Dr. Maria Urbano, M.D. is a board certified psychiatrist and fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. She is currently an associate professor of the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Eastern Virginia Medical School. In February 2010, Dr. Urbano and Dr. Deutsch, chairman of the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, began the Autism Spectrum Disorders Program for Older Adolescents and Young Adults which has a clinical, research and educational division. Dr. Urbano has seen over 150 ASD patients since the beginning of the program. She is the principal investigator of three research projects including two promising drug trials of new medications for ASD. In conjunction with the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters Children's Hospital, the ASD Program sponsors an annual conference entitled Insights into Autism which features regional and national speakers who present new neuroscience and clinical data.

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Tamara Eastman, B.A., was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) in her late 30’s while attending college at John Tyler Community College in Chester, VA. Her childhood and early adulthood were a series of traumatic experiences – being ostracized and bullied by classmates, and punished by parents and teachers, who had no idea what her problem actually was. After being diagnosed with AS and learning to compensate and overcome many of the social obstacles that once stood in her way, Ms. Eastman graduated Summa Cum Laude from Virginia State University with a B. A. in history at the age of 48. Since 2009, Tamara has been employed as the Deputy Historian for the Department of Defense at Fort Lee, Virginia. She expects to receive a master’s degree in history in 2013 from Virginia State University, and then plans to pursue a Ph.D. in history.

Ms. Eastman is also a published author of historical nonfiction, and is considered one of the world’s leading experts on the subject of female pirates. A Hollywood production company has expressed interest in purchasing the rights to her first book, “The Pirate Trial of Anne Bonny and Mary Read” and turning the story into a movie. Her research work has appeared in a documentary on pirates for the History Channel, and she has served as a historical consultant for other documentaries.

Tamara sometimes still finds difficulty in fitting in with social groups and age appropriate socialization but continues to work on improving her social skills. She sees a behavior coach bi-monthly and receives help and coaching from her current supervisor, Dr. Peter Skirbunt, the Chief Historian for the Defense Commissary Agency. Dr. Skirbunt has taught her the job of historian from the ground up. She feels her most difficult behavior challenges at work include staying focused and remaining seated and still for prolonged periods of time, such as during meetings and in classes at the university. She has also found that it helps to keep checklists and reminders of the tasks she is to complete, both at work and at home. She credits the Federal Government and Dr. Skirbunt’s patience and understanding with much of her employment success – in fact, she has received an “exceptional” performance rating three years in a row!

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Brenda Smith Myles, Ph.D., international speaker and consultant for the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence, is the recipient of the Autism Society of America’s Outstanding Professional Award, the Princeton Fellowship Award, and the Council for Exceptional Children, Division on Developmental Disabilities Burton Blatt Humanitarian Award. Brenda has made over 500 presentations all over the world and written more than 150 articles and books on ASD including Asperger’s Syndrome and Difficult Moments: Practical Solutions for Tantrums, Rage, and Meltdowns (with Southwick) and The Hidden Curriculum: Practical Solutions for Understanding Unstated rules in Social Situations. In addition, she served as the co-chair of the National ASD Teacher Standards Committee and was on the National Institute of Mental Health’s Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee’s Strategic Planning Consortium. Myles is also on the executive boards of several organizations, including the Organization for Autism Research, ASTEP – Asperger’s Syndrome Training and Education Program, and the Education and Treatment Services Project for Military Dependent Children with Autism. In addition, in the latest survey conducted by the University of Texas, she was acknowledged as the second most productive applied researcher in ASD in the world.

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Kathy Kaluza Morris is the founder of igivuWings, a consulting company for autism spectrum and behavior disorders. She has been a special educator for 40 years, including a speech therapist and teacher in self-contained classes for students with emotional disturbances, autism, and cerebral palsy. She also taught resource and a first grade class.

She was a diagnostician and supervisor before becoming a consultant for behavior, autism, LIFE Skills, and assistive technology at an education service center in Texas. She started her own consulting firm when she started on her doctorate in educational psychology, specializing in autism and behavior. As an adjunct professor, she teaches a course in applied behavior analysis for teachers.

A frequent guest speaker for a local TV program, Kathy was honored as Outstanding Educator for Children with Disabilities in 1997. She was also selected as a delegate for the President's Commission on Special Education in 2002. Kathy has presented internationally as well as nationally. She has also been a keynote speaker at state and national conferences. Her favorite topic is her family. Kathy's husband, Guy, is also a specialist in behavior. Their oldest son, Guy, is a gifted speaker and has presented with her at conferences. Their twin teenage sons, Kirk and Drew, have Fragile X Syndrome and autism spectrum disorders. Kirk also has cerebral palsy. No amount of education and experience prepared them for having children of their own with disabilities. Guy and Kathy's family "walks the walk as well as talks the talk."

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Kathy Kaluza Morris is the founder of igivuWings, a consulting company for autism spectrum and behavior disorders. She has been a special educator for 40 years, including a speech therapist and teacher in self-contained classes for students with emotional disturbances, autism, and cerebral palsy. She also taught resource and a first grade class.

She was a diagnostician and supervisor before becoming a consultant for behavior, autism, LIFE Skills, and assistive technology at an education service center in Texas. She started her own consulting firm when she started on her doctorate in educational psychology, specializing in autism and behavior. As an adjunct professor, she teaches a course in applied behavior analysis for teachers.

A frequent guest speaker for a local TV program, Kathy was honored as Outstanding Educator for Children with Disabilities in 1997. She was also selected as a delegate for the President's Commission on Special Education in 2002. Kathy has presented internationally as well as nationally. She has also been a keynote speaker at state and national conferences. Her favorite topic is her family. Kathy's husband, Guy, is also a specialist in behavior. Their oldest son, Guy, is a gifted speaker and has presented with her at conferences. Their twin teenage sons, Kirk and Drew, have Fragile X Syndrome and autism spectrum disorders. Kirk also has cerebral palsy. No amount of education and experience prepared them for having children of their own with disabilities. Guy and Kathy's family "walks the walk as well as talks the talk."

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Amanda Armstrong, M.Ed., BCBA is the Virginia Department of Education Region 5 T/TAC Autism Coordinator. Amanda attended East Carolina University where she received a BS in Communication and The University of Massachusetts where she completed her Master’s in Education and Applied Behavior Analysis. Amanda’s passion is working with children, educators, and families to increase the social opportunities and independence of individuals affected by ASD. She enjoys working in the classroom, as well as training, but most loves seeing students on the path to being productive, independent contributors to their community. Amanda began her teaching of students with ASD at a private residential school for children with autism and behavior disorders. There she carried out IEP goals and implemented behavior support plans to effectively decrease behaviors and increase independence. Most recently Amanda spent time at The May Institute as an Assistant Clinical Director for adult services and with Waltham Public Schools as an Independent Consultant to classroom teachers and families. While at The May Institute she worked with interdisciplinary teams of service providers, psychiatrists, and other clinicians to structure comprehensive behavior and medical plans for adults with various disabilities. There, Amanda was also able to serve on peer review teams and monitor the effectiveness and fidelity of behavior intervention plans and behavior modifying medications. In addition, she trained staff in the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis and how to effectively implement treatment plans. In the Waltham Public Schools she had the privilege of serving students with ASD and other disabilities who were in crisis as determined by the school personnel. In this position Amanda was able to assist in building family and professional partnerships by implementing effective comprehensive treatment plans across settings and people. She also trained parents and teachers in evidence-based practices to create capacity in the schools.

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Alicia J. Hart, B.A, is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University and has been a Master’s candidate in Child Development and Family Services at Eastern Illinois University. She is the author of Brains, Trains & Video Games: Living The Autism Life. Alicia lives in Merritt Island, Florida with her husband and three children where she is currently finishing her second book, Foods, Moods & Isms: Living The Eosinophilic Life. Currently, Alicia is working with the Autism Center of Excellence at Virginia Commonwealth University as the Autism Spectrum Disorders Coordinator. Previously, Alicia was a Regional Provider Liaison for Florida’s Early Steps program and a Family and Community Resource Coordinator with The Autism Program in Illinois. She was the coordinator of the East Central Illinois Autism Support Group and although she is no longer in Illinois, she continues to volunteer her time to those families and children needing augmentative and alternative communication help or feeding difficulties. She has presented to students and faculty at Eastern Illinois University on topics such as autism spectrum disorders, eosinophilic disorders, NICU and the high risk newborn, infants and toddlers with disabilities, financial implications for families raising a child with autism, and typical toddler development. She has presented programs to the community on neurobiological advances in autism research, the child with autism in the medical environment, co-morbidity and the child with autism, and bridging the gap between therapy at home and in the clinic. She was previously a faculty member with the Illinois Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics and the Enhancing Developmentally Oriented Primary Care’s Autism and Early Detection Project. Alicia has also provided trainings regarding early intervention and autism, early warning signs of autism, emergency responders and autism, child care providers and autism, new diagnosis orientations for families, as well as, providing social skills and recreational programming for young children with autism spectrum disorders in social skills and recreation groups.

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Teresa Lyons, M. Ed., BCBA is a Technical Assistance Associate with the Virginia Commonwealth University – Autism Center for Excellence (VCU-ACE). In this role, Teresa provides embedded technical assistance to support long-term systems change in two SWVA school systems – Botetourt County and Wise County. Teresa is working with divisions in a process that engages them in assessment, planning and implementation leading to change starting with central administration then to school administration then on down to classroom teachers. Systems-change is being addressed through changes in policy, procedures, coaching and instruction.

Teresa became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) in 2012 after completing coursework through the Florida Institute of Technology. She received her Masters of Education from Lynchburg College with an emphasis in Special Education. Teresa received her undergraduate degree in Elementary and Special Education from St. Joseph’s College in Patchogue, NY.

Teresa comes to VCU-ACE with more than 18 years experience working with students with disabilities starting in the field as a paraprofessional in an ECSE program in NY to classroom teacher to autism specialist to technical assistance provider. Prior to joining VCU-ACE, Teresa worked with the VDOE Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. Teresa supported school divisions in the use of evidence-based practices in autism spectrum disorders and in the use of assistive technology for students with disabilities. Particular emphasis was placed on the development of autism and assistive technology teams, individual student and classroom consultations, professional development, as well as participation in the VDOE Autism State-Directed Project activities. Teresa also worked with a division in SW Virginia in the implementation of evidence-based practices through a collaborative grant with the National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders out of the FPG Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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