Family Services Committee
The Autism Speaks Family Services Committee focuses on empowering families and individuals to make informed decisions that maximize the quality of life and development potential of those affected by autism. The committee will also promote research funding that yields evidence for the best practices in the treatment of autism and associated disorders, and serve as a catalyst and advocate for the implementation of best practices in autism treatment, education, and services from early intervention through adult care.
Formed in June 2006, the committee is comprised of thirteen members, including individuals from the Autism Speaks Board, as well as prominent professionals within the autism community. Several members of the committee are also parents of individuals on the spectrum.
As its initial undertaking, the Family Services Committee will create an online nationwide resource database to provide individuals and families with local resources that service a variety of needs. The database will provide users with information such as healthcare facilities, educational services, legal entitlements, recreational and community activities, and adult support services.
Other committee initiatives in progress include:
Parent
Sallie Bernard
Parent, Executive Director, SafeMinds
Michele Pierce Burns
Parent, Director of Development, Celebrate The Children School
Farah Chapes
Chief Administrative Officer, The Marcus Institute
Andrew Conrad, Ph.D.*
Chief Scientific Officer, Co-founder, LabCorp's National Genetics Institute
Emanuel DiCicco-Bloom, M.D.*
Professor, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Peter F. Gerhardt, Ed.D
President, Organization for Autism Research (OAR)
Susan Hyman, M.D.
Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities
Brian Kelly * **
Principal, Eastern Development
John R. Lutzker, Ph.D.
Executive Director, The Marcus Institute
Gary S. Mayerson*
Founding Attorney, Mayerson & Associates
Linda Meyer, Ed.D
Executive Director, The New Jersey Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community (COSAC)
Kevin Murray*
Chief Operating Officer, Rock Ridge Associates
Denise D. Resnik
Co-Founder and Board Chairman, Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center (SARRC)
Michelle Smigel
Parent
Lilly Tartikoff*
Philanthropist
Kim Wolf
Parent
*Autism Speaks board member
**Chairperson – Family Services Committee
As part of the Family Services Committee a subcommittee for Young Adult/Adult Services was formed. The Young Adult/Adult Services subcommittee will identify best practices and develop initiatives that address the specific needs of young adults and adults with autism.
Members of the Subcommittee for Young Adult/Adult Services
Liz Bell
Parent
Sallie Bernard
Parent, Executive Director, SafeMinds
Peter F. Gerhardt, Ed.D **
President, Organization for Autism Research (OAR)
Ann Boeker Gibbons*
Information Technology Consultant
Brian Kelly *
Principal, Eastern Development
Eric London, M.D.*
Psychiatrist
Co-founder, National Alliance for Autism Research
Leslie Long
Director of Adult Resources, The New Jersey Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community (COSAC)
Denise D. Resnik
Co-Founder and Board Chairman, Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center
(SARRC)
Susan Senator
Parent, and author of Making Peace with Autism
Michelle Smigel
Parent
Kim Wolf
Parent
* Autism Speaks board member
** Chairperson of Young Adults/Adult Services subcommittee
Formed in June 2006, the committee is comprised of thirteen members, including individuals from the Autism Speaks Board, as well as prominent professionals within the autism community. Several members of the committee are also parents of individuals on the spectrum.
As its initial undertaking, the Family Services Committee will create an online nationwide resource database to provide individuals and families with local resources that service a variety of needs. The database will provide users with information such as healthcare facilities, educational services, legal entitlements, recreational and community activities, and adult support services.
Other committee initiatives in progress include:
-
The creation of a “100 Day” care package, which will serve as a “roadmap” for parents of newly diagnosed children
-
An online reference library
-
Tool kits for professionals such as doctors, law enforcement officers, and teachers. Each tool kit will provide specific information to enhance the interaction between individuals affected by autism and the professionals working with them.
- The Federal Legal Aid Project, which offers legal support to families whose Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) -based hearings have been decided at the administrative level and appealed to the federal level. To see if you qualify for free legal support, click here to read more.
Family Services Committee Members
Liz BellParent
Sallie Bernard
Parent, Executive Director, SafeMinds
Michele Pierce Burns
Parent, Director of Development, Celebrate The Children School
Farah Chapes
Chief Administrative Officer, The Marcus Institute
Andrew Conrad, Ph.D.*
Chief Scientific Officer, Co-founder, LabCorp's National Genetics Institute
Emanuel DiCicco-Bloom, M.D.*
Professor, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Peter F. Gerhardt, Ed.D
President, Organization for Autism Research (OAR)
Susan Hyman, M.D.
Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities
Brian Kelly * **
Principal, Eastern Development
John R. Lutzker, Ph.D.
Executive Director, The Marcus Institute
Gary S. Mayerson*
Founding Attorney, Mayerson & Associates
Linda Meyer, Ed.D
Executive Director, The New Jersey Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community (COSAC)
Kevin Murray*
Chief Operating Officer, Rock Ridge Associates
Denise D. Resnik
Co-Founder and Board Chairman, Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center (SARRC)
Michelle Smigel
Parent
Lilly Tartikoff*
Philanthropist
Kim Wolf
Parent
*Autism Speaks board member
**Chairperson – Family Services Committee
As part of the Family Services Committee a subcommittee for Young Adult/Adult Services was formed. The Young Adult/Adult Services subcommittee will identify best practices and develop initiatives that address the specific needs of young adults and adults with autism.
Members of the Subcommittee for Young Adult/Adult Services
Liz Bell
Parent
Sallie Bernard
Parent, Executive Director, SafeMinds
Peter F. Gerhardt, Ed.D **
President, Organization for Autism Research (OAR)
Ann Boeker Gibbons*
Information Technology Consultant
Brian Kelly *
Principal, Eastern Development
Eric London, M.D.*
Psychiatrist
Co-founder, National Alliance for Autism Research
Leslie Long
Director of Adult Resources, The New Jersey Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community (COSAC)
Denise D. Resnik
Co-Founder and Board Chairman, Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center
(SARRC)
Susan Senator
Parent, and author of Making Peace with Autism
Michelle Smigel
Parent
Kim Wolf
Parent
* Autism Speaks board member
** Chairperson of Young Adults/Adult Services subcommittee
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