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IACC Full Committee Meeting (Hybrid)

At this meeting of the IACC, the committee will hear updates from the National Autism Coordinator and Federal Interagency Workgroup on Autism (FIWA), discuss committee business, and hear public comments. The meeting will also feature a panel presentation on interactions between autistic individuals and the law enforcement and justice systems. The committee welcomes public comment on the featured topic of law enforcement and justice issues, as well as general comments related to issues of interest to the autism community.

meeting webcast Full Meeting Video


Play Stop
  • Monica Bertagnolli, Joshua Gordon, and Susan Daniels
  • Greg Robinson speaking at meeting
  • IACC Members in January 2024 including Joshua Gordon and Susan Daniels
  • Robert Ochsendorf speaking at meeting
  • Yetta Myrick speaking at meeting
  • JaLynn R. Prince speaking at meeting
  • Officer Laurie Reyes speaking at meeting
  • Paul Wang speaking at meeting
  • Robert Ochsendorf speaking at meeting with Susan Daniels looking on
  • The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee members at a live meeting with soneone on screen

meeting announcement Event Information

Topic Topic Description
Date: Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET
In-Person Location: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
6001 Executive Boulevard, Neuroscience Center (NSC)
First Floor Conference Room
Rockville, MD 20852
Cost: The event is free and open to the public.
Public Comments: The IACC welcomes public comment from members of the autism community. Please review IACC's "Spirit of Collaboration," public comment guidelines, and full instructions prior to submitting your comment. The deadline for submission of comments for the January IACC meeting is Tuesday, January 9, 2024.
Disability Accommodations: Captioning will be available. Individuals who need sign language interpreters and/or other reasonable accommodations to participate in this event may contact Rebecca Martin at Rebecca.martin@nih.gov or 301-435-0886. Please make accommodation requests 7 business days prior to the event. The event is recommended for ages 13 and up.


meeting agenda Agenda

Time Event
10:00 a.m.
Welcome, Roll Call, and Announcements
Joshua Gordon, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and Chair, IACC
Susan Daniels, Ph.D.
Executive Secretary, IACC; HHS National Autism Coordinator; Director, Office of National Autism Coordination, NIMH
10:15
Update from the National Institutes of Health
Monica Bertagnolli, M.D.
Director, National Institutes of Health (NIH)
10:25
National Autism Coordinator Update
Susan Daniels, Ph.D.
National Autism Coordinator; Director, Office of National Autism Coordination, NIMH, and Executive Secretary, IACC
10:35
Federal Interagency Workgroup on Autism (FIWA) Presentation on Agency Initiatives
Susan Daniels, Ph.D.
National Autism Coordinator; Director, Office of National Autism Coordination, NIMH, and Executive Secretary, IACC
Christy Kavulic, Ed.D.
Associate Division Director, Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education
Matthew Maenner, Ph.D.
Branch Chief, Child Development and Disability Branch, Division of Human Development and Disability, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Lisa Gilotty, Ph.D.
Program Chief, Research Program on Autism Spectrum Disorders, Division of Translational Research, NIMH
Scott Michael Robertson, Ph.D.
Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor
Jennifer Johnson, Ed.D.
Deputy Commissioner, Administration on Disabilities, Administration for Community Living
Leah Lozier, Ph.D.
Social Science Analyst, Office of Policy Development and Research, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Alison R. Marvin, Ph.D.
Statistician/Health Sciences Researcher, Division of the Analytics Center of Excellence, Social Security Administration
Robert Ochsendorf, Ph.D.
Program Officer, Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings, Directorate for STEM Education, National Science Foundation
11:35
Break
11:50
IACC Committee Business
Susan Daniels, Ph.D.
Executive Secretary, IACC; HHS National Autism Coordinator; Director, Office of National Autism Coordination, NIMH
Joshua Gordon, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and Chair, IACC
12:50 p.m.
Lunch Break
 1:45
Public Comment Session
Joshua Gordon, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and Chair, IACC
Susan Daniels, Ph.D.
Executive Secretary, IACC; HHS National Autism Coordinator; Director, Office of National Autism Coordination, NIMH
Oni Celestin, Ph.D.
Health Science Policy Analyst, Office of National Autism Coordination, NIMH
 1:45
Oral Comments
  • Nicole Corrado
  • Anthony Tucci
  • Jordyn Jensen
 2:00
Summary of Written Comments and Committee Discussion
 2:20
Justice and Law Enforcement Presentations and Panel
2:20
The Americans with Disabilities Act and Law Enforcement Interactions with People with Autism
Steven Gordon, Esq.
Assistant United States Attorney and Civil Rights Enforcement Coordinator, U.S. Department of Justice
2:35
The Autism Justice Center
Carlean Ponder, Esq.
Director, Autism Center for Empowerment, Advocacy and Justice, Autism Society of America
2:45
NCCJD: Advocating at the Intersection of Disability Rights and Criminal Justice Reform
Leigh Anne McKingsley, M.S.S.W., M.P.A.
Senior Director, Criminal Justice Initiatives, The Arc of the United States
2:55
Enhancing Law Enforcement Response to Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Brooke Mount, Ph.D.
Senior Policy Advisor, Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice
Kelly Burke, M.P.H.
Senior Program Manager, International Association of Chiefs of Police
3:05
Montgomery County Police Autism/IDD Unit: Providing a layered approach of service through awareness and action for those in the autism/IDD community
Officer Laurie Reyes
Creator/Coordinator, Autism/IDD, Alzheimer's/Dementia Unit, Montgomery County (MD) Police Department
3:15
Committee Discussion
3:30
Break
3:45
Community Perspectives on Justice and Law Enforcement in the Autism Community
Maria Mercedes Avila, Ph.D., M.S.W., M.Ed.
Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Director, Vermont LEND Program, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont
Lindsay Naeder, M.S.W.
Vice President, Services and Supports, Community Impact, Autism Speaks
Camille Proctor
Founder, The Color of Autism Foundation
Amanda Wroten, M.A.
Director, Safety on the Spectrum Program for Autism Society
Greg Robinson, M.P.H.
Deputy Director of Public Policy, Autistic Self-Advocacy Network
4:30
Committee Discussion
 4:45
Round Robin Updates
Joshua Gordon, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and Chair, IACC
Susan Daniels, Ph.D.
Executive Secretary, IACC; HHS National Autism Coordinator; Director, Office of National Autism Coordination, NIMH
 4:55
Closing Remarks and Adjournment
Joshua Gordon, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and Chair, IACC
Susan Daniels, Ph.D.
Executive Secretary, IACC; HHS National Autism Coordinator; Director, Office of National Autism Coordination, NIMH

Schedule is subject to change. For more information on upcoming events, please see https://iacc.hhs.gov/meetings/iacc-meetings/

Next IACC Full Committee Meeting:
Wednesday, April 17, 2024, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Hybrid)


meeting minutes Minutes

meeting speakers Speakers

Monica M. Bertagnolli, M.D.

Director, National Institutes of Health

Monica M. Bertagnolli

Dr. Monica M. Bertagnolli is the 17th director of the National Institutes of Health, the nation’s biomedical research agency and largest public funder of biomedical research in the world. She joined IACC in 2023 when she became NIH Director. She is the first surgeon and the second woman to hold the position. Previously, she was the Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). As NCI Director, Dr. Bertagnolli initiated efforts to expand and modernize cancer clinical trials to increase the number of people who can participate in NCI-supported research. She is a past president and chair of the board of directors of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and has served on the board of directors of the American Cancer Society and the Prevent Cancer Foundation. She was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2021. Dr. Bertagnolli graduated from Princeton University with a bachelor’s degree in engineering and went on to receive a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. She trained in surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and was a research fellow in tumor immunology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Dr. Bertagnolli is also the mother of an adult son on the autism spectrum.

Federal Interagency Workgroup on Autism (FIWA) Presentation on Agency Initiatives

Christy Kavulic, Ed.D.

Associate Division Director, Office of Special Education Program, U.S. Department of Education

Christy Kavulic

Dr. Christy Kavulic joined IACC in 2024 and is also a member of FIWA. Dr. Kavulic is the Associate Division Director of the Early Childhood Team in the Office of Special Education Programs in the U.S. Department of Education (ED). In this position, she oversees the development and management of discretionary grants funded under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that prepare an effective early childhood workforce; support the implementation of evidence-practices; and support high-quality early childhood systems at the State and local levels. She also supports collaboration with other federal partners to ensure that infants, toddlers, and preschool children with disabilities and their families have access to and full participation in high-quality early childhood programs and services. She has master's degrees in public health, and speech-language pathology, and a doctorate in early childhood special education.


Matthew Maenner, Ph.D.

Chief, Child Development and Disability Branch, Division of Human Development and Disability, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Matthew Maenner

Dr. Matthew Maenner is a member of FIWA. Dr Maenner is an epidemiologist and Chief of the Child Development and Disability Branch at the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. He leads CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, which currently tracks the prevalence of autism among children, progress in early identification, and needs of adolescents in multiple U.S. communities. Dr. Maenner received the Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering for advancing developmental disabilities research and surveillance. He joined CDC in 2013 as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer assigned to the Developmental Disabilities Branch. He received his Ph.D. in Population Health at the University of Wisconsin and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, focused on intellectual and developmental disabilities research.


Lisa Gilotty, Ph.D.

Program Chief, Research Program on Autism Spectrum Disorders, Division of Translational Research, NIMH


Scott Michael Robertson, Ph.D.

Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor

Scott Michael Robertson

Dr. Scott Michael Robertson is a member of FIWA. Dr. Robertson is a Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) in the U.S. Department of Labor and an autistic adult. Dr. Robertson orchestrates ODEP's Partnership on Inclusive Apprenticeship (PIA) through his role as the federal project manager; PIA drives policies and practices to increase access to career pathways in high-growth, high-demand fields, such as information technology, cybersecurity, clean and renewable energy, and healthcare. Dr. Robertson spearheads ODEP's work to enhance national autism policy, foster neurodiversity at work, and increase access to gainful employment for youth and adults on the autism spectrum. He has also advised on policy and practices for accessible and emerging technology, such as artificial intelligence and automated vehicles. Earlier in his tenure at ODEP, he advanced policies for school-to-work transition and career development for youth and young adults with and without disabilities. Dr. Robertson has served as a Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Fellow for U.S. Senator Tom Harkin in the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. He also served as the Founding Vice President of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), a national nonprofit organization. Dr. Robertson earned his PhD in information sciences and technology at Penn State University. His professional recognitions include the 2011 Jay S. Drotman Memorial Award from the American Public Health Association and a 2020 Service to the Citizen Award from Dorris Consulting International. He is also an inductee of the Susan M. Daniels Disability Mentoring Hall of Fame.


Jennifer Johnson, Ed.D.

Deputy Commissioner, Administration on Disabilities, Administration for Community Living

Jennifer Johnson

Dr. Jennifer Johnson is a member of IACC and FIWA. Dr. Johnson is the Deputy Commissioner of the Administration on Disabilities (AoD), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Community Living (ACL). She is also the Director of AoD's Office of Disability Service Innovations. AoD's mission is to equip individuals with disabilities of all ages with opportunities, tools, and supports to lead lives of their choice in their community. Its programs are working to create change and improve the lives of the estimated 61 million individuals with disabilities living in the US by advancing opportunities for inclusion and participation in the community, employment and financial well-being, and independence and self- determination. Dr. Johnson has served as the Deputy Commissioner since September 2019, with a focus on improving the quality, accountability, and evidence base of AoD's programs and initiatives. Before assuming her current role as AoD's Deputy Commissioner, Dr. Johnson served as the Deputy Director of the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD) from July 2015 through August 2019. Prior to her tenure at AoD, Dr. Johnson conducted policy research at The George Washington University's Graduate School of Education and Human Development and taught graduate level classes on research methods, bilingual special education, and disability policy. She has also held positions in the Arlington County Public School system, at the Council for Exceptional Children, and at the Institute for Women's Policy Research. Dr. Johnson earned her doctorate in Special Education from The George Washington University and has a Master's degree in Early Childhood Special Education from The George Washington University. She earned her Bachelor's Degree from Hollins University.


Leah Lozier, Ph.D.

Social Science Analyst, Office of Policy Development and Research, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Leah Lozier

Dr. Leah Lozier is a member of IACC and FIWA. Dr. Lozier is a social science analyst in the Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). She joined HUD in 2014 as a Presidential Management Fellow and has focused on the development and implementation of the Department’s research agenda related to health and housing. She managed two large, multisite randomized-controlled evaluations and quasi-experimental studies related to health, affordable housing, economic mobility, and health outcomes for children and older adults. Prior to coming to HUD, Dr. Lozier earned her Ph.D. in neuroscience at Georgetown University, where she conducted cognitive neuroscience and behavioral research and worked on a variety of neurobehavioral studies across the lifespan, including research on children with autism spectrum disorders.


Alison R. Marvin, Ph.D.

Statistician/Health Sciences Researcher, Division of the Analytics Center of Excellence, Social Security Administration

Alison R. Marvin

Dr. Alison R. Marvin joined the IACC as a Federal member in 2021 and is also a member of FIWA. Dr. Marvin is a Statistician/Health Sciences Researcher in the Division of the Analytics Center of Excellence at the Social Security Administration (SSA), leading projects involving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) redeterminations and case selection and providing statistical support for Agency SSI outreach efforts. She also serves as the Autism Subject-Matter Expert at SSA. Prior to joining SSA, Dr. Marvin was Research Manager of the Interactive Autism Network, an internet-mediated research project and registry in the Department of Medical Informatics at Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD. Dr. Marvin continues her association with Kennedy Krieger Institute on a limited basis as Research Manager of the Autism Research and Engagement Core at the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities, one of a national network of University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. Dr. Marvin is affiliated with the Wendy Klag Center for Autism & Developmental Disabilities at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Marvin has an M.S. in Statistics and Operations Research, an M.Phil. in Public Administration (with a focus on Health and Public Policy), and a Ph.D. in Health Sciences, and has published extensively in the field of autism research.


Robert Ochsendorf, Ph.D.

Program Officer, Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings, Directorate for STEM Education, National Science Foundation

Robert Ochsendorf

Dr. Rob Ochsendorf is a Program Director at the National Science Foundation (NSF). He works on fundamental and applied research programs in NSF’s STEM Education Directorate focusing on pre-K through 12 STEM education. His areas of interest include early mathematics education, educational neuroscience, cognition and STEM learning, science education, and intervention research to improve STEM learning and accessibility for students with disabilities. Prior to joining NSF, Dr. Ochsendorf was a program officer at the Institute of Education Sciences at the U.S. Department of Education for eight years. Rob has an undergraduate degree in biology and is a former high school science teacher.


Justice and Law Enforcement Presentations and Panel

Steven Gordon, Esq.

Assistant United States Attorney and Civil Rights Enforcement Coordinator, U.S. Department of Justice

Steven Gordon

Mr. Steven Gordon is an Assistant United States Attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and has been with DOJ since 1995. He has worked on a variety of legal matters over the years, including civil rights investigations, health care cases, the DOJ’s civil racketeering case against the cigarette industry, and government contract litigation. As Coordinator for Civil Rights Enforcement for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, many of his cases have related to access to medical services and facilities. The Barrier-Free Health Care Initiative includes effective communication for people who are deaf or have hearing loss, physical access to medical care for people with mobility disabilities, and equal access to treatment for people who have HIV/AIDS.


Carlean Ponder, Esq.

Director, Autism Center for Empowerment, Advocacy and Justice, Autism Society of America

Carlean Ponder

Ms. Carlean Ponder is an attorney and currently serves as the Director of the Autism Center for Empowerment at the Autism Society of America. Prior to that, her most recent role was the Director of Disability Rights and Housing for The Arc of the United States. She also served as a senior advisor to the Social Security Administration (SSA), where she skillfully assessed disability cases and federal regulations, authored impactful orders, and mentored new attorneys. As a grassroots leader, Ms. Ponder co-founded a local coalition aimed at fostering transparency and accountability within state and local policing practices in Maryland. She emphasized the connection between disability rights and racial justice due to the criminal legal system’s disproportionate impact on disabled people of color. Ms. Ponder holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Illinois and bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan.


Leigh Anne McKingsley, M.S.S.W., M.P.A.

Senior Director, Criminal Justice Initiatives, The Arc of the United States

Leigh Anne McKingsley

Ms. Leigh Anne McKingsley is the Senior Director of Disability and Justice Initiatives for The Arc and oversees The Arc's National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability (NCCJD), a clearinghouse for research, information, evaluation, training and technical assistance for criminal justice and disability professionals. She serves as a consultant for the DOJ’s Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center (OVC TTAC) and Vera Institute of Justice. She has worked in the area of disability and criminal justice issues since 1994. Since that time, she has authored numerous publications (brochures, curricula, guidebooks, scholarly articles) during her 20 plus years with The Arc covering topics such as criminal justice/victimization issues, FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) and other intellectual disabilities, and the ethics of genetic research. She has presented both nationally and internationally regarding criminal justice/victimization issues and was invited to give congressional testimony on the delivery of law enforcement services to people with developmental disabilities under Title II of the ADA. Ms. Davis co-directed The SAFA Network (Self-Advocates with FASD in Action), the first of its kind national self-advocacy group for people with FASD funded through SAMHSA.


Brooke Mount, Ph.D.

Senior Policy Advisor, Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice

Brooke Mount

Dr. Brooke Mount is a Senior Policy Advisor within the Justice and Behavioral Health Policy team at the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). She oversees the justice and mental health portfolio, which includes the Collaborative Crisis Intervention and Training, the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program, and the Connect and Protect: Law Enforcement Behavioral Health Response Program. She collaborates with national partners to assist states, local government, and behavioral health organizations to better understand the relationship between the criminal justice system and mental health population, and to create policy and programing that meets the needs of municipalities and the citizens they serve. Before joining the BJA, she dedicated a decade of her career to the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency. Prior to her federal service, Dr. Mount worked as the Clinical Director of a distinguished private psychology practice providing court-ordered forensic evaluations and specialized counseling services, with a focus on areas such as child abuse, sexual deviancy issues, paraphilias, and personality disorders. Dr. Mount is also an adjunct professor at the University of Arizona and Yorkville University, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate-level online psychology courses. Dr. Mount earned her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Florida Atlantic University, a Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University, and her Doctorate in Psychology from Capella University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the District of Columbia and holds several certifications, including Certified Sex Offender Treatment Specialist, Florida Forensic Examiner, Certified Contracting Officer's Representative (COR Level 1), and Certified Batterer’s Intervention Assessor.


Kelly Burke

Senior Program Manager, International Association of Chiefs of Police

Kelly Burke

Ms. Kelly Burke is a Senior Program Manager at the International Association of Chiefs of Police where she leads a portfolio of federally-funded training and technical assistance programs for law enforcement and their community partners. Her program of work includes enhancing collaborative responses to human trafficking; incorporating community-based crime reduction models, improving law enforcement engagement with, and responses to, youth; enhancing police response to children exposed to violence; increasing officer and public safety by improving interactions between law enforcement and individuals experiencing mental health crisis; and improving trust and healing between law enforcement and the communities they serve in the wake of high-profile incidents of violence, such as officer-involved shootings or violence against the police, that result in community-police tensions or harm. Ms. Burke has led the development of a number of training curricula, tools, and resources, including the award-winning Enhancing Police Responses to Children Exposed to Violence: A Toolkit for Law Enforcement in partnership with the Yale Childhood Violent Trauma Center.


Officer Laurie Reyes

Creator/Coordinator of the Autism/IDD, Alzheimer's/Dementia Unit; Montgomery County (MD) Police Department

Officer Laurie Reyes

Officer Laurie Reyes has been a Montgomery County Police officer for 25 years. In 2005, she created and implemented what is now called the Montgomery County Police Autism and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Alzheimer's, Dementia Outreach Program and has served in this program since that time. Initially, Officer Reyes started the program to address the increase in calls for service involving individuals with Autism and IDD and Alzheimer's who were the focus of a report for a "missing at risk" person. In an effort to better address the increasing trend responding to those who have autism/IDD and co-occurring mental health concerns, the program is now housed under the broader Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Section of the Community Engagement Division. Officer Reyes has received recognition from the White House as a "White House, Champion of Change for Youth and Law Enforcement." In 2018 she was recognized by the DOJ and received the Attorney General’s Award for "Distinguished Service in Policing." She also received a Governor’s Citation for the creation and continued coordination of the Montgomery County Police Autism/IDD, Alzheimer’s and Dementia Outreach Program. The program is recognized a national model by such organizations as National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Autism Speaks, and Pathfinders for Autism.


Community Perspectives on Justice and Law Enforcement in the Autism Community

Maria Mercedes Avila, Ph.D., M.S.W., M.Ed.

Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Director, Vermont LEND Program, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont

Maria Mercedes Avila

Dr. Maria Mercedes Avila joined the IACC as a public member in 2021. She is a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics in the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont. She is also the Director of the Vermont Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (VT LEND) Program, an interprofessional maternal and child health leadership training program. She is a member of the Vermont Governor's Racial Equity Task Force, the Vermont Governor's Children and Family Council for Prevention Programs, and the Vermont Green Mountain Care Board nominating committee. Dr. Avila has been involved in more than twenty HRSA, PCORI, SAMHSA, ACL, and OMH grants. Since 2011, she has been invited to lead 58 national presentations and keynotes and more than 150 regional sessions on topics related to National CLAS Standards, health disparities research, social justice in health care, culturally responsive care and practice, social determinants of health, and structural competence and cultural humility. Dr. Avila holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, Master's degrees in Educational Leadership and in Social Work, and Graduate Certificates in Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice and in Interdisciplinary Study of Disabilities. Dr. Avila recently completed a Harvard Medical School Program in Refugee Trauma Mastery Certificate in Global Mental Health. Dr. Avila is mother to a son on the autism spectrum.


Lindsay Naeder, M.S.W.

Vice President, Services and Supports, Community Impact, Autism Speaks

Lindsay Naeder

Ms. Lindsay Naeder joined Autism Speaks in 2012. Ms. Naeder leads the organization’s national Autism Response Team (ART) and Outreach teams to improve access to critical resources through Information & Referral and educational community programs and events. Additionally, Ms. Naeder led the development of Autism Speaks’ safety and wandering prevention initiative, to promote the safety of all people with autism through the dissemination of educational resources for first responders, educators, and caregivers. Prior to her work at Autism Speaks, Ms. Naeder held a variety of leadership roles in non-profit program development and social services in NYC. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the State University of New York at New Paltz, and a Master of Social Work degree from Hunter College, School of Social Work. Ms. Naeder is proud to have a personal connection to the mission of Autism Speaks, as the sibling to her autistic brother.


Camille Proctor

Founder, The Color of Autism Foundation

Camille Proctor

Ms. Camille Proctor joined the IACC in 2023. Ms. Proctor is the mother of a teen son and an adult daughter. In 2008 shortly after her son’s second birthday, he was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. As she searched for support services for her family, she soon realized a disparity in the black community. In 2009 she founded The Color of Autism Foundation to support African American families with children on the autism spectrum. The Color of Autism Foundation is a US non-profit organization committed to educating and assisting African American families affected by autism spectrum disorders. They aim to help families identify the signs of autism early on, so they can become their child’s best advocate. Providing culturally competent support and training will improve outcomes for children in underserved communities on the autism spectrum. Ms. Proctor has served as a diversity and inclusion advisor for both television and film. In September 2020, Governor Gretchen Whitmer appointed her to the Michigan State Disability Council. The Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council’s mission is to support people with developmental disabilities to achieve life dreams. She is the author of an October 2020 CNN essay, "For the Walter Wallaces of the World, the Police are not the Answer." In 2022 she co-authored a research paper titled A culturally grounded autism parent training program with Black parents. She obtained a Diversity Equity and Inclusion Certificate from Cornell University in January 2023.


Amanda Wroten, M.A.

Director, Safety on the Spectrum, Autism Society of America

Amanda Wroten

Ms. Amanda Wroten is the Director of Safety on the Spectrum for the Autism Society of America and manages the organization’s Kevin & Avonte grant. Ms. Wroten is neurodiverse and is passionate about creating inclusive conversations that bridge the gap between first responders and all members of the communities they serve. She has spent her entire career in the nonprofit world, focusing on crisis communications and as the Executive Director of a variety of nonprofit organizations throughout her career. Ms. Wroten researches at the intersection of communication and disability in film and popular culture as an adjunct professor at both Christopher Newport and Old Dominion Universities. Additionally, Ms. Wroten has served as a consultant with police foundations and vendors nationwide, working to create safer communities by securing funding for outreach initiatives. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication and a Master of Arts in Humanities, with an emphasis on Culture, Technology and Social Change from Old Dominion University.


Greg Robinson, M.P.H.

Deputy Director of Public Policy, Autistic Self-Advocacy Network

Greg Robinson

Mr. Greg Robinson is the Deputy Director of Public Policy at Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN)’s national office. Prior to ASAN, he worked in community program development around housing and community health for underserved communities in Philadelphia as an Americorps VISTA, and in inclusive career development and employment supports for undergraduate students as a graduate assistant at Drexel University. His passion in policy centers around the intersections of social determinants of health in marginalized communities. He holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.


meeting materials Materials

IACC Members


October Meeting Minutes


National Autism Coordinator


IACC Committee Business


Round Robin Document


Justice and Law Enforcement Presentations and Panel


Community Perspectives on Justice and Law Enforcement in the Autism Community


Other Justice-related Resources


meeting slides Slides


meeting comments Public Comments


meeting transcript Transcript

 
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