National Professional Advisory Board Members

Valerie Paradiz, Ph.D.

www.ValerieParadiz.com

Valerie Paradiz develops educational programs for children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), including the pioneering ASPIE School, and has been featured in the New York Times, Redbook Magazine, and The Guardian. She is the developer of Integrated Self Advocacy ISA™ (AAPC), a curriculum and training series for educators and therapists who wish to support individuals with ASDs in achieving greater ability in self-advocacy.

Valerie’s memoir, Elijah's Cup: A Family's Journey into the Community and Culture of High-Functioning Autism and Asperger's Syndrome (Jessica Kingsley, 2005) is the compelling story of the author's experiences raising her autistic son, their involvement together in the advocacy community, and her own ultimate diagnosis with Asperger syndrome.

Dr. Paradiz speaks nationally and internationally on parenting strategies, improving and creating programs for individuals with ASDs of all ages, preparing for college and the college search, strengthening advocacy skills, and fostering emerging talents and focused interests.

Valerie is a member of the national board of directors of the Autism Society of America (ASA), where she serves as chair of the Panel of Individuals on the Spectrum of Autism (PSA) and is a member of the Marketing Committee. She is also a member of the Bank Street College of Education’s Institute for Cognitive Diversity. In an advisory capacity, Valerie serves Pace University’s Center for Teaching and Research in Autism (TARA) and the editorial board of The Autism File magazine.

Outside the autism fields, Dr. Paradiz enjoys an active career in literary and non-fiction writing.

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