Psychjourney Podcast

Deborah Harper, President of Psychjourney, interviews Ms. Nancy Wiseman, author of The First Year: Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Essential Guide For The Newly Diagnosed Child published by Da Capo Lifelong Books.

As the founder and president of First Signs Nancy Wiseman is dedicating her life to improving the lives of children and families affected by developmental disorders. Since 1999, Nancy has made a significant contribution to changing policy, improving awareness, and changing pediatric practice in how we screen, refer, and detect young children today.

Before devoting herself to First Signs, Nancy worked in corporate communications for over 20 years building brand awareness, educating the public, and generating qualified leads for international companies in the financial, travel, office products, computer, and software industries. She now utilizes her skills in fundraising and development, staff and financial management, film and video production, as well as public relations and education, to direct First Signs She has counseled parents worldwide and she has appeared in interviews with USA Today, Parents, and NBC's Today Show.

She is the author of Could It Be Autism: A Parent's Guide to the First Signs and Next Steps. and The First Year®: Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed Child.

Nancy serves as president and treasurer and she is the mother of Sarah, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of two. Today—at age 13—Sarah stands as a powerful example of the impact that early identification and intensive intervention can have on young children with developmental delays and disorders. Nancy is the 2006 recipient of the American Academy of Pediatrics’Dale Richmond/Justin Coleman Award for her outstanding achievement in the field of child development.  Visit her website.

Deborah Harper, President of Psychjourney, interviews Ms. Corrine Morgan-Thomas, author of Miracle Run: Watching My Autistic Sons Grow Up- And Take Their First Steps Into Adulthood published by Berkley Trade.

 

Corrine Morgan-Thomas became famous in the autism community when Lifetime made a television movie based on her autistic sons’ lives.  A valuable resource for knowledge and experience, Corrine, along with her husband and sons speaks to many autism groups.  President of the Miracle Run Foundation for Autism, which raises funds for the medical needs of families with autistic children and promotes awareness, she founded a support group to provide information, networking, and emotional aid to these families. A mother of four, including the twins who are the subjects of her book, Corrine lives in Agoura Hills,California.  Visit her website

Deborah Harper, President of Psychjourney, interviews Mr. John Elder Robison, author of Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's published by Three Rivers Press.

JOHN ELDER ROBISON lives with his wife and son in Amherst, Massachusetts. His company, J E Robison Service, repairs and restores fine European automobiles. Visit his website and blog.

Dr. Lara Honos-Webb, host of The Sweet Spot Podcast, interviews Dr. Ron Leaf, co-author of A Work in Progress: Behavior Management Strategies & A Curriculum for Intensive Behavioral Treatment of Autism by Ron Leaf, John McEachin, and Jaisom D. Harsh, published by Drl Books.

Ron Leaf is a licensed psychologist who has over twenty-five years of experience in the field of autism. Dr. Leaf began his career working with Ivar Lovaas, while receiving his undergraduate degree at UCLA. Subsequently he received his doctorate under the direction of Dr. Lovaas. During his professional training at UCLA, he served as Clinic Supervisor, Research Psychologist, Lecturer, and Interim Director of the Young Autism Project. He was extensively involved in many of the Young Autism Project research investigations, contributed to The Me Book, and is co-author of The Me Book Videotapes, a series of instructional tapes offering training for teaching autistic children. He is co-author of A Work in Progress, a manual on behavioral treatment.

Dr. Leaf has consulted nationally and internationally to families, school districts, day programs and residential treatment facilities. Dr. Leaf served as the Director of Straight Talk's Developmental Disabilities Services division for 15 years. This program provided residential and day treatment for adults with developmental disabilities. Dr. Leaf is also the Executive Director of Behavior Therapy and Learning Center, a mental health agency providing treatment, consultation and related services to parents, program staff and school personnel.  Visit his website.

Deborah Harper, President of Psychjourney, interviews Michael John Carley M.F.A., author of Asperger's From the Inside Out: A Supportive and Practical Guide for Anyone with Asperger's Syndrome published by Perigee Trade.

Michael John Carley received his B.A. from Hampshire College in 1986 and his M.F.A. from Columbia University in 1989. As the Executive Director of GRASP, the largest organization comprised of adults on the autism spectrum, he has spoken at conferences, hospitals, universities, and health care organizations.

His articles have been published in magazines that include Autism Spectrum Quarterly and Austism-Asperger’s Digest, and he has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times, as well as on CNBC and NPR.

Until 2001, Mr. Carley was the United Nations Representative of Veterans for Peace, Inc. In that time, he was known primarily for his work in Bosnia, and in Iraq as the Project Director of the internationally acclaimed  Iraq Water Project. Prior to 2001 he was a playwright who enjoyed 15 productions and 10 readings of his plays in New York.

Today, in addition to running GRASP, he moonlights as a backup classical music host for New York Public Radio (WNYC. Along with his (then) 4-year old son, he was diagnosed with AS in November of 2000. He lives with his wife, (New York Times Daytime Newscaster) Kathryn Herzog, and 2 sons in Brooklyn.  Visit his website. 

Deborah Harper, President of Psychjourney, interviews Ms. Nancy D. Wiseman, author of Could It Be Autism? A Parents Guide To The First Signs And The Next Steps published by Broadway.

 

Since 1999, Nancy Wiseman has made a significant contribution to changing policy, improving awareness, and changing pediatric practice in how we screen, refer, and detect young children today. As the founder and president of First Signs, a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate professionals and parents about the early warning signs of autism and other developmental disorders, Nancy is dedicating her life to improving the lives of children and families affected by developmental disorders.

Before devoting herself to First Signs, Nancy worked in corporate communications for over 20 years. She has counseled thousands of parents nationwide and she has appeared in interviews with USA Today, Parents, and NBC's Today Show. She is the author of Could It Be Autism? A Parent's Guide to the First Signs and Next Steps. Nancy is the 2006 recipient of the American Academy of Pediatrics Dale Richmond/Justin Coleman Award for her outstanding achievement in the field of child development. Visit her website.

Deborah Harper, President of Psychjourney, interviews Dr. Roy Richard Grinker, author of Unstrange Minds: Remapping the World of Autism published by Basic Books.

Roy Richard Grinker is Professor of Anthropology, and Director of the Institute for Ethnographic Research at George Washington University. He is the author of four other books including the widely acclaimed In The Arms of Africa: The Life of Colin M. Turnball and editor-in-chief of Anthropological Quarterly. He has appeared on the Discovery Channel, and the National Geographic Channel, and on regional and national NPR. Visit his website.

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Deborah Harper, President of Psychjourney, interviews Portia Iversen, author of Strange Son: Two Mothers, Two Sons, and the Quest to Unlock the Hidden World of Autism published by Riverhead.

Portia Iversen, an Emmy-winning art director, has been a vigorous proponent of autism research since her son Dov was diagnosed in 1994. Together with her husband, Jon Shestack, she established the Cure Autism Now Foundation, one of the largest nongovernmental funding resources for autism research worldwide. She lives in Los Angeles with her family.  Visit her website and new online community.

Deborah Harper, President of Psychjourney, interviews Dr. Robert Evert Cimera, author of Making Autism a Gift: Inspiring Children to Believe in Themselves and Lead Happy, Fullfilling Lives published by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.

Dr. Cimera graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Campaign in 19977 with a specialization in school-to-adult life transition. During his doctoral training, he worked as a research assistant as well as supervised students in the Moderate and Severe Disabilities Teacher Training program.

Prior to pursuing his doctorate, he was a director of a program that transitioned secondary students with severe and multiple disabilities (including those with autism, mental retardation, behavioral disorders, and various mental illness) from school to work. In this capacity, he collaborated extensively with general educators, special educators, vocational rehabilitation counselors, and other community-based professionals.

He is currently a professor in the College of Education, Health, and Human Services at Kent State University in Ohio. In addition to teaching, he has been conducting many scholarly endeavors. For instance, he currently has over thirty publications, including many peer-reviewed research articles and seven single-authored books. Visit his webpage.

Deborah Harper, President of Psychjourney, interviews Ms. Susan Senator, author of Making Peace with Autism: One Family's Story of Struggle, Discovery, and Unexpected Gifts published by Trumpeter.

Susan Senator, is a mother of three, a writer, a speaker, and an advocate for children and the disabled. Her writing on autism has appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Boston Globe, Education Week, Teacher Magazine, and Exceptional Parent Magazine. She has been invited to the White House in connections with her writings about the Special Olympics. Visit her website.

Share your comments about the book and the interview on the Psychjourney Audio Book Club blog.