Conference Schedule

Amy Gravino, M.A., is an autism sexuality advocate and Relationship Coach in the Center for Adult Autism Services at Rutgers University. She is also the President of A.S.C.O.T Consulting, which offers autism consulting, college coaching, and mentoring services for organizations, schools, individuals on the autism spectrum, and their families. Amy is an international speaker who has given TED talks, spoken twice at the United Nations for World Autism Awareness Day, and presented worldwide to audiences on a variety of topics related to autism, with a dedicated special focus and research on the subject of autism and sexuality. Ms. Gravino obtained her Masters degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Caldwell University in 2010 and currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Specialisterne North America, Yes She Can, Inc. and the Golden Door International Film Festival of Jersey City, as well as the Scientific Advisory Board of Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research (SPARK). She is an award-winning writer whose work has been featured in Spectrum, the leading online news source for autism research, Reader’s Digest, special education textbooks, and other outlets. Visit www.amygravino.com to learn more. 

Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services Richard Kriner, M.S, CRC, PBSF, LPC, began working for DARS in 2002 as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with a specialty caseload in long-term mental illness. He has been an endorsed PBS Facilitator since 2013, a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, ACRE Certified for Customized Employment, a Licensed Professional Counselor, and a Certified Provider for PEERS Young Adult Intervention. As a member of the VA DARS Central Office Statewide Training and Support team, Richard provides leadership and technical assistance on DARS Autism Services and Customized Employment Services. Richard has presented on Autism and effective vocational rehabilitation practices through state and national conferences, national webcast, and contributed to professional journals and practice briefs. At the state level he has played a key role with integrating findings from evidence based research into the VR program through the development and delivery of formalized trainings, policy development, and the implementation of new autism-focused service models.

Sara Link directs No Wrong Door Virginia, a statewide initiative streamlining access to long term service and supports through person-centered planning. In 2016, Sara joined Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, as strategist monitoring options counseling service standards and developing policy standards for implementation of a statewide person-centered single point of entry system. Sara formerly directed a partnership between Senior Connections, The Capital Area Agency on Aging and Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Gerontology for livable communities and formerly served as analyst for New York City Office of the Mayor and Department for the Aging. Sara has led research studying older adult services, social isolation, and community-based supports. Sara’s work in person-centered care was informed by her experience as an educator, community organizer, applied researcher, funder, policymaker, and administrator. Throughout a career that has largely focused on serving older adults, Sara has designed evidence-based solutions that have utilized geographic information system (GIS) data and mapping to improve utilization of senior centers and to identify pockets of regional social isolation among older adults. Sara and her team are currently expanding the number of statewide person-centered thinking trainers and incorporating trauma-informed care and ageism disruption into the statewide person-centered planning curriculum for the aging and disability services workforce. Sara holds a Master of Science degree in Urban Policy and Management and formerly served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala.

David Leon has worked with individuals with disabilities for over 25 years. He has worked for a community services board, community rehabilitation program and the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services. In his current role as the VADARS Director for Workforce Programs, Mr. Leon serves as the agency lead on employer engagement activities, the Targeted Communities grant and other financial empowerment initiatives. He is the project director for the RSA DIF PATHWAYS grant and co-principle Investigator for a NIDILRR grant related to Financial Empowerment initiatives. He has provided technical assistance on Financial Empowerment, work incentives, Cost Reimbursement, Ticket to Work and Partnership Plus to other state vocational rehabilitation agencies and federal programs. Mr. Leon has served as a SME for SAMHSA projects. Mr. Leon has presented at national conferences including CSAVR, APSE, NRA, NENA, NABWIS and NCRE. Mr. Leon is a credentialed Benefit and Work Incentives Practitioner through Cornell University, a Certified Financial Social Work Counselor through the center for Financial Social Work and holds a Master’s Degree in Education from The George Washington University where he received the Donald C Linkowski Award for outstanding rehabilitation counseling student. Mr. Leon also serves on the board for the National Employment Network Association. David Leon has succeeded in many roles over the 25 years he has advocated for Individuals with Disabilities. His broad experience ranges from DSP to leadership roles and includes both private non- profit organizations and local and state government agencies. Mr. Leon practices a holistic service delivery approach and excels at uncovering new opportunities to collaborate with a variety of sources inside and outside the government. As the VADARS Director for Workforce Programs, Mr. Leon is responsible for enhancing the lives of people who receive services through employer engagement, financial empowerment initiatives and business services. He serves as the agency lead on employer engagement activities and represents the agency on the statewide business solutions team. He is recognized for his expertise in SSA Ticket to Work program, work incentives and Cost Reimbursement. Mr. Leon has served as a SME for SAMHSA projects. He regularly presents at national conferences including CSAVR, APSE, NRA, NENA, NABWIS and NCRE. He believes professional gatherings provide opportunities for the exchange of ideas across disciplines and agencies. Richard Kriner MS, CRC, PBSF, LPC Autism Services and Customized Employment Program Coordinator;

Steve Burns focuses his legal practice on estate and special needs planning, guardianship and conservatorship matters, estate administration, and fiduciary litigation. He is a graduate from Catholic University, Columbus School of Law and has over ten years of legal experience working on special needs planning and guardianship matters. His presentation is designed for caregivers with children with special needs. He will discuss the elements of Special Needs Trusts and how caregivers can utilize them to support their children.

Andre Sam, CRPC®, APMA®, is a Comprehensive Disability/Special Needs Planner with the Disability & Special Needs Project. Upon earning a Bachelors Degree in Economics from the University of Arizona, Andre began a career in Comprehensive Disability and Special Needs Planning. Andre has been in the industry for 10 years now working with individuals and families with disabilities and special needs across 46 of 50 states. Through this organization, Andre gives back by donating his time mostly during evenings and weekends sharing his knowledge by providing complimentary educational presentations on Comprehensive Disability/Special Needs Planning to organizations and groups who have loved ones that are part of the special needs and disability community

Barbara Simeroth began her work with autism 28 years ago with the birth of her son, when many faced child-development challenges alone. As a result, she and her family were tested in more ways than they thought possible. Parenting her son has influenced her work in education for the past two decades. She is an experienced classroom teacher, department head and independent consultant. During her years as a high school teacher she observed bright students, including her own son, with ASD going to college and either failing out, or earning a degree but never attaining meaningful employment. This is when she began SpectrumWise, a Virginia-based college consulting firm, specializing in preparing and placing students in colleges that have dedicated on-campus comprehensive autism support. She has visited colleges and universities across the nation and met with autism program directors to become familiar with their services and supports. In 2017 Barbara became a certified PEERS social skills training provider and her pilot PEERS group in Richmond was featured on NPR. Barbara earned her Master of Science degree in education from Old Dominion University, VA and a B.A. from Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA. She resides in Richmond, Virginia and is the mother of three sons, one very impressive cat and a rescue pup.

I was born on March 27, 1989 in Providence, RI and have lived my entire life in Seekonk, MA. I was diagnosed with Autism in 1990 and ever since then, I have achieved multiple successes in my life in areas of education, long term employment, independent living, and speaking/panel engagements.

*Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your health care provider

Terra Vance is a Melungeon of Romani and Native American heritage who grew up in a coal mining camp. She is autistic, dyslexic, ADHD, and apraxic. Vance was a secondary English teacher for 14 years and a DBT counselor for two before founding NeuroClastic, an autistic-led nonprofit. Now, Vance spends her days working various roles as NeuroClastic’s CEO. Her passions include decolonizing systemic structures, literature (especially Herman Melville’s Moby Dick and Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man), building healthier communities, unpacking ancestry and reconnecting to her native cultures, all things plants, and parenting her wonderfully autistic child.

Sarah Selvaggi Hernandez is an Autistic Deaf author, educator, occupational therapist, and international speaker. She was also the first openly Autistic person elected to serve in the United States government at any level. Sarah is passionate about occupational science, sensory processing and mental wellness, and positive disability identity. Her vision remains centered on the creation of identity-affirming contexts to support neurodivergent development. She runs the popular social media site The Autistic OT.

Sarah’s professional experience includes headteacher at Head Start in Bristol, CT; assistant professor at Bay Path University; early intervention therapist in Springfield, MA; and occupational therapist at Solnit North in East Windsor, CT.  Sarah and her husband Jeremy also served as a therapeutic foster family for the State of Connecticut for nearly twenty years, and continue to provide therapeutic respite care for autistic children.  Sarah can be found happy-flapping with her family in Enfield, CT.

I am a black, trans and autistic parent of two gender non conforming children, and educator in transformative justice, harm reduction, and the decolonization of our fight for survival. I teach what it means to be in community and in struggle with one another to seek healing, understanding and the destruction of white supremacy and imperialism in all forms so that we no longer robbed of our humanity and reach mutual liberation.

Kate is a Deaf, Queer, Autistic psychotherapist, supervisor, and educator. She currently holds the position of Chief Communications Officer of NeuroCastic. Kate began her therapeutic career training in person-centered counseling and later qualified in transactional analysis psychotherapy. For the last 20 years, Kate has supported people through challenging times both in private practice and for major UK charities. She offers training on mental health and neurodivergence and speaks internationally on these subjects.

In private practice she works with neurodivergent adults and children and young people who have barriers to accessing education, engaging them through play and shared interests. Kate lives in Manchester, UK. She is a prolific illustrator and has published her creative and academic work internationally.

Lauren H. Kerstein, LCSW works with children through adults with autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, and depression. Lauren is the author of A Week of Switching, Shifting, and Stretching, My Sensory Book, a textbook about high-functioning autism, and articles for numerous publications. Lauren also writes fiction. She’s the author of the Rosie the Dragon and Charlie picture book series and HOME FOR A WHILE. Visit www.LaurenKerstein.net or www.LaurenKerstein.com for more information.

Elizabeth Kunreuther is currently a clinician at Penn Presbyterian Hospital. Elizabeth was a Clinical Instructor with University of North Carolina Department of Psychiatry’s WakeBrook Addictions and Detoxification Unit. Prior to working at WakeBrook Elizabeth was the Family Intake Coordinator for UNC’s TEACCH Autism Program and Family Recruitment Coordinator for Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities’ Autism Research Registry. Elizabeth is the author of several articles and the co-author of the book Drinking, Drug Use and Addiction in the Autism Community.

Hoangmai (Mai) H. Pham is President of Institute for Exceptional Care, a non-profit dedicated to transforming healthcare for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Dr. Pham is a general internist and national health policy leader. She was Vice President at Anthem, responsible for value-based care initiatives. Prior to Anthem, Dr. Pham served as Chief Innovation Officer at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, where she was a founding official, and the architect of foundational programs on accountable care organizations and primary care. Dr. Pham has published extensively on provider payment policy and its intersection with health disparities, quality performance, provider behavior, and market trends. She serves on numerous advisory bodies, including for the National Academy of Medicine, the National Advisory Council for the Agency on Healthcare Research and Quality, the Maryland Primary Care Program. Dr. Pham earned her A.B. from Harvard University, her M.D. from Temple University, and her M.P.H. from Johns Hopkins University where she was also a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar.  

Sarah Sheppard earned her Master’s in Education and Disability Policy at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2016. She has worked with adolescents and young adults on the autism spectrum throughout central Virginia since 2012 and has served in various roles in school and community-based settings. Sarah completed her masters while working as a behavior coach at UMFS Charterhouse School and went on to serve middle and high school aged students in Charterhouse’s Autism and Neurodiversity Program in an administrative capacity from 2016 to 2020. Sarah has received credentials as a certified practitioner in Collaborative Problem Solving ©, and uses a combination of CPS, behaviorism, and mindfulness practices in her work with clients and families. In her current role as Manager of Adult Programs at CA, Sarah leads a team of counselors in supporting young adults and their families in residential and community-based settings to build skills to reach and maintain their desired goal of independence.

Craig Simmons is a Licensed Professional Counseling currently serving as the therapist for the Courage to Succeed program with UMFS. He has been with the UMFS organization for 11 years and has served in myriad departments and roles. He has spent the last 8 years with UMFS in the role of therapist first, as residential therapist for the Child and Family Healing Center, next as the school therapist for the Charterhouse School Neurological and Developmental Differences program, and currently for Courage to Succeed. In each role he has worked with families in various stages of transition. Prior to the pandemic Craig started Launch, a parent support group for the parents of Courage to Succeed participants, where they discussed the challenges and successes of launching their children into adulthood. The group is currently on hiatus, but Craig hopes to relaunch the program once he can safely do so.

Sarah’s biography coming soon!

Growing up with a family on the autism spectrum, led Ginny to discover her passion for working with children, young adults, and families with special needs and mental illness. With extensive experience and training in applied behavior analysis, crisis intervention, along with developing social competencies, she has helped improve the lives of children and adults of all abilities. As the Founder and Managing Director, Ginny is actively involved in all facets of programming, leadership, and counseling at Social Grace, infusing her contagious energy and grounded purpose into every client’s experience. A licensed special educator and behavior analyst, Ginny is a graduate of The George Washington University where she received her Master’s degree in Special Education with a concentration in Emotional and Behavioral Disabilities. Ginny currently serves on the Board of Advisors for Enabled Intelligence, has served on her local Community Services Board, the National Alliance on mental Illness (NAMI) Northern Virginia Young Adult Advocacy Workgroup and is actively involved with the non-profit near and dear to her heart, Our Stomping Ground.

Sarah’s biography coming soon!

Kat Milberger is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a fellow human being! Kat is committed to embracing life and helping others to work through life’s challenges to rediscover empowerment, joy, and connectedness. They previously worked for both UMFS and CA supporting neurodiverse young adults as they built the skills to attend college and live independently. Now Kat is a virtual therapist at Thriveworks who works with adolescents and adults from diverse backgrounds. Kat is fully trained in EMDR and is building a specialty in supporting disabled and neurodivergent individuals heal symptoms of trauma and PTSD. Kat works through a mindfulness, culturally-affirming and trauma-informed lens and has a Cognitive Behavioral, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Sensorimotor background. In Kat’s spare time, they enjoy live music, art and poetry, exploring nature, lifting weights, skating, and working on their camper van. Kat identifies as disabled and LGBTQ+ and uses any pronouns.

Angelica Gehlich (she/her) is a Family Services Specialist with Foster Care at Richmond Department of Social Services. She is also a part-time therapist at Innovative Care, LLC. Angelica obtained her MSW from VCU with her Certificate of Gender Violence Intervention. She is currently a supervisee working towards her LCSW. Angelica specializes in working with people who have experienced traumatic events throughout their lives of all age ranges and of all different identities. Her professional background includes volunteering in Kenya with Sunburst Projects, volunteering as a Community Health Educator with Peace Corps in Nicaragua, facilitating workshops and camps with trauma survivors domestically and internationally, and working at non-profit and private agencies through individual and group formats with those who have experienced trauma, identity crises, and a perceived loss of self. Angelica speaks English and Spanish; however, will provide disclosure that the Spanish is always a work in progress for her. Angelica loves working with all people and specializes in gender violence intervention, trauma, and LGBTQIA+ affirming services.

Erin Delp is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the Richmond area. She is passionate about providing neurodiversity affirming care to teens and young adults. Erin is dedicated to dismantling ablism and creating neurodiversity affirming communities of care. Erin has special interest in parenting in a neurodiverse household.  Erin is a therapist and lives in Richmond, VA with her two kids and her two cats.

Emma earned her Bachelor’s in Psychology with a concentration in Human Development from Christopher Newport University and continued with her Master’s in Clinical Social Work at Virginia Commonwealth University. She has worked with individuals with autism and other comorbid conditions since 2017 across systems including residential care, in-home services, and within the public school system in Virginia. Emma has training in crisis intervention and trauma-informed care. Her work with clients emphasizes a strengths-based approach, encouraging self-advocacy skill building.

Jennifer Ramachandran (she/her) is a recent graduate of the Master of Social Work program at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her interests lie in clinical mental health counseling for children and families who have experienced severe trauma and/or have children with neurodevelopmental differences, specifically autism spectrum disorder.  She is currently a employed as a full time therapist at United Methodist Family Services Child and Family Healing Center where she provides individual and group therapy to adolescents in residential care.

Ms. Ramachandran earned her Bachelor of Arts in Art History from Virginia Tech in 2000.  She received a Master of Teaching from Mary Baldwin University in 2013 with a specialization in K-6 education.  Ms. Ramachandran taught in Richmond City Public Schools for seven years as a Kindergarten and First Grade Teacher.  She was a stalwart advocate for increased funding and resources for Richmond Schools. She co-founded Support Richmond Public Schools, an advocacy organization which now boasts over 6k members.  She also co-founded and was an active board member of the non-profit organization, Building a Better RPS.

During her tenure as an educator, Ms. Ramachandran worked with many students with neurodevelopmental differences.  She spent a year interning at Community Brain Injury Services working with adults who have suffered traumatic brain injuries.  She currently works part time for CA Human Services as an adult residential counselor for individuals with autism spectrum disorder who are learning to live independently.  Ms. Ramachandran has also received a Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Differences through the VA-LEND program in May 2022.  She is a current member of Phi Alpha Honor Society in Social Work, Phi Kappa Phi National Honors Society, and the National Association of Social Workers.

Dr. Ingvarsson is Director of Training and Research at the Virginia Institute of Autism, and serves as Adjunct Faculty in the School of Education and Human Development at University of Virginia. His talk will focus on the ways practitioners can implement “ethical, safe, and practical” functional assessments. 

Dr. Storey is a Professor Emeritus at Touro University in Vallejo, California. He has forty years of experience working with individuals with disabilities. His focus is specifically on the transition from school to adult life, functional analysis and positive behavioral supports, and curriculum development. His presentation will provide an overview on understanding and analyzing positive behavior supports for teachers and other service providers. 

Dr. Landa is a professional speech pathologist who is credited as the founder and executive director of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders at Kennedy Krieger Institute, where she is vice president. She also works as a professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and CEO of Bundle of Learning. 

Dr. Scott Herbst is the founder and president of SixFlex Training and Consulting and the Chief Programming Officer for Pivot 2 Inclusion.  He earned his PhD at the University of Nevada, Reno where he focused his studies in organizational systems, Relational Frame Theory, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. His keynote presentation will focus on Relational Frame Theory (RFT) and how it can enable problem solving. His breakout presentation will define integrity and discuss integrity as a behavioral framework.

Dr. Amanda A. Randall is a behavior analyst and consultant who works with schools, families, and organizations to improve the lives and outcomes of individuals with disabilities. She received her doctorate in special education from West Virginia University, where her research and studies centered on applied behavior analysis, social skill development, adult education, and autism. Dr. Randall is the Co-Director for the Virginia Department of Education’s Region 5 Training and Technical Assistant Center at James Madison University and co-chair of the PreK-12 Committee for the JMU President’s Task Force on Racial Equity. In addition, she teaches adjunct autism and behavior analysis courses. Dr. Randall has spent years working with adolescents and adults with disabilities. Her primary work is program development, behavior-based programming, transition, and functional skills of individuals with disabilities, self-determination, and program development.

Additionally, Dr. Randall is the current president of the Virginia Association for Applied Behavior Analysis, an executive member of the Virginia Autism Council, the treasurer for Shenandoah Autism Partnership, a Board Member for Commonwealth Services, and a Professional Advisor for the Autism Society of America’s board of directors.

Dr. Randall believes in community and creating community connections for families and youth. When Dr. Randall is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband, three children, extended family, and friends. Her family and friends bring her balance and keep her motivated.

I am a Licensed Behavior Analyst with a passion for teaching kids, helping families, and having fun. I live by the motto “It is a great day for teaching kids,” because every day is an opportunity to help a child learn and grow. Following high school, I attended Virginia Commonwealth University earning a BA in Political Science and a certificate in Special Education. Soon after I attended the University of Richmond earning a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. I became a BCBA after completing my certification in Applied Behavior Analysis at Florida Institute of Technology. I have been working with children and Adults in special education and therapy settings as a teacher’s aide, teacher, program director, and case manager. Currently, I am the Director of ABA Services at Spectrum Transformation Group. Spectrum Transformation Group offers a variety of therapies and services for children and adults in Central Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley. I enjoy teaching Behavior Change at Mary Baldwin University. I am proud of my supportive family including my superhero of a wife, talented daughter, and an abundance of amazing relatives. Lastly, I am a passionate musician who can be found performing for children and fundraisers all over Virginia.

Erin received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Behavior Analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and continued with her Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis at St. Cloud State University. She has worked with students with autism and other disabilities in an early intervention clinic setting, in-home direct service, and is currently in her 10th year working with students and staff in public schools. Erin is currently pursuing a graduate certificate from Eastern Mennonite University in Restorative Justice in Education.

She is passionate about looking at the whole individual and working with teams to best support each student.

Tiffany Hornsby, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the School Psychology Program at James Madison University and a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. Tiffany is originally from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She earned her B.S. in Psychology from Howard University and her M.S. in School Psychometrics and Ph.D. in Educational Psychology (Option: School Psychology) from Oklahoma State University.

With training subspecialties in applied behavior analysis and behavioral consultation, Tiffany previously served as an external consultant assisting public schools in implementing muti-tiered systems of supports across the state of Oklahoma and as a behavior specialist providing behavioral skills training to educators in specialized school settings. Before joining JMU, Tiffany provides school psychological and related services in Harrisonburg City Public Schools.

Tiffany’s scholarly and clinical interests lie in school-based interprofessional collaboration with a recent focus on BCBA-school psychologist collaborative practices); educational outcomes for racially and ethnically minoritized (REM) students; effective family-school-community partnerships to support REM students; and professional issues in training and supervision of school psychologists regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Sara Snyder is an associate professor in Special Education and Applied Behavior Analysis at James Madison University. Prior to her career in higher education, Dr. Snyder was a special education teacher, a special education administrator, and a school-based BCBA. Dr. Snyder’s research centers around skill acquisition as well as effective provision of behavior analytic supports in the school setting, including issue related to interprofessional collaboration and staff training.