Email: KristyW@autismsocietyofwa.org

Kristy Wessels is a mother of a son affected by Autism. Until 2004, she was employed by Group Health Northwest as a certified physician assistant in family practice and urgent care for 11 years. Kristy focuses her time now around her daughter aged 11 and son affected by autism, who is 9. Kristy has been active within the Spokane Chapter of the Autism Society of Washington for 5 years, where she started a focus group and continues to provide leadership for parents with children 6 years and under.

Her own autism related interests are educationally based research intervention for young children with autism, specifically ABA. Kristy used ABA when her son was nonverbal, and now he is currently able to participate in regular education with supports. Kristy has been involved with the Defeat Autism Now organization since 2003 and has attended regular DAN provider trainings for medical doctors and other medical professionals with prescriptive authority.

Kristy assisted with the coordination of the Eastern Washington & N. Idaho NIH Autism Treatment Network research study called 'Urinary Porphyrins and Autism.' This study is to be released later in 2009 or 2010 via Dept of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences through the University of Washington. Kristy is well versed in all medical treatments for autism and Asperger's Disorder. In addition to biomedical/ environmental approaches which are often "off label" with less peer reviews; she is interested in Autism Treatment Network's latest clinical implications for ASD. Kristy is also aware of current FDA and American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for ASD. She hopes over time there will be bridging of these two different medical approaches in Autism spectrum disorders. Kristy was elected to the ASW board during the 2008 election.

Email: ValerieB@autismsocietyofwa.org

While Valerie’s son was in K-12 public schools, there was little time to participate in various support groups and committees. That changed as she realized her son’s transition from high school to real life was jeopardized by a lackadaisical attitude exhibited by his school district towards an Asperger student. This unleashed a fierce advocacy that continues to promote the awareness that after the school entitlement ends, the outlook for adults is grim. This motivated her to co-find the Autism Lifespan Project (Autism LP) in 2008. Realizing that a lack of residential and higher educational supports are practically nil in Washington, she has devoted the past several months to compiling a roster of colleges that have programs or supports for students on the spectrum.

Recently elected to the Board of Directors, she represents ASW on various committees, fundraising events and public outreach. Her educational background in management/economics has been important in helping her husband operate as a small business owner. She hopes to bring that knowledge to ASW and help chart a relevant course for the future. In addition, she is impelled to link the autism community as a whole to work towards solutions, advocate within the political system and ease the rifts between various factors. At the center should be and always remain the happiness and wellness of our kids.

Email: MitchF@autismsocietyofwa.org

Mitch Freedman is a Certified Public Accountant/Financial Advisor working in the Bellevue area of Washington State. Mr. Freedman is the current Treasurer of the Autism Society of Washington. Mr. Freedman is also a member of the Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club and has a 20 year old son with Autism.

There are no better points of reference than experience. That being said, through my personal and family struggles, I hope to keep an open mind to listen to my peers for guidance. Also, I’d like to be there for our community to lend a helping hand when needed.

Email: PattyG@autismsocietyofwa.org

Patty Gee, M.Ed., SLP, has been on the Autism Board since January 2004, and was president until May 2009, and Executive Director until June, 2010. Besides her involvement with the state organization, she founded and continues to be on the board of the Thurston/Mason Co. ASW local chapter in Olympia. Patty facilitates the monthly parent support group meetings.

Besides her professional background of more than 32 years working with autistic children as a speech pathologist within the public schools, she and her husband provide autism social skill group intervention through their Olympia clinic. Patty is also caregiver of a clinically affected 56 year old brother with autism, mother of a son who is successfully living with Asperger, and a granddaughter recently diagnosed. Patty has five children and nine grandchildren.

Email: ManyaV@autismsocietyofwa.org
Phone: (206) 336-5618

Manya Vaupel, M.Ed., BCBA is a board member for the Autism Society of Washington. She is also currently the Curriculum Director at Jigsaw Learning, a company specializing in developing services and curriculum for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Manya is an internationally recognized Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Manya earned her B.S. in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Western Washington University in 1996. While completing her undergraduate education, she minored in Special Education and Psychology, creating an emphasis in Behavioral Sciences. Additionally, Manya completed a M.Ed. with a specialization in Literacy; Reading, Writing and Language from Lesley University in 2001.

Manya’s areas of interest and particular study throughout her education and training has been behavioral sciences, early intervention, and autism spectrum disorders. She was trained in the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis through a variety of behavior analysts from UCLA, Project P.A.C.E., and PCDI. Manya has been working with children with autism and other related disorders, ages 8 mos-21 yrs, since 1994. She has worked in homes, schools, clinical settings, and special camps for children on the spectrum of autism as well as in the Project DATA classroom at the University of Washington’s Experimental Education Unit and the research and clinical departments at the UW Autism Center in Seattle and Tacoma.

Manya specializes in providing consultation and supervision in intensive behavioral home programs, parent training, school collaboration, vocational training and supervision, and literacy and social skills groups for children with ASD.

Email: AgnesR@autismsocietyofwa.org
Phone: (206) 542-1645

Agnieszka Rynkiewicz, MAT, MD is a physician, special education teacher, author, and researcher in education. Dr. Rynkiewicz earned her Doctor in Medicine degree from the  Medical Academy in Gdańsk, Poland in 1997. She practiced at the Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Gdansk in Poland and is certified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) after passing the United States Medical Licensing Examinations (USMLE). She earned her Master of Arts in Teaching degree in Special Education from Seattle Pacific University in 2006 and will complete her doctorate degree with specialization in Special Education at SPU.  Since 1997 she has worked with children with autism spectrum disorders and other disabilities in hospitals, clinics, schools and homes. She worked at Inpatient Psychiatric Unit of Seattle Children’s Hospital and also as a research assistant in the Brain Center for Applied Learning and Research at SPU. Dr. Rynkiewicz writes and publishes articles about Asperger syndrome and high functioning autism (AS/HFA). She has published a book: ZESPÓŁ ASPERGERA. Inny mózg. Inny umysł (2009) Poland: Wydawnictwo Harmonia.  
 
http://www.harmonia.edu.pl/index.php?products=product&prod_id=367
 
The book’s English translation: Asperger Syndrome. Different Brain. Different Mind is in progress.
Dr. Rynkiewicz is an international speaker on improving and creating programs for AS/HFA students, teaching strategies, strengthening advocacy skills and fostering talents of AS/HFA individuals. She and her husband have two daughters.
 

Email: SharonZ@autismsocietyofwa.org

Sharon Zima has been a paraeducator from 2000-present for the Edmonds School District in Learning Support and Life Skills programs, providing classroom support and 1:1 instruction for autistic and special needs students. She has been continually inspired by students and their families, realizing that the obstacles and challenges they encounter have historically been accentuated by lack of public awareness and education, and unmet needs tracing to legislation issues. Motivated by the passion and dedication of ASW members to its mission, she volunteers for ASW and was appointed to the Board of Director in October, 2009. Autism has been recently diagnosed within her own family.

With background in office administration and degree in Business, Sharon's experience also includes military service in the U.S. Army Reserve and linguistic training (Russian) at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. Sharon is also a managing partner with her husband Vadim in Rusloc, Ltd. , a companying specializing in technology localization and translation services. Her experience and interest in a web-based business operations have been transferable to the Autism Society of Washington in the capacity of website development and support. She was a contracted team member in the 2009 upgrade of ASW''s website, and has since supported ASW in regular website maintenance and newsletter administration.

Email: DanaT@autismsocietyofwa.org

Dana Tolick and her husband just celebrated their 13th wedding anniversary in November. They have 3 children; Nathan 8, Matthew 6, & Samantha 3. Their boys have Autism. She was introduced to the Autism Society in 2002 upon getting a diagnosis for her son Nathan when they lived in Puyallup. Diana Stadden was the first person she spoke to on the phone and then met at a parent dinner night out in Tacoma that same year. Dana and her family moved back to the Tri-Cities area in 2004 where she became Vice-President of the local chapter until 2006, then became President from 2006-2008. She enjoyed conversing with new parents over the years in office, making new friends and connecting them to different resources in the community.

She loves to be a part of the state chapter because she wants to be able to be connected throughout our state and have more input on what goes on behind the scenes of this awesome organization. She thinks she brings a lot of good influence from being a mother as well as first hand experience with insurance and roadblocks on a parents journey that has been affected with Autism.

Email: KarylE@autismsocietyofwa.org

Karyl Elinski has been on the ASW Board since January 2007. Karyl has two children, her daughter, 14 years has Asperger and was diagnosed at the UW while a preschooler by Geraldine Dawson. She has a son, in middle school, who also demonstrates sensory and auditory processing difficulties.

Karyl's current occupation is a mediator/administrative law judge. She writes, "I have been a lawyer and advocate for those with special needs for a number of years. My children have received special education since they were very young. I have a fairly good working knowledge of special education law, and have advocated for your children and many others. Several years ago, I took a job with the State of Washington as a labor mediator. Throughout my professional career, I have been involved in planning trainings and conferences, and have provided public presentations. I have experience building teams, and helping people with diverse interests to reach consensus through collaboration."

Email: SaraG@autismsocietyofwa.org
Phone: (360) 904-6626

Sara Gardner was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome in 2002 soon after her then-11-year-old son was diagnosed. Autism quickly became her “area of interest” and she began intensive studying, and volunteering with the Orange County Asperger Support Group, where she serves as President Emeritus. She and her son moved to Redmond, Washington in Fall 2009 so that he could attend DigiPen Institute of Technology there. She currently serves as Vice President of the Autism Society of Washington’s King County chapter.

Sara works with families to help them understand their loved ones on the spectrum. She teaches parenting classes, coaches parents, consults with schools and works one-on-one with autism spectrum students.

Her life experience combined with education, community involvement and daily contact with struggling families gives her a unique perspective and insight into the challenges faced by the Autism community. Sara's mission is to help other parents travel an easier road than she did and to help those on the autism spectrum lead full and happy lives.

Email: IsabelleS@autismsocietyofwa.org

Forthcoming