Scott Steindorff

Producing film about autism,

Autistic board member of Arc foundation

Scott Steindorff is an international television and film producer and writer who specializes in adapting literary bestsellers into premium movies and television. His most recent project that he executive produced is “Station Eleven,” a book to screen adaption, that has now won the Critics Choice Super Award for Best Science Fiction/ Fantasy Series and received a nomination for a Peabody Award. Scott has brought to life projects like Netflix’s docu-series “Firechasers,” NBC’s hit series “Las Vegas,” which ran for 5 seasons, John Favreau's “Chef,” “The Lincoln Lawyer,” with Matthew McConaughey, “Love in the Time of Cholera,” and the critically acclaimed and award-winning miniseries for HBO, “Empire Falls,” which won a Golden Globe for Best Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television.  Furthermore, Scott is a Neurodiversity Advocate who regularly speaks with high schools and colleges across the country on the importance of emotions and feelings, as well as facing substance abuse. He recently spoke at this year’s Rio2C in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil about his experience having Autism and ADHD and how he views it as his superpower— giving him greater insight into how one processes emotions, which ultimately makes for the best, most meaningful art.

Tara May 

CEO

Aspiritech

Tara started as CEO of Aspiritech in April 2022. Prior to joining Aspiritech, Tara was EVP of Media & Chief Digital Officer at Winsight as well as VP of Content and Product Strategy for Patch Media. She helped launch 900 hyperlocal sites for the AOL network as well as a digital reverse-published local news product for the Chicago Tribune. Tara's career is focused on using technology and product innovation to drive growth. She is a sought-after speaker on user experience and digital transformation. She's overseen large and small teams with a focus on career development and leading with kindness. She resides in Lake County with her husband and teen and tween children. She is personally committed to embracing neurodiversity in all aspects of work and life.

Heidi Curiel

Marketing Professional, DPR Construction

As a budding professional, Heidi would never believe if you told her that she was going to end up working in the construction industry. After majoring in journalism and mass communication at Arizona State University, she worked for a leading advertising/public relations agency followed by a non-profit stint for a sustainability organization driving major initiatives for quality of life and economic growth in the Grand Canyon State.   Stacked with a colorful marketing career, she did not hesitate to jump into the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) world after a fated meeting with DPR Construction - one of the top technical builders in the nation.         After racking up half a decade of experience, Heidi has championed marketing and brand management for the DPR San Diego office which is currently ranked #1 general contractor in San Diego County (San Diego Business Journal 2022).   She currently serves as 2021-2022 Chair for Industry Panels for the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) San Diego Chapter and Co-Chair of Programs for the 2023 SMPS Pacific Regional Conference. 

Thomas D'Eri

COO/Co-founder, Rising Tide Car Wash

Tom is the Co-Founder and COO of Rising Tide Car Wash a social enterprise that employs over 90 neurodivergent individuals in a successful car wash business. He is also the Co-Founder of Rising Tide U an organization dedicated to teaching others how to create better organizational systems by designing for extreme users. Tom is a Forbes 30Under30 social entrepreneur and the author of the forthcoming book, The Power of Potential: How a Nontraditional Workforce Can Lead You to Run Your Business Better. 

Valerie Gaus, PhD

Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Gaus is a psychologist, licensed by New York State, who has been a practicing psychotherapist since 1994. She specializes in individual psychotherapy for adults of all ages, from 18-98, with extensive experience serving people with disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, anxiety, depression, trauma and stress-related problems. She approaches therapy using a cognitive-behavioral framework. She has written numerous articles, chapters and books on these subjects, including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder, 2nd Edition, published in 2018 by Guilford Press and Living Well on the Spectrum: How to Use Your Strengths to Meet the Challenges of Asperger Syndrome/High Functioning Autism, published in 2011 by Guilford Press. 

David Elsner

Coinciding with my mom's diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis, at the age of 2 I was diagnosed with PDDNOS, pervasive developmental  disorder not otherwise specified. Through intensive early intervention I  developed from a child with delayed speech and other delayed milestones to who I am now. Verbal abilities are my strength as well as self advocacy and advocacy for those of us stigmatized by society for being "different."  Throughout my younger years particularly in middle and the beginning  of high school, I was bullied.  I was viewed as different with few friends.  Eventually, I had the courage to stand up and empower myself. Being on  the spectrum and having OCD has been exceptionally difficult  at times however; I continue to persevere and am looking forward to  sharing with you my life struggles from disability to ability.

Sonya Girdler, PhD 

Professor of Occupational Therapy

Curtin University, Australia

Sonya Girdler is a Professor of Occupational Therapy, Director of the Curtin Autism Research Group, Program Director in the Australian National Autism Co-operative Research Centre and affiliated with the Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders at Karolinska Institutet (KIND) in Sweden. Sonya has extensive experience in the field of autism research and neurodevelopmental disorders more broadly.  She is particularly interested in enabling the participation of autistic individuals in education and employment, understanding functioning in autism using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (WHO), and the development, evaluation and translation into practice of evidence-based interventions (particularly social skills, strengths-based programs and mental health).  Sonya has published over 100 peer reviewed papers focussing on these topics.  Sonya is passionate about co-producing research with her autistic colleagues, interdisciplinary research, believing that ‘magic happens’ when neurodivergent individuals share their ideas and talents. “We can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty there that needs to be done.”  Alan Turing

Paul Bondonno

Teacher and neurodiverse mentor/advocate

I would have had a better life growing up if this guide had been in the hands of many who mislabeled me with dyslexia, ADHD, ODD, and conduct disorder before the diagnosis of Asperger’s was made at 20.  Since I was 6 I knew there was something different about me; it took 14 years to figure out why and another three years to fully process the implications.  My life experience and support from and of others is the core of these models.  Life credibility—living, surviving, learning, adapting, teaching, and helping others—gives me a unique perspective as a bridge between NT’s, or neurotypical individuals, and Aspies, or individuals with Asperger’s.  We are two sides of the same coin, NT’s and Aspies, with different yet complementary talents.  Together we can create, maintain, and sell products to strengthen our economy.  Ideas and innovation are the future for the U.S. economy, but due to high wages, labor laws, environmental laws, and globalization, the U.S. will win the race to the bottom unless we change the status quo. I am 43 years old with a master’s degree in psychology and have been working in education or social skills training for over 15 years.

Puja Uppalapati

West Valley Community College

• Puja proudly say she is an autistic female. She is a junior student at SJSU majoring liberal studies and interning with Nisum, Frement. She has learned to embrace the wholesome of being autistics both gifts and challenges. Being at a disadvantage is an opportunity to show what she is made of, and this mindset has helped her to become resilient.

• She has always cared about helping people; maybe because she has been one who needed extra help. From early age she was involved to serve community with volunteering at homeless shelter, as an aide local elementary special ed class, tutor at a local church, initiated, conducted week-long computer programming camp at DigitalNEST, a non-profit organization providing STEM education to underserved community, contributing at varying capacity at ParentsHelpingParents (PHP) events. She mentors other students with special needs benefits them as well as her. It gave a pleasure knowing her various involvements with community helped individuals who are otherwise marginalized.

• Her college journey has been a windy road involving changing colleges, majors, and various failures, challenges pushed her to strengthen her character and gained skills. She is passionate about advocating for the autistic community, specifically females give satisfaction.

Megan Ames, PhD

Assistant Professor of Psychology

University of Victoria

Dr. Megan Ames is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Victoria. Dr. Ames’ research focuses on supporting autistic postsecondary students with a focus on peer mentorship models. In her graduate work, Dr. Ames was involved in developing and evaluating a peer mentorship model for autistic university students; Ames et al., (2015). Overview and evaluation of a mentorship program for university students with ASD. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 31(1), 27-36. doi: 10.1177/1088357615583465. She recently published an environmental scan of autism-specific postsecondary supports across Canada; Ames et al. (2022). Canadian mapping of autism-specific supports for postsecondary students. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 90, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2021.101899. 

Shirley Woods-Gallagher, PhD

Newbridge Multi Academy Trust

Shirley is based in the UK in Greater Manchester.  She was born in Wigan. She was born autistic and knew she was different aged 4 yrs.  However, she wasn’t diagnosed until she was 49 yrs. She was the first woman in her family to go to University and the only person in her family with a PhD. She helped to write the devolution deal for Greater Manchester on early years and presented evidence of what works to both the Education and Science and Technology Select Committees of the UK Parliament.   During the pandemic she was in the shielding category and had no bubble with another house for over 16 months.  Her father died of covid in lockdown one May 2022 and she was banned from seeing her Mum and attending her Dad’s funeral.  In January 2022 he joined New Bridge Multi Academy Trust as an Executive Director.  The trust has over 2,000 students with Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) aged 4-30 years. Shirley believes representation matters to her students.  She is also a member of the Advisory Panel for Children’s Viewing for the British Board of Film Classification.   She loves film and doing what’s right for children (link). In June 2022 she shared her late autism diagnosis to a public audience for the first time at the ABL Conference on Crisis To Calm at Bolton Stadium. In the summer of 2022 she was co-opted onto the LEGO Foundation Play for All Accelerator and Neurodiversity Advisory Panel (link). She has a forthcoming keynote speaker conference in September 2022 on SEND and employment in Greater Manchester at Old Trafford.   Finally, she is also speaking at the Stanford University Annual Neurodiversity Summit in October 2022. This has a global reach of 5,000 delegates.  Articles, blogs and podcasts Marie Curie blog on shielding restrictions 2020; The Metro on bereavement from covid on father’s day 2021; Fearne Cotton’s My Happy Place Instagram stories 2021; 2018 Evidence to the Science and Technology Select Committee; ‘Inclusion in the primary sector’ Headteacher Review;  Blog on neurodiverse leadership 2021; Podcast on late diagnosis of autism 2022. 

How to follow me:  See Linkedin.  I post a lot about SEND, inclusion, unemployment rates for SEND and late diagnosis. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-shirley-woods-gallagher-5b3707185/?originalSubdomain=uk

Emily Kircher-Morris 

The Neurodiversity Podcast

Emily Kircher-Morris, M.A., M.Ed., LPC, inspired by her own experiences as a neurodivergent person, is dedicated to destigmatizing neurodiversity and supporting neurodivergent people of all ages. She started her career in education and is now in private practice near St. Louis, Missouri as a licensed professional counselor, where she specializes in supporting gifted, twice-exceptional, and neurodivergent kids and adults (and their families).  Emily is the author of two books related to the development of children and teens who are neurodivergent and cognitively gifted. “Teaching Twice-Exceptional Learners in Today's Classroom" (Free Spirit Publishing, 2021) focuses on supporting 2e learners in the educational setting, and "Raising Twice-Exceptional Children: A Handbook for Parents of Neurodivergent Gifted Kids" (Routledge, 2022) is a guide for parents navigating the world of twice-exceptionality. Emily hosts The Neurodiversity Podcast, which explores the psychological, educational, and social needs of neurodivergent people. She speaks at statewide, national, and international conferences and frequently provides virtual and in-person professional development to educators, mental health clinicians, and parents worldwide. 

Camilla Bixler

Co-Chair, Autism Aspergers Spectrum Coalition for Education Networking and Development (AASCEND) 

Camilla Bixler is the Co-Chair of AASCEND, a non-profit organization of adults on the autism spectrum, friends and family members of those on the spectrum, and professionals who work in the autism field. She is the parent of a neurodiverse adult. Camilla was a founding board member of Star Academy, a school for students with complex learning needs. In addition, she helped start a variety of clubs and social opportunities for neurodiverse youth and adults, including a monthly dance in San Francisco. She helps train San Francisco Police officers on autism awareness. In her professional life, Camilla taught at City College of San Francisco for 33 years. 

Marlo Goldstein Hode, PhD 

Senior Manager- Strategic Diversity Initiatives AND Staff Ombuds

University of Missouri, Saint Louis

Dr. Marlo Goldstein Hode currently serves as the Senior Manager of Strategic Diversity Initiatives for the University of Missouri St. Louis’ Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the Staff Ombuds. In addition to professional development opportunities for faculty and staff, she leads UMSL’s Equity Advisor initiative to support the recruitment and retention of faculty from diverse backgrounds.  She holds a courtesy faculty position in the Department of Communication at the University of Missouri - Columbia.  She is the co-author of DEI 2.0 – A Toolkit for Building Your Own Online Diversity Course. As a scholar, she has several publications in peer-reviewed journals and book chapters on various topics including sexual harassment, neurodiversity, racial issues on campus, and the effectiveness of online professional development courses. She also serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Diversity in Higher Education.  Marlo received her BA in Communication from North Carolina State University, an MA in Intercultural Communication from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, an LLM in Dispute Resolution from the University of Missouri School of Law, and a PhD in Organizational Communication with a minor in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Missouri.