ASPEN Professional Advisory Board

Jed Baker, Ph.D., is the director of the Social Skills Training Project, a private organization serving individuals with autism and social communication problems. He is a behavioral consultant for several New Jersey School systems, where he provides social skills training for students with pervasive developmental disorders, emotional difficulties and learning disabilities.

In addition, he writes, lectures, and provides training across the country on the topic of social skills training for individuals with Aspergers Syndrome and related Pervasive Developmental Disorders. He has published both a manual on social skills training for children with Asperger Syndrome and a social skill picture book to aid in social skills training.

Peter F. Gerhardt, Ed.D., is a consultant in private practice in Baltimore, MD. He publishes and presents nationally on topics including employment and the school-to-work transition process for individuals with autism.

Temple Grandin, Ph.D. was diagnosed with autism at age 2 and went on to become a gifted animal scientist. She is an assistant professor of animal sciences at Colorado State University and has designed 50% of all the livestock-handling facilities in the U.S. The author of two books, Emergence: Labeled Autistic and Thinking in Pictures, she lectures internationally on the subject of autism spectrum disorders.

Robert L. Hendren, D.O. is Professor of Psychiatry, Executive Director, M.I.N.D. Institute (Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders), Chief, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of California, Davis. Dr. Hendren took his residency in general psychiatry at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota and his child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at the Yale Child Study Center. From 1996 until 2001, he was Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Director, Divisions of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson and New Jersey Medical Schools and Director, Behavioral Research and Training Institute at UMDNJ-University Behavioral HealthCare, RWJMS, NJMS. He has over 80 original papers and four books published in the field of psychiatry. He has been listed in "The Best Doctors in America," each year since it was first published in 1998.

Herbert D. Hinkle, Esq. is an attorney whose area of expertise is Educational Law. He is located in Lawrenceville, NJ.

Anne S. Holmes, M.S., CCC is a Speech-Language Pathologist, and the Director of Outreach Services, Eden Family of Services, in Princeton, NJ.

Ami Klin, Ph.D. is the Harris Associate Professor of Child Psychology and Psychiatry at Yale University's Child Study Center in New Haven, CT. Dr. Klin is currently one of the key people directing the Yale - L.D.A. Autism Research Project, and is the co-author of the well-known "Guidelines for Parents - Assessment, Diagnosis, and Intervention of Asperger Syndrome." Yale University Learning Disability Homepage

Dr. Klin's publications on our site: "The Case of The Perfect Misplacement" and "Asperger Syndrome: Guidelines for Assesment and Diagnosis."

Richard Lavoie, M.A., M.Ed. is probably best known for his videos: "How Difficult Can This Be?: The F.A.T. City Workshop," "Last One Picked, First One Picked On: The Social Implications of Learning Disabilities," and his newest video on behavior management entitled "When the Chips are Down." These award-winning films have brought Rick's sensitive and compelling message to countless thousands throughout the world.

He has served as an administrator of residential programs for children with special needs since 1972 and holds three degrees in Special Education. His numerous national television appearances include CBS Morning Show, Good Morning America, ABC Evening News, and Disney Channel Presents.

Rick serves as a consultant on Learning Disabilities to several agencies and organizations including Public Broadcasting Service, The New York Times, National Center for Learning Disabilities, Girl Scouts of America, Child Magazine and WETA. He is a member of the Professional Advisory Board of the Learning Disabilities Association of America.

Dean Mooney, Ph.D. is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist - Doctorate, and a Licensed School Psychologist in the state of Vermont. In addition, he is an Adjunct Professor for the College of St. Joseph and Norwich University in Vermont, and Union College in Ohio.

Maple Leaf Clinic and Maple Leaf Clinical Services (Vermont), founded by Dr. Mooney, focuses on assessments of children, adolescents and adults (educational, psychological, neuropsychological), therapy over the lifespan, consultation (clinical and educational), supervision, and professional development.

Currently working on new books including "Nonverbal Learning Disabilities" and "The Clinician's Guide," with Dr. Byron Rourke and Dr. Jim Loomis. Dr. Mooney is a well-known and popular presenter on the topic of Nonverbal Learning Disabilities.

Brenda Smith Myles, Ph.D. is Assistant Professor of Special Education at the University of Kansas. Dr. Myles presents nationally and is co-author of Asperger Syndrome: A Guide for Professionals and Parents, Asperger Syndrome and the Difficult Moment, and Asperger Syndrome and Sensory Issues.

Jerry Newport is an adult with Asperger Syndrome and author of the book, "Your Life is Not a Label: A Guide to Living Fully with Autism and Asperger Syndrome." He was featured on "60 Minutes" and is the founder of AGUA, a support group for adults with autism spectrum conditions which has groups in Los Angeles, San Dimas, Phoenix and Tucson.

Isabelle Rapin, MD is a Professor of Neurology and Child Neurology at The Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.

Stephen Shore was nonverbal until age four and diagnosed with "Atypical Development with Strong Autistic Tendencies." He was viewed as "too sick" to be treated on an outpatient basis and was recommended for institutionalization. With much help from his parents, teachers, and others, Stephen Shore is now completing his doctoral degree in special education at Boston University with a focus on helping people on the autism spectrum develop their capacities to the fullest extent possible. In addition to working with children and talking about life on the autism spectrum, Stephen presents nationally and internationally on adult issues pertinent to relationships, employment, and disclosure as discussed in his book "Beyond the Wall: Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger Syndrome" which is now in its second printing.

Jerry Tannenbaum, Esq. represents children with special learning needs or other disabilities in Pennsylvania and New Jersey in matters involving the provision of a free and appropriate education, placement and tuition reimbursement, student discipline and school-related bullying and harassment. He has presented seminars to educators, attorneys, other professionals and parents on the No Child Left Behind Act, General Rights and Obligations of the IDEA and Section 504, and The Legal Issues of Harassment and Bullying.

Diane Twachtman-Cullen, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is a communication disorder specialist and licensed speech-language pathologist specializing in autism, Asperger syndrome and related conditions. Dr. Twachtman-Cullen holds a Sixth Year Diploma in early childhood education, and a Ph.D. in special education. She is the author of chapters on high-functioning autism and Asperger syndrome syndrome in the "Division TEACCH series," published in 1998, and in "Communication and Language Issues in Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder: A Transactional Developmental Perspective" edited by Amy Weatherby and Barry Prizant, published in May 2000.

Dr. Twachtman-Cullen is also the author of three books, available from Starfish Press. The books include "Trevor, Trevor," a metaphor for children designed to increase the sensitivity of typical peers toward their classmates with special needs, and the newly published "How to be a Para Pro: A Comprehensive Training Manual for Paraprofessionals."

Additionally, Dr. Twachtman-Cullen provides consultative services and training seminars internationally on a variety of topics related to Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Vincent J. Varrassi MA, LDT-C has been the Campus Director of the Regional Center for College Students with Learning Disabilities at Fairleigh Dickinson University since 1999. Prior to that time Mr. Varrassi's career in Public Education spanned 27 years during which time he was a General Education teacher, Special Education teacher, Learning Disabilities Teacher-Consultant and the Supervisor of Special Education for a Regional High School District in North Jersey. He is a former member of the Executive Board of the North Jersey Special Education Administrators Association and a former member of the Executive Board of the New Jersey Association for College Admissions Counseling. He has presented on the topics of Learning Disabilities, Asperger Syndrome, Transition to post-secondary options for Students with Disabilities and Assistive Technology nationally.

In 2005 Mr. Varrassi received recognition for his work as a "bridge to college for students with learning disabilities" by being awarded the Special Service Award of the NJACAC as well as a Presidential Citation from J. Michael Adams, President of Fairleigh Dickinson University, for his work on behalf of students with disabilities.

Fred R. Volkmar, MD Professor of Child Psychiatry, Psychology and Pediatrics at Yale University's Child Study Center. Trained at Stanford University and at Yale, he was the coordinator of the International Field Trial for autism and related disorders. The result of this work was the definition of autism and Asperger Syndrome used in the "DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV," American Psychiatric Association, 1994).