| Autism Spectrum Disorders |
|
|
| Certificate Program | ||
|
||
Core Presenters
Ruth Wiseman, President and
CEO, joined Chileda in 2009, and has been an advocate for
children and families with disabilities for over twenty years.
Ruth has published articles for advocacy groups, and presented
to numerous audiences, including school systems, universities,
and conferences. Ruth is also the parent of a child with
extraordinary needs. She discovered Chileda in 2000 while
searching for services for her son, Jason, who was diagnosed
with autism and had severe self-injurious behavior.
Ruth holds a Master of Arts degree in Industrial-Organizational
Psychology from Austin Peay State University, and a Bachelor of
Science degree in Special Education from the University of South
Florida. Prior to joining Chileda, Ruth worked for the State of
Tennessee’s Special Education department as the Public Awareness
Coordinator for the Part C program, for Vanderbilt University’s
Susan Gray School as a teacher and service coordinator, and as a
special education teacher for Pinellas County Schools in
Florida.
Shari Carlson, Chief Operating Officer, has been with Chileda since 1993 and has 23 years of experience. Shari is responsible for guiding all areas of operations and programming at Chileda.
Shari holds a Master of Arts degree in Education-Professional Development and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Shari also has extensive training and experience as a Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) Master-Level Instructor in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, in behavioral assessment, in the TEACCH program, in the use of Social Stories, and in the Ziggurat Model.
Christin Nelson, Director of Advocacy, has been with Chileda since 1994. Chris is responsible for promoting an environment at Chileda that allows our residents to advocate for their own positive change, safety, and responsibility. Chris is also charged with the ongoing education of Chileda’s staff members about issues relating to protecting residents’ rights.
Chris holds a Master of Arts degree in School Counseling from Winona (Minnesota) State University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. A member of the American Society for Children with Autism, Chris has developed and taught a curriculum entitled "Sex Education for Students with Cognitive Disabilities," and presents in-service workshops.
Betty DeBoer, Ph.D., is full time faculty within the School Psychology program at UWL where she teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in the Psychology department. Betty teaches courses in child and adolescent psychopathology, behavior management, interviewing and consultation and provides graduate level supervision. Dr. DeBoer oversees the credit course content and serves as the university instructor of record.
Additional presenters include professionals with years of experience working with individuals with autism spectrum disorders.