Obispo working with newly diagnosed autistic children and their parents. In addition, he focuses extensive effort on the poorly understood effects of widespread chronic Vitamin D deficiency in the human body and its relationship to the accelerating rise of autism throughout the industrialized world. He can provide the most comprehensive and compelling explanation to date regarding the causes, prevention strategies, and treatment protocols that, in many cases, reverse autistic symptoms. He draws on decades of research to make the strong case that vitamin D is very important in preventing autism and that high doses of vitamin D can be quite successful in treating some people with an autism spectrum disorder. He provides a thorough explanation of the relationship between autism and vitamin D, dispels many of the existing theories related to causes of autism, and presents a solid foundation for a revolutionary new approach to preventing and treating autism. Also included is a thorough discussion about obtaining safe levels of vitamin D through supplementation, sunlight, and diet.
Contact: Barbara Teszler, [email protected]

Amanda Selogie, Esq.
Partner
Selogie & Brett, LLP
Selogie is a civil rights attorney who focuses her practice on advocating for the educational rights of children living with disabilities, including the Autism Spectrum. She ensures that all children, including those living with disabilities, are provided with an equal opportunity to an equitable education so that they may reach their potential and grow to become independent, functioning members of society. She also supports children and families through conservatorships and special needs trust developments to ensure that children living with disabilities are protected as they age out of the school system. She can weigh in on the legal educational rights of children living with autism -- from their eligibility for special education and related services, to the different types of special education and related services available to these children -- including speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, applied behavioral analysis therapy, assistive technology, physical therapy, social skills training, vocational skills training and more. She can also weigh in on the differences between educational placements for students living with autism, from special day classes to full inclusion settings in the general education environment to non-public schools. Further, she can weigh in on the importance of protecting children living with autism through legal methods such as conservatorships, power of attorney, and special needs trusts.
Contact: Barbara Teszler, [email protected]

Thomas W. Frazier, Ph.D.
Director
Cleveland Clinic Children's Center for Autism
Over his short tenure, Dr. Frazier has received awards from National Institute of Mental Health Career Development Institute for Bipolar Disorders to implement advanced statistical methods in the study of pediatric psychopathology and from the National Alliance for Research in Schizophrenia and Depression to study genetic and structural neural abnormalities in pediatric bipolar disorder. Most recently he received a National Institute of Health career development award (KL2) to train as a multidisciplinary clinical researcher studying the downstream effects of genetic changes leading to autism. Specialties: His primary clinical interest includes the assessment and behavioral treatment of individuals with autism spectrum disorder. However, Dr. Frazier also specializes in the assessment and differentiation of pediatric bipolar disorder, ADHD, and other disruptive behavior disorders in his clinical practice.
Dr. Frazier received his undergraduate degree Magna Cum Laude in psychology from John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio, and completed both his master's and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology at Case Western Reserve University. His post-graduate training includes an internship in clinical neuropsychology at Ann Arbor VA Medical Center and a fellowship in clinical neuropsychology at Cleveland Clinic's Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Section of Neuropsychology. He has been an ad hoc reviewer for more than 40 professional and peer-reviewed journals, and previously served as an associate editor for Assessment, a journal specializing in research on psychological assessment methods. He is a member of the International Society for Autism Research. He has published more than 30 research articles in peer-reviewed journals, several invited articles and a book chapter, and has contributed more than 80 abstracts and presentations at national and international professional meetings. He has been an invited speaker at multiple local, national, and international professional organizations as well as local and national media outlets on topics concerning autism, pediatric bipolar disorder, ADHD, and on issues related to clinical assessment.
Contact: Alana D. Wyche, [email protected]

Rebecca Landa, Ph.D.
Founder and Director, Center for Autism and Related Disorders
Kennedy Krieger Institute
The Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) provides research, clinical, intervention, and training programs to improve the lives of individuals with autism and their families. CARD is the largest center dedicated specifically to autism research and treatment in the country. Dr. Landa's research focuses on neuropsychological, learning, and communication processes in autism across the lifespan, with a major emphasis on very early detection and intervention for autism. This year she is hosting the International Meeting for Autism Research as well. She is available to discuss early detection and intervention in autism, myths and misconceptions about autism, how to effectively treat autism, and more.
Contact: Hannah Cox, [email protected]

Rupert Isaacson
Author
Isaacson, born in London to South African parents, is the author of "The Healing Land," the story of his time with the San Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert and the adventure of helping them regain their ancestral hunting grounds; and "The Wild Host: The History and the Meaning of the Hunt"; and "The Horse Boy," the international bestseller about his quest on horseback across Mongolia to find help for his autistic son, which has been translated into 30 languages. Isaacson's feature documentary, "The Horse Boy," was screened on television worldwide and in American cinemas, and his journalistic work has appeared in national newspapers in the United States and United Kingdom. A human rights activist for the Kalahari Bushmen, he also founded and runs The Horse Boy Foundation, which specializes in The Movement Method, in which through kinetic learning and movement, nature and animals can help release children living on the autism spectrum from their most debilitating symptoms. Dr. Temple Grandin said of Rupert's new book, "The Long Ride Home" that it "provides many insights into individuals with autism using horses, movement and immersion in the natural world. Rupert's novel teaching techniques using play equipment, a car ride, even time on a couch can be done anywhere by anyone -- and they work."
Website: www.horseboyfoundation.org
Contact: Deb Zipf, [email protected]

Susan Kabot, Ed.D., CCC-SLP
Director, Autism Consortium; Director, Clinical Programs
Mailman Segal Center for Human Development, Nova Southeastern University
Kabot is the executive director of The Autism Institute at NSU's Mailman Segal Center for Human Development. She oversees the Baudhuin Preschool; Starting Right, a parent-child early intervention program for children 18-36 months; the Autism Consortium, which provides outreach services to school districts around the country; and the Unicorn Children's Foundation Clinic. She also teaches autism courses at both the master's and doctoral level at NSU and serves as a dissertation chair and member. She has been active at the local, state and national level in a variety of organizations addressing the needs of individuals with autism, their families and the professionals who serve them. She has spent nearly 30 years developing and administering programs in the area of autism. Her graduate training was in the areas of special education, speech-language pathology, and management of programs for children and youth. She is a Florida and Tennessee licensed speech-language pathologist and holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Kabot is also the author of "Setting up Classroom Spaces That Support Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders" and "Building Independence: Structured Work Systems for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders," both published by Autism Asperger Publishing Company (AAPC). She has graduate degrees in special education and speech-language pathology, and a Ph.D. in Management of Programs for Children and Youth. She is a Florida licensed speech-language pathologist and holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech/Language/Hearing Association. She is active in community autism organizations, serving on the Panel of Professional Advisers for the Autism Society and the Advisory Committee for the JAFCO Family Resource and Respite Center in Fort Lauderdale. She was appointed to the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council by former Governor Charlie Crist, where she is the Chair of the Program Planning and Evaluation Committee and serves on the Health Care and Self-Advocacy Leadership Task Forces. She is also the parent of an adult son with autism.
Contact: Marla Oxenhandler, [email protected]

Ann Eldridge, M.Ed.
Executive Vice President and COO
Early Autism Project
Eldridge is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with more than 20 years of experience designing learning environments for persons with autism and developmental disabilities. For 15 years, she was a special education teacher in the South Carolina public school system and was encouraged to look into Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy because of the positive impact it can have on children with autism spectrum and related disorders. ABA therapy is considered the most effective, highest quality, evidence-based treatment for autism. She received extensive training in applied behavior analysis and autism from Dr. Glen Sallows, BCBA. Nationally renowned therapist Dr. Vincent J. Carbone, BCBA-D, provided her with the training and clinical mentorship that led to her certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She was amazed at the gains children made as a result of ABA therapy and it inspired her to help co-found Early Autism Project (EAP) in 2002. Now, as executive vice president and chief operating officer of EAP, one of the largest providers of therapeutic services for children with autism in the country, she oversees and directs the company's clinical operations.
Over the years, Eldridge has helped design individual ABA programs and speech protocols that have helped thousands of children across the country reach their full potential. In addition to her impressive clinical work, in 2009, she helped facilitate the passage of "Ryan's Law," requiring commercial insurers to provide autism treatment coverage in South Carolina. For the past two decades, she has worked to provide ABA therapy to children and young adults. Her goal is to create access to ABA therapy for as many children, families and school districts as possible. She is one of the leading authorities on autism therapy, so she can speak to a wide range of topics, including: the importance of teaching verbal behavior to children with autism; ways to teach children with autism language; helping children with autism integrate into the community; using sign language to develop a communication system with children with autism; how to develop friendships among children with autism; using reinforcement systems to motivate children with autism; how to create and maintain meaningful family support groups (parents and siblings).
Contact: Robin Embry, [email protected]

Michele Patestides
Learning Specialist/Academic Advisor
Beacon College, Leesburg, Fla.
"Individuals with ASD are some of the most interesting, vulnerable and quirky people I have ever had the pleasure of working with. My recommendations for working with students with ASD relates to knowing them well. For instance, I always prepare them for any changes or variations in schedule or procedures, am on time and structured so they always know what to expect from me, and provide them with clear guidance (often breaking down larger, challenging tasks) with an ample dose of kindness, mindfulness and love. I have many more tips and recommendations to share, including some recent successes with using mindfulness and mediations with students with ASD to relieve anxiety."
Beacon College is the first accredited college to award bachelor's degrees exclusively to students with learning disabilities, ADHD, and high-functioning autistic-spectrum disorders. Patestides earned her B.A. from Barnard College, Columbia University, and her masters in varying exceptionalities from Nova Southeastern University. She specializes in special education, learning disabilities, and mindfulness in education. She has worked one-on-one with ASD students at the high school and college level for more than 15 years.
Website: www.beaconcollege.edu
Contact: Darryl E. Owens, [email protected]

Diane Bahr, MS, CCC-SLP, CIMI
Speech-Language Pathologist
Bahr is the "go-to" certified speech-language pathologist for infant children and adults with speech and language disorders. She works with medical personnel, clinics, hospitals, and educational institutions and programs, nationally and internationally. Since 1980, she has taught at the graduate, undergraduate, and continuing educational levels. Her books on the subject of early intervention and pediatric treatment for feeding, facial development, oral sensory-motor function, assessment and treatment are definitive works in the field. Since the publication of "Nobody Ever Told Me (or My Mother) That! Everything from Bottles and Breathing to Healthy Speech Development," she has focused on informing parents on their decisions regarding a young child's feeding and swallowing capabilities, speech, and language, all of which are primarily tied to their child's first years of life.
Contact: Lyn Dunsavage Young, [email protected]

Raun Melmed, M.D.
Founder
The Melmed Center, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Dr. Melmed, a developmental and behavioral pediatrician, is also the medical director at the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center, as well as a senior researcher at the Translational Genomics Institute in Phoenix. He is well-known for his work with difficult children and his use of novel, therapeutic agents in the treatment of ADHD and autism. He also has been instrumental in setting up nationally recognized physician training programs for early identification of infants and toddlers with developmental and behavioral concerns. He is a native of South Africa who completed his postgraduate studies in Israel, New York City and Boston, where he also was an instructor at Harvard Medical School.
Contact: Lyn Dunsavage Young, [email protected]

Dr. Jed Baker
Behavioral Consultant
Dr. Baker, well-known for his "Social Skills Picture Book" series and his books "No More Meltdowns" and "Overcoming Anxiety," is an educational consultant focused on teaching children on the autism spectrum, as well as how to deal with the transition into adulthood and a productive life, the subject of other popular books by Dr. Baker. As a behavioral consultant, he has been interviewed as an autism expert on numerous TV programs, including ABC News and Nightline.
Contact: Lyn Dunsavage Young, [email protected]

Joanne Lara
Founder
Autism Movement Therapy
Lara trains, certifies and licenses dance therapy internationally because of its beneficial role in speech, language, behavior, and cognitive development for those on the autism spectrum. She is a major contributor to the Autism Asperger's Digest, the first magazine in autism in the U.S. She is an adjunct professor on autism at National University, LA, CA, and earned her master's in special education, Moderate/Severe and Multiple Disabilities, from California State University, Northridge and a BA in Dance from the University of South Florida. She has taught in the LAUSD for over 10 years, where she worked exclusively with students with autism. She was the producer of the movie documentary "Generation A: Portraits of Autism and the ARTS" with Temple Grandin, Stephen Shore, Ed Asner, Elaine Hall, et al. and has recently created AutismWorks Now, a nonprofit that trains and helps ASD students/adults to obtain jobs as well as support systems and programs that support hiring those on the autism spectrum. She was the autism expert and technical advisor/autism consultant for Kiefer Sutherland's FOX TV show "Touch." She also authored the methods book "Waking up the Brain! Autism Movement Therapy® Method."
Contact: Lyn Dunsavage Young, [email protected]

Ellen Notbohm
Author
Notbohm is the best-selling author of "Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew," a 2012 ForeWord Book of the Year; and "Ten Things Your Student with Autism  Wishes You Knew," also a Book of the Year Finalist.  She co-authored with Veronica Zysk the hugely popular "1001 Great Ideas for Teaching and Raising Children with Autism or Asperger's," which won the silver medal in the 2010 Independent Book Publishers Awards, and is a popular columnist writing from a mother's perspective for the Autism Asperger's Digest magazine since 2004.
Contact: Lyn Dunsavage Young, [email protected]

Beth Aune
Owner
Desert OT for Kids
Aune, is a pediatric occupational therapist and owner of Desert OT for Kids, a pediatric outpatient clinic that works with kids on the autism spectrum and at-risk children with sensory processing disorder, developmental delay, feeding dysfunction and other at-risk conditions. She is a speaker on the topic of practical solutions and strategies for teachers to address challenging behaviors in the classroom. She emphasizes helping children achieve their highest potential and works in partnership with parents, caregivers, and teachers. She is also co-author of a book teachers and parents really love: "Behavior Solutions for the Inclusive Classroom: See A Behavior, Look it up!" which resulted in her authorship of two more books, "More Behavior Solutions In and Beyond the Inclusive Classroom" and "Behavior Solutions at Home and in the Community."
Contact: Lyn Dunsavage Young, [email protected]

Kevin Gersh
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Gersh Management
An autism education pioneer, Gersh has opened schools and initiated programs that have had profound impact on the lives of many students with autism and their families. A visionary and leader in today's autism education sector, Gersh has dedicated his professional life to strengthening and improving the lives of children on the autism spectrum through customized education and life skill lessons, as well as experiences. His vast educational institutions and programs are based on his philosophy that all children, with the right educational environment, appropriate instruction and highly trained staff, can learn and thrive despite their challenges.
Gersh is available to provide practical strategies and real-life examples of students with autism who have benefited from his approach and philosophies, including getting non-verbal and socially challenged students to speak and engage, as well as helping student overcome behavioral challenges.
Contact: Allison Gayne, [email protected]

Dr. Don Colbert
Medical Director
Divine Health & Wellness Center
Dr. Colbert has been board-certified in family practice for over 25 years and practices anti-aging and integrative medicine. He is a New York Times bestselling author of numerous books with over 10 million books sold. In his latest book, "Let Food Be Your Medicine: Dietary Changes Proven to Prevent or Reverse Disease" (Dec. 15, 2015), Dr. Colbert changes the way people treat their chronic diseases, like autism, by helping them heal from the inside out. He has worked with numerous patients that have autism and ADHD, and by adjusting the foods that they eat, he's seen countless patients experience dramatic improvements in their symptoms, and in some cases, a complete recovery.
Dr. Colbert is available to discuss the following questions and more as it pertains to ADHD and autism: What are the trigger foods that contribute to ADHD and autism and why? What are the foods that usually relieve ADHD and autism? Is it really possible to cure autism? What suggestions does he have for those kids that fight the food changes? What is a typical craving for those who have ADHD or autism? What is a great alternative to pizza from the pizza shop for these cravings? What is an Alcat Test and why does he recommend it for severe cases of ADHD, autism, and ADD? Why is it important to talk about motivation with your child? He can also share personal patient stories where they've seen success and improvements.
Contact: Sharon Farnell, [email protected]

Dr. Pamela Rollins
Associate Professor
University of Texas at Dallas
Dr. Rollins and a team of robotics experts have developed a robot, Milo, to encourage interaction skills for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Milo now is used in 60 school districts around the country, reaching about 300-400 children. Says Rollins: "You can deliver a social skills lesson in a less threatening way, and the robot can deliver the same lesson multiple times. Some preliminary data has shown that individuals with autism start talking to the robots when they don't talk to other people. The robot can sense when a child begins to get frustrated or agitated and can react accordingly. There is even a module designed to teach children how to calm themselves down when they're agitated."
More information: http://goo.gl/wCje0u
Contact: Phil Roth, [email protected]

Celeste Gagliardi
Principal
Gersh Academy, West Hempstead, N.Y.
Gagliardi is an autism education leader and expert who has dedicated her professional life to strengthening and improving the lives of children with autism through an approach that is focused on individually customized educational.  The school and staff she manages focuses on a curriculum that is specifically tailored according to the different needs and learning styles of students. Her history in educating students with autism stems from her relationship with a family member who has special needs. At age 13, while volunteering at this relative's school, she discovered her passion for helping individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.  Her two decades of experience in working with children with autism has had a profound impact on many lives, including the 150 students she currently works with and their families. Every day, Gagliardi interacts with students and staff in the world of autism. She and her team know what approaches work, how students must be treated and how they must be educated. The programs, approaches and caring environment provided at Gersh Academy have seen remarkable results, and some students who were once running out of options have found a home at Gersh Academy.
Gagliardi can provide practical strategies, success stories and real life examples of students with autism who have benefited from the approach and philosophies she has upheld at Gersh Academy under the direction of Kevin Gersh a pioneer in autism education.
Website: http://gershacademy.org
Contact: Allison Gayne, [email protected]

Roseann Schaaf, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA
Professor and Chair, Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Health Professions; Faculty, Farber Institute for Neurosciences
Thomas Jefferson University
Dr. Schaaf is an expert on autism, in particular, sensory difficulties in children with autism.  She also studies autonomic nervous system activity and occupational therapy. She is available to speak about evidenced-based interventions for sensory difficulties in children with autism and an NIH-funded study which will look at how occupational therapy can address difficulties process and integrating sensation for children with autism using a brain biomarker to assess changes in multisensory integration.
Contact: Gail Benner, [email protected]

Dr. Steven Blaustein
Assistant Professor of Speech and Language Pathology
Touro College School of Health Sciences
"Adults with autism are the forgotten patients. They more likely to live in poverty with less access to medical care. They have difficulty navigating a health care system that relies heavily on verbal communication. In a 2012 survey of healthcare professionals, the vast majority said they felt they were inadequately trained to deal with individuals with autism, and they wanted more training. Adults with ASD are a growing patient-based population and that is why we are having this conversation today."
Dr. Blaustein is a nationally recognized expert on Autism Spectrum Disorder, with over 44 years of clinical experience, including 18 years at Mt. Sinai Medical Center. He was the key speaker at a recent Autism Spectrum Disorder workshop, Assessments and Interventions for Language and Social Skills in Children with ASD, and was a lead advisor for this year's Interprofessional Education Symposium at Touro College, which addressed issues in multi-disciplinary healthcare delivery, particularly in the acute care setting, to people with autism.
Contact: Deborah Anders, [email protected]

Dr. Alex Lopez
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy
Touro College School of Health Sciences
Dr. Lopez is also the founder of Inclusive Sports and Fitness, Inc. (ISF), an after-school program for children with autism, featuring activities ranging from golf and yoga to indoor surfing. A research study presented at Touro College showed that the ISF program significantly improved motor skills of children with ASD. Additional research conducted by Dr. Lopez has included autism, sensory integration, and occupation. Most recently, he has served on the advisory committee for this year's Interprofessional Education Symposium at Touro College, which addressed issues in multi-disciplinary healthcare delivery, particularly in the acute care setting, to people with autism.
Contact: Deborah Anders, [email protected]

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