Ezra Lockhart, M.Hlth.Sc.(D.D.), MCSE, CDC I, CAS, Behavior Therapist
State/Country: Anchorage, Alaska, USA
School/ Organizations: Catholic Social Services – Alaska
12
MAY
MAY
0
(April 21, 2016) The International Board of Credentialing & Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) is recognizing outstanding professionals that dedicate their lives to autism during Autism Awareness Month. Throughout April, the IBCCES will feature these individuals through their Members Site for Certified Autism Specialists to recognize each day. Each week, the Outstanding Autism Specialists will additionally be featured on the IBCCES News Blog for recognition worldwide. IBCCES has selectively chosen these individuals based on their background, qualifications, achievements, and continuous work in the field of autism.
21
APR
APR
For the month of April, IBCCES is recognizing some of the Outstanding Autism Specialists that dedicate their lives to making their communities and the world a better place for individuals living with autism. At IBCCES, we know that all of our certified members are exceptional human beings, and each makes a difference each day. We want to send a personal thank you to all of you who work in the field of autism, are a parent or family member of a loved one with autism, or just cares about the field and making the world a better place.
Please see below for some of the few outstanding individuals that represent our members who make a difference.
“Her kindness, patience, and dedication are unparalleled and her passion is obvious as she looks for every opportunity to advance her learning in any way she can to help those on the autism spectrum.” – Excerpt from nomination for Khamiya Nisbett-Parris
“Her strong understanding on how Autism affects an individual has not only brought hope and optimism to families, but also the methods and tools to transform their children’s lives across community settings.” – Excerpt from nomination for Vicki Johnson
20
APR
APR
By Kelly Noda, MA, CAS [email protected]
A few years ago, I encountered a set of notorious twins who challenged my classroom and behavior management skills honed carefully by years of teaching middle school students and parenting a “strong-willed” child. I had no formal ABA training; in fact, I was brand new to the school. I didn’t recall doing anything to merit these 15-year-old sophomores’ placement together in my class, especially in a period that ended up as the last class on Fridays. I’d been warned of their tendencies, their “attention-seeking” antics by my colleagues. Head-shaking, commiserating ninth-grade teachers wished me the perfunctory “good luck” after a disbelieving exclamation of “You have them BOTH in the same class!?” I can still see the piteous looks on their faces.
22
FEB
FEB
By: Elayne Pearson, Special Needs Preparedness Specialist, Author/Life Coach/Motivational Speaker
February brings to my mind cold and prickly weather, but also warm and fuzzy thoughts of Valentine’s Day. It’s a favorite holiday of mine because I think we all need to express our love and appreciation more. Okay, at home, more love and at work, more appreciation.
“Ah love, it’s a grand thing,” Lady Cluck wistfully observes, while gazing at the dreamy Maid Marion in Disney’s Robin Hood, and I truly agree with her.
For years, our home rang with the delightful music and scenes from that show and many Disney classics, because Heidi, our beloved little girl with Down syndrome, adored all things Disney. A few years later her sweet personality shifted into anxious and baffling behaviors (before most had even heard the word autism) and our videos went from being a simple joy — to a deep need of Heidi’s to collect and constantly carry with her.
15
FEB
FEB
Walter S. Knauff, M.Ed, NBCT, CAS, LCSW-C
Clinical Social Worker, Special Educator
City/State: Silver Spring, MD
School/ Organizations: Private psychotherapy practice; Autism Resource Services, Silver Spring International Middle School (Montgomery County Public Schools)
5
FEB
FEB
Marcia Nash, Speech and Language Pathologist, MS, CAS
City/State: Fairbanks, Alaska
School/ Organizations: Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, Alaska Speech and Hearing Association
1
JAN
JAN
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 9, 2015, VIENNA – Melanie Trojan is the first in Austria to complete a training and certification program resulting in the designation of having her Autism Certificate by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). With the rate of autism diagnosis rapidly increasing worldwide, the need for credentialed and licensed autism-related service providers continues to grow every year. According to the World Health Organization there is an estimated global prevalence of autism at 2 to 6 in 1000.
9
DEC
DEC
Nadhuva Husein, MSc Applied Behavior Analysis, CAS
Country: Maldives
School/ Organizations: Maldives Autism Association
7
DEC
DEC
By Elayne Pearson, Special Needs Preparedness Specialist – Author/Life Coach/Motivational Speaker
It’s dawn. The sun sprinkles glorious golden bronze glitter on the navy blue ocean out beyond our little time-share balcony, or lanai, as they call it here in Hawaii. My husband, Rod, and I love the Islands, because they transport and replenish us. We love the cultures, foods, and people here.
I’m supposed to relax, but it’s kind of hard, because for over 25 years on any vacation with Heidi, our beautiful daughter with Down syndrome and late-onset autism, it honestly was not relaxing for our family. We had to watch her constantly. Thank goodness (out of real desperation) I searched and gradually found drug-free solutions to calm her accelerated central nervous system and level out her baffling emotions.
9
NOV
NOV