Simon Baron-Cohen is Professor of Developmental Psychopathology at the University of Cambridge and Fellow at Trinity College, Cambridge. Director of the Autism Research Centre (ARC) in Cambridge, he also holds degrees in Human Sciences from New College, Oxford, a PhD in Psychology from UCL, and an M.Phil in Clinical Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry.  He is Director of CLASS (Cambridge Lifespan Asperger Syndrome Service), a clinic for adults with suspected AS.

He is author of Mindblindness (MIT Press, 1995), The Essential Difference: Men, Women and the Extreme Male Brain (Penguin UK/Basic Books, 2003), and Prenatal Testosterone in Mind (MIT Press, 2005). Anthologies he edited include:  Understanding Other Minds (OUP, 1993, 2001), The Maladapted Mind (Erlbaum, 1997) and Synaesthesia (Blackwells, 1997).

He authored the books: Autism: The Facts, Tourette Syndrome: The Facts, and Teaching Children with Autism to Mind Read. He also authored the DVD-ROM Mind Reading: an interactive guide to emotions (Jessica Kingsley Ltd, 2003) which was nominated for a BAFTA award for Best Off-Line Learning.

His awards include:  the American Psychological Association, the British Association for the Advancement of Science (BA), and the British Psychological Society (BPS) for his research into autism. For 2007 he is President of the Psychology Section of the BA, Vice President of the National Autistic Society, and received the 2006 Presidents' Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychological Knowledge from the BPS.

I am Lori. I come from New York and currently live in Oakland, CA (US) with Karen, my partner of nearly 10 years.

I learned that I had Asperger's syndrome in 2005 after a lifetime of misdiagnoses. Since then, I have gone from thinking there was no one else like me in the world to finding a huge community of people who have had nearly identical life experiences as me. I have also been on a mission to help autistic people find each other on the internet.

I am a freelance web developer and have spent the better part of 3 months building this website. It was a labor of love and it is a work in progress. I feel very lucky to be a part of the Autism Women's Network and hope that someday I will be able to do this type of work for the autism community full time.

Katie in the Kitchen, here & there.

Amy resides in Hermitage, Pennsylvania with her son Sebastian, husband Ken, and three feline children.  She is a mother and advocate to a son with Asperger's Syndrome. After dealing with the local school district's inability to educate her son, Amy has become a devoted advocate to all children with special needs.

Recently Amy was hired as Pittsburgh Special Education Examiner for the Examiner.com where she reports on Special Education issues as they pertain to the Western Pennsylvania region.

In the past, she has worked with the following advocacy groups:  ARC of Pennsylvania Systems and Governmental Affairs, Early Childhood and Education subcommittee member, Pennsylvania Gaskin Settlement Agreement, Overall Implementation subcommittee member, Right to Education Local Task Force, Green Grannies and Friends for Clean Air, Healthy Kids committee, Mothers of Asthmatics Member (AANMA), American Lung Association Parent Outreach, Pennsylvania Families Together for Autism, Autism Society of America Member, Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), and Families Against Restraint and Seclusion (national).

Sharon has made her home in Lincoln, Nebraska with her two youngest children for the past several years.  Her educational goals include a focus interest in Communications and Sociology.  Her dedication to advocate for victims of violence has led her to an additional interest in Women's Studies.

Sharon recently completed filming for an upcoming documentary wherein she and her two youngest children will be featured.  The United States of Autism Movie is slated to be released in 2011.

In April of 2010 Sharon was honored to receive an invitation to attend a special autism meeting at the White House on World Autism Awareness Day.  On July 26, 2010 Sharon received an invitation to return to Washington D.C. to represent the Autism Women's Network at the White House celebration commemorating the 20th year anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Sharon has participated in autism focus groups comprised of individuals on the autism spectrum who develop ways to improve autism-related services. She is an active consultant for numerous research projects whereby she assists with furthering the understanding of challenges faced by autistic adults with employment related issues.

Sharon's extensive training and continued education as a Family Support Worker with  VISINET, Inc. enabled her to assist families and their children with successful completion of court ordered goals throughout the foster care process for almost five years.

Sharon testified before the Nebraska Legislative Committee to advocate for the passage of a Bill to aid women with the inclusion of their children in Protection Orders.  This Bill was enacted into law and Protection Orders can now be extended to minor children of mothers in abusive relationships in the state of Nebraska. 

In an effort to further awareness pertaining to ASD's, Sharon produces and hosts the  AWN Internet Radio Show.  As an active member of the autism community, she shares with others her experiences as it relates to the unique qualities of females on the autism spectrum via conferences, support groups, and workshops. 

In her spare time, she enjoys research, writing, and spending quality time with her family.  She is a mother of two teenagers, as well as two adults with families of their own.  Sharon is diagnosed with Asperger's and is parenting a child on the autism spectrum as well.

Sharon's Public Speaking Engagements

• Sharon was a guest speaker at the Annual Fundraiser for the League of Women Voters in Sarpy County, Nebraska.  This was the Women As Storytellers Annual Luncheon where women share their personal accounts, experiences and stories of overcoming adversities.

• Sharon was a Co-Speaker with Dr. Diane C. Marti at the annual  Nebraska UNL ASD Network  Autism State Conference in Omaha, Nebraska.  Sharon's presentation focused on the unique qualities, strengths, and challenges of females with Asperger's Syndrome and the importance of early identification in order to provide the supports necessary to ensure her a healthy and productive future. 

• Sharon was a guest speaker at the Team Meeting for Educators with the ASD ESU Team #3, Omaha, Nebraska Metro Region.  Her presentation addressed concerns of girls on the autism spectrum flying under the radar and not receiving a diagnosis until well into adulthood. Sharon's presentation further stressed the need for educators to be proactive as it relates to early intervention and the ongoing need for diagnosing girls with ASD before they develop social & functional challenges which could be supported with early intervention.

• Sharon was a Co-Presenter at the Annual Autism Action Partnership Conference with Dr. Diane C. Marti.  The information provided in this presentation focused on early identification of what is unique to females with Asperger’s Syndrome as essential in order to provide supports necessary to ensure her a healthy and productive future.  Clinical data compiled by recognized experts indicate a need for increased understanding of the differences between males and females on the spectrum.  Sharon also shared her personal experiences of learning to understand how her own Asperger diagnosis differed from her expectations of behaviors typically found with males on the spectrum.

• Sharon was a guest speaker at the Fremont, Nebraska ESU ASD Educator's Team Meeting.  Her presentation stressed the need for early identification, and a greater understanding of female specific autism characteristics in order to prevent girls from flying under the diagnostic radar and not receiving a diagnosis until well into adulthood. Sharon's presentation further stressed the need for educators to take a proactive approach in leading the way as it relates to early intervention and diagnosis.

Dr. Carlolyn Fuentes is an educator, author, developer of web games for students of all ages, and a self described "forever technology career student."

Her commitment to helping others understand ASD's is fueled by the inspiration she receives from her son Aeric, a young adult on the autism spectrum.  Dr. Fuentes has tirelessly advocated throughout Aeric's life to ensure he received a progressive education alongside his peers.  Currently, Aeric is attending classes for Culinary Arts after successfully graduating from High School.

Dr. Funtes was recently awarded US Honor Society in 2009.  An accomplished author, Dr. Fuetes' book Autism has received critical acclaim as useful, relevant, and helpful for anyone looking into an introduction of autism.

Currently, Dr. Fuentes is a Private Computer Teacher for Orange Education and Recreation in Ohio. A dedicated educator, she previously instructed students at International Remington College and Orange Education Recreation Center for elite communities, Tri-C Community College-Eastern & Western Campus, Ford Motors, Inc., and St. Jerome Catholic School K-8.

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Quia (tutor) Profile}

Rachael Harris is a qualified counsellor whose practice Kaleidoscope Counselling Services is able to provide a unique contribution to Asperger Counselling Services from her perspective as a women who, herself, has been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome and as the mother of a son also on the Autism Spectrum.

Rachael is the first person in Australia with Asperger’s Syndrome to qualify as a counsellor specializing in the area Asperger’s Syndrome, counselling both adults and children, their carers and partners, which, drawing on her life experiences, gives her a unique ability to bridge the Neuro-typical and Asperger perspective.

Rachael’s search for self understanding led to her travelling in Europe and living and working in England, exploring her creativity through experiences as diverse as Beauty Therapy and Monasticism. She is passionate about improving the quality of life of those on the Autism Spectrum and is dedicated to raising awareness of Asperger’s Syndrome in the wider community.

She was a guest speaker at the 2009 International Asperger Day in Brisbane, Australia and was also a guest speaker at the World Inaugural Seminar “Girls and Women with Autism/Asperger’s Syndrome”.

Rachael looks forward to supporting the Autism Women’s Network as a contributing writer in an ongoing collaboration, to the advantage of the Autism/Asperger Women’s Community.

Liane is an accomplished Writer, Editor, Communications Consultant for people with ASD at B.R.A.I.N.S. Inc. in Grand Rapids Michigan, a mother and wife. She helps others to understand the importance of accepting the diversities of people as an inspirational and motivational speaker. With a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome, Liane seeks to help others realize their full potential by sharing with them how she learned to rise above the challenges of her life to settle into a new understanding of the person she is today. In her own words she describes herself as "Happy, healthy, and well balanced." 

Liane has been featured in The USA Today, Psychology Today, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, The Kansas City Star, Register-Guard, The Grand Rapids Press, and many other major newspapers in addition to several on-line sites such as ABC News and Newsweek.  She has been a guest on several national and international radio shows including Radio 4 BBC and Wisconsin’s NPR. Liane was also one of the experts on the Peabody Award nominated special produced by The Infinite Mind radio productions. Liane has also been featured in two videos ASPERGER SYNDROME: CROSSING THE BRIDGE (Michael Thompson Productions, 2001) and ASK ME ABOUT ASPERGER SYNDROME (Michael Thompson Productions, 2001). Her first book, Pretending to be Normal, was featured in the feature film Adam, and was an inspiration for the film Normal Folk (in pre-production).

Liane is active in her community. She serves on several professional boards including Imperative Pictures, a Los Angeles based film company dedicated to the production of mainstream movies focusing on a variety of diversity issues; The Asperger Association of Michigan; The Asperger Syndrome Coalition of the United States (ASK-US); The Equest Center for Theraputic Riding, and More Able Autistic People (MAAP). In addition, she and her husband started a scholarship for psychology students interested in studying pervasive developmental disorders, at Grand Valley State University in Michigan.

Liane has over fifteen years of experience teaching at the university level. She is currently the the owner of Kirkshire Farm, a consultant to Behavioral Resources And Institute for Neuropsychological Services (BRAINS), Senior Editor for Autism Spectrum Quarterly and the webhost of Aspie.com, a site dedicated to the understanding and support of Asperger Syndrome.

Tricia Coordinates the advocacy intake process for AWN, and she produces AWN's Radio Shows for advocacy related topics.

She is the mother of twin boys who are both on the autism spectrum, and is self-identified as well.

Tricia is a member of Partners in Policymaking, and currently enrolled in Missouri's Partners in Policymaking Classroom Program.

Savannah began advocating at the age of 12, when her mother asked her to sit on a panel for a a state level conference presentation. Advocacy become a true passion for Savannah once she became an adult.  Co-morbidly diagnosed Bipolar, GAD, and PTSD, she worked in Mental Health services, both independently, and as a Youth coordinator for Heart2Heart Parent Support Network before she connected with the ASD community.

Other advocacy as well as community involvements include: NYLN Governing Board, PA's OMHSAS Youth Committee, PA Families Inc., Youth Outreach Union, various county level advisories, as well as a Freelance Advocate.  Savannah is an active member of ASAN (Autistic Self Advocacy Network) as a rogue advocate, and blogs at Cracked Mirror in Shalott, and a contributing writer at the Youth Outreach Blog.

Savannah lives in Rural Pennsylvania with, as she describes, "Meltdown-Sensing-Cat Aibaka, and Aibaka's kitten, Meltdown-Cat-in-Training, Tribble Magoo."  Savannah's love for animals doesn't stop there as she will promptly draw your attention to her elderly dachshund Vinnie, and intoductions to two other cats, whom she insists, "are just being babysat."

Outside of advocacy, Savanah's perseverations include Anthropology, Social Histories, Victorian Romanticism, and the Histories of Oppressed populations.

Broken Toyland

Mrs. Susan Moreno is the Founder and President of MAAP Services for Autism and Asperger Syndrome, and a proud parent of two adult daughters, one of whom is on the autism spectrum.  With a Master of Arts in Applied Behavioral Science from Valparaiso University, Susan is trained in Neurocognitive Rehabilitation. 

Mrs. Moreno has 24 years of experience in working with parents, spouses, teachers, and others who are as she describes, "Individuals who care about developing new possibilities, and progress for individuals with Autism, Asperger Syndrome, and related challenges." 

She is an International Lecturer as well as Motivational Speaker, a member of the World Autism Organization, and was awarded Autism Society of America’s Parent of the Year for 2006.